The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-08-04
Throbs with each pulse, and beats with.
every thrill
Bright Ger the wasted scene, thou hoverest

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every thrill
Bright DER the wasted scene, thou hoverest
still,
Angel of comfort to the failing SOUL"
A few days ago Tread: Itwoud almost
seem that God, compassioning woman's
FIRST great frailty. had planted this jewel
in her breast, whose heayen-like interest
should cast into forgetfulness mans re-
membrane of the fall by building up in
his heart another Eden, where, peren-
NAL flowers forever bloom, and crys-
tai waters gush from exhaustless foun-
tains."&
That brilliant author, George D. Prem
tice, 1 believe it is, who wrote, "Why is
it that the rainbow and the cloud come
over US with beauty that is not of earth,
and then pass away, and leave US to muse
on their faded loveliness? Why is that
the stars that adorn the brow of evening
and that hold their nightly festival around
the midnight throne are placed above the
reach of our limited faculties, forever
mocking US with their unapproachable
glory? And why is it that the bright
forms of human beauty are presented to
our view, and then taken from us, leaving
the thousand streams of affection to flow
back in Alpine torrents upon the human
heart? ~
"We are born for a higher destiny than
that of earth! There is land where the
stars will be set out before us islands
that slumber in the ocean, and where the
beautiful beings that now pass before us
like meteors, will stay in our presence
forever"
And these same qualities we find in
this assemblage. Wisdom, strength and
beauty, are the very ones necessary for
the construction of this building, for
there must be wisdom to contrive, strength
to support, and beauty to adorn.
The proudest monuments attesting the
genius of man in all ages are the stupen-
dous structures and magnificent works of
art erected by him under the direction Of
the mighty minds of great architects and
artists.
There has stood for 5000 years the
pyramids of Egypt, the largest o. which
employed 100000 men for fifty years
the Colossus at Rhodes, living in history,
which stood for sixty six years across the
harbor, under which ships sailed into
tport, and which was overturned only by
the power of an earthquake-the laby-
rinth of Psalmetichus on the Nile, con-
taiEing in one enclosure IL royal palaces,
1000 houses with 5000 chambers, all
covered with marble-Babylon, the Nigh
ty Babylon. with her walls and hanging
gardens-the Temple of Solomon-the
power of steam-the wonder Of tele-
graphy-and the splendid palaces, senate
houses, churches and cathedrals of the
present day, all Of them bearing testimo-
ny to his genius.
The sculptor, as he stands beside the
shapeless mass of marble, sees, as if re-
posing in it, the figure formed in his i'm.
agination, which under the touches of the
magic chisel, is invested with the charms
of grace and beauty, and becomes almost
thing of life; SO the architect has in his
mind, long before he begins the work, the
perfect plan of the finished structure.
What of calculation! of labor! of re-
Election, he reads! How rapidly he must
think and actl What fine judgment he
must haye-what mighty power of mind!
He needs wisdom in the choice and ar
rangement of material, in its preparation
and location, in exterior and interior fn-
ish, SO that proper strength and beauty
may be secured.
It has been said. aThe Universe is the
Temple Of the Deity. Wisdom, Strength
and Beauty are pillars about His throne;
for His wisdom is infinite, His strength
is omLipotent, and His beauty shines
forth through all his creation in symme-
try and order"
Our poet says:
sWisdem sits alone
Topmost in heaven; she is its lights God" )"
Forty years ago the ancient and hon.
orable order of Masons-more ancient
than any other in the world, as having
subsisted from time immemorial, and hon
orable as having tendency to make all
men such who aot in conformity to its
precepts-foIloying custom peculiar to
themselves, laid, with imposing oeremo-
malls, the corner stone of the old build
ing, and made the usual deposit therein;
and now we, their successors. lay the corr
ner stone of the new, which is to grace
this spot. Such ceremonies are appro-
pirate and beautiful, and it is fitting that
custom SO long established and honored
in SO many years Of observance should
not be forgotten here.
"Deep in the quarries of the stone,
Amidst vast heaps Of other rocks,
In darkness hid, to art unknown,
We found this rude and shapeless block;
Now shaped by art, its roughness gone,
And fit this noble work to grace,
We lay it hers, ooasER STONE,
Chosen and sure. in proper place"
The variousimplements Of architecture
have been delivered to the architect, and
he has been entrusted with the superin-
tendence and direction of the work.
When the work of his hands is compile
ted, contrived by wisdom, supported by
strength, and adorned with beauty. may
it be suitable forthe purpose for which it
was constructed, and delight the hehold-
er, its correct proportions blending all
its parts in harmony.
This corner stone has been laid for a
building to be erected for Justice, and in
tended for the administration of the law.
One of our most eloquent divines said
of the Phenix, the tabled bird of antiq-
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