The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-11
That hour will come. we fondly trust,
When, In our burthened land,
The true, the good, the wise, the just,
In their own lot shall stand.
Till then We'll keep your memories green
With ever-freshened flowers,
And AFTER-raise ye shafts, whose sheen
Shall light this land OF OURS


With ever-freshened flowers,
And AFTER-raise ye shafts, whose sheen
Shall light this land OF OURS
The Grand Master and officers now repaired
from the platform to stage erected in the centre
OF the cemetery lot appropriated to Confederate
soldiers. Here was the cornerstone of the com.
ing monument, the excavation Of its resting place
already made. and derrick with which to hoist
1t into position Immediately in front Of this
platform were assembled the ladies connected
with the Widows Home and the pupils OF the in.
stitutlon, while around the large square bounded
by the deep green hedge were arrayed the men,
bers of the Order.
The officers upon the platform were Grand Mas.
ter James Conner, Deputy Grand Master W. f.
Blake, J. d. Honour, Senior Grand Warden; John
McLelsh, Junior Grand Warden; B. R. Campbell,
Grand Secretary; II. W. Schroeder, Grand Treasu-
rer; Henry DeSaussure Senior Grand Deacon; j..
R. Prlngie, Jr., Junior Grand Deacon r. S. Bruins,
Grand Marshall W. A. Wilson. Grand Tier and
Rev. Mr.. Bowman Grand Chaplain.
The necessary preparations were then made
| fer
The Laying of the Stone.
The stone was brought into position, an ode was
sung, and the Grand Chaplain offered short
prayer. Grand Treasurer Schroeder then,
by command of Deputy Grand Master Blake,
placed under the stone the following articles: The
daily papers; the proceedings OF the last meeting
OF the Grand Lodge; list OF the dead and buried
In the Confederate lot of the cemetery roster of
the officers and members OF the Ladies' Memorial
Association; programme of the day; the prayer
by DR.. Bachman; piece OF palmetto, and the
State and Confederate battle flag.
The Grand Master then applied the plumb,
square and level to the stone in their proper posi-
tion, and exclaimed t4ta loud voice: al have tried
and proved this stone,by plumb, square and level,
and pronounce 1t to be well formed, true and
trusty."
The corn of nourlshment the wine Of refresh
ment, and the oil OF joy were then poured upon
the stone. and the Master Invoked blessing upon
the work.
The three public grand hon ors OF Masonry were
then given, and the Deputy Grand Master de-
livered the various implements OF architecture to
the architect.
Thereupon Masonic anthem was sung begin.
ning-''Let there be Light, and Deputy Grand
Master, Blake, made the usual closing address,
the following being that portion of the same
which is not contained In the ritual:-'
Address OF Deputy Granh Master Blake.
The Grand Lodge Of South Carolina, and the
fraternity at large, have assembled to-day IN hen.
or OF aH occasion which Is OF the deepest interest
to US all. We have come as Masons, not only to
interchange the heart-warm greetings OF friends
and brothers, and to draw into closer union the
golden links which bind us together as a frater-
nal band, bat we have come at the call OF be-
reaved mothers sisters and daughters, to awaken
the recolleclions which cluster around the tombs
Of their heroic dead, and to learn lessons OF wis
brethren. We have come under the grateful
promptings Of love and patriotism, and,
commissioned by the voice OF our fair country
women, we have to-day laid, with Masonic
enduring granite l3 designed to perpetuate
the memory Of the gallant dead who struggled
and died for cause which Is dead to theu-he.
roes who fell beneath banner which once hOated
proudly, but which Is now folded forever. And
it is right and proper, my Masonic brothers, that
we should be here-for, representing as we 40 o
universal brotherhood, 1t Is meet that We too
should place an Offering upon the altar OF
country, kindred and humanity. Let US, then,
my brethren, be suitably impressed by the solem-
nifty OF this occasion. Let us cherish and Initiate
land their memory with unfading evergreens;
and while with one hand we wave the melcn-
choly cypress over their honored dust, let US with
the other scatter fOwers-brlght a0wers-oyer
their lowly but cherished graves. so mote t
be-Amen
Memorial Address by General James
Conner.
The formal ceremonies now having been con-
cluded Grand Master Conner was escorted to the
platform erected for the purpose, and delivered
the following address, which was listened to with
marked attention. and, Notwithstanding the
solemnity OF the surroundings, applauded:
As we stand here to-day, beneath these quiet
SKIES In this sad silent city OF the dead, all IS 80
calm and peaceful, that II Is hard to realize that
but short while ago and he who stood upon tnl5
spot could almost touch the ramparts, whlcn,
sault beleaguered city, While Tar as the eye could
reach, scanning the horizon on land ana sea,
were the camps and neet OF the host thas sur.
rounded her. From where We stand, On day as
bright and beautiful as this, could be seen pow.
err1l and stately neet advancing In battle oIder
through the ga.es OF yonder her6er, wnle wltnln,
behind the long line OF works that crested eaca
shore, stood In grim silence at their guns tue
defenders OF the soil, conscious that upon them
rested that day the fate Of the city. slowly anu
steadily the fleet advances, scarce replying 10 tne
few first batteries that opened as tnougn assu[eu Gu
OF success. and as 1t were sweeping proudly on
to triumph. Nearer and nearer 1t comes, until tne
anxious throng watching It's approach from the
city painfully alternate between hope anu despair
the battle SCARED walls Of Sumter and the deep
embrasures o. Johnson, burst the iron STORM, m
The fury Of man rivals In grandeur the war OF the
elements.
and enly the quick lightning lashes OF the guns,
rrtiag the smoke, tell Of the light. But slowly
the smoke floats away and shows the Feet deleat-
ed and shattered, making for the outer harbor.
The victory was ours and JOY filled all hearts as
they realized that the city Is still their own.
But the conflict ceased not then. The ehorts OF
assailant and assalled were renewed, while the
passions and the pride OF either section sWelleu
the contest into grandest proportions. Here the
hrst thought of resistance had been conceived
and matured. From yonder forts had sounded
the bridal dawn OF thunder.peals procalmlng
that thought had Wedded fact
The very efforts to close the port had excited
the l,veest interest in Its fate and the attention
OF the world once attracted, the world rang with
the achievements OF Its defenders. The glory
which had crowned the old palmetto walls OF
Moultrie was renewed in the grander events Of
the second struggle for independence, While
beside and around 1t arose new 1ortS, whlcn,
dividing with 1t the guardianship y. the clty,
divided with 1t the glory Of the defence until tne
eve can scarcely rest upon spet which Is nos
memorable by the events which 1t witnessed.
Brilliant as were the achievements OF the war,
there is hardly one which holds more pronlneat
place In It's military history than the siege Of
Charleston. This Is due to many causes, put par.
ticularly to the union Of the highest qualities OF
manhood with the rare Skill which SO slgnaiiy
adapted the means OF resistance to the attack;
The experiment which won for the distinguished
Russian engineer OF Sebastopol the highest RANK
In military circles. was repeated on a more ex-
tended scale and under more trying clrcumstan,
ces The comparative powers OF iron.clads anu
land fortresses, which he left as problem, stl
perpleXed and divided the military engineers OF