The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-23
The New James River Bridge.
TIsE C0RSER.STGNE LAID BY TEEE
MASONIC FRATERNITY.
PROCESSION AND CEREMONIES.
JUDGE wELLFoRD's ADDRESS,


The repeated disappolntments In regard
to the laying Of the cornerstone of the new
James River bridge had so dampened
tae enthusiasm Of many Of its friends on
this side Of the water that the parade in
honor OF that important event on yester-
day. when the stone actually was laid, was
by no means rs large rs it should have been.
Still, there were four or five hundred per-
sons in Richmond who, regardless alike OF
the heat and lowering clouds. made their
appearance at the rendezvous on 9th street
at O'Clock, and took up
THE LINE OF MARCH.
The representatives Of the State and city
governments, bridge commissioners, and
the Grand Master of Masons and his attend
ants were in carriages. with detachment
Of mounted Knights Tcmplar, under Sir
Knight JAS. Ascot, Eminent Commander,
and Sir Knight VIM. h. Tanner, Captain
General, rs an escort. Preceding the dis
tingulShed guests were representatives of
the Knights of Iythias, under Chief Mar
Shal {. Z. Binford, the Virginia GesaDg-
vcrcir, Templars OF Honor and Temper
ance, Independent Order Of Odd-FelIows,
and Cadets Of Temperance. Owing to an
unfortunate misunderstanding, the Masons,
except the officers specially entrusted with
the duty of assisting the Grand Master,
were unable to join in the procession until
il reached the other side Of the river, when
they fell in With Mancheiter Lodge, No. IA.
The whole line was under the direction of
Captain l.. l.. Bass, chief marshal.
The bead Of the procession resting on
Broad street. thc march was commenced at
haif-pa>t = O'Clock. and continued according
TO the following route Up Broad street to
9Th, down 9Th To Main. down Main 10 l4th,
down l4th to Mavo'S bridge, and thence
across the bridge 10 Manchester. Smiths
aud kc>Snch's bands. stationed at proper
intervals in the line, furnished appropriate
music. When the procession was about
halfway across the bridge there was slight
fall Of rain, not heavy cnongh To cause tue
ranks to be broken, hat quite heavy
enough to make the march for the next Ten
minutes anything but agreeable.
on TIE MANCHESTER SIDE
the procession WAS met hy MeSsrs. W. G..
Taylor, G.. c. McRac, j. NJ. Moody, r.
Gary. and Wm. |. Clopton, bridge COM
mis>ioncrS on the part Of that town by;
DR.. VIM. 4. WciSiCcr. chief marshal, and
DR.. l.. Il. ChileS and Mr. ". +. Gary, his
assistants.
The line was then reformed in the fol,
lowing order:
Detachment Of Police under Sergt. James,
OF Richmond, and Capt. Lips
comb, OF Manchester.
Stewards of Pythian Lodges, with Axes
Smiths Band.
Friendship Lodge, No. 20. X. p, +. e.
WcisiScr. acting ". c.
w. II. Wejsger, Marshal.
knights of pythiaS from Richmond, c. p.
Bintord. Chief Marshal.
Manchester Council Friends of Temper.
aucc, D. J. WeISiger, President.
W. Il. Lee, Marshal.
Temperance organizations OF Richmond
Virginia GcSaugve!ei ein (ein%ing society.
Henderson and Stewart Lodges /. .. y. i .,
| ii. >. Jordan. y. G.; 4. huorr: Marshal.
| Schiller Lodge. |. O. =. j.. OF Richmond.
Richmond Commandery, No. ,, Knight:
Tcmpl;tr.
Manchester Lodge, No. Il, A., r: and y
NJ; Z. ". Crow, ". d.; Wm'
WhitWorth. marshal.
| Col. Thomas +. Owens, q. u. Of MasonS o
Virginia, with assistants III carriages,
Other carriages. containing the bridge
commissioners, City Council Of
Richmond, trustees OF Mau-
chester. and citizens
generally.
| The line Of march was ~ follows: u
| Hull street to 18th. down 18th to Porter
| down Porter to 1th, down Ith to Perry
down Perry TO 9th. and out 9TH to the Seal
| of the cornerstone. Business WAS generally
suspended, Manchester had on her best
clothes, and the streets were liued with in
| lercsted spectators.
At TIE CORNER. STONE.
Arrived at the site OF the Manchester enc
| of The bridge the various societies were ar.
ranged in convenient and orderly manner
| in front OF the platform erected for the ora
| tor Of the dav and other di%ntaries, the
| Masons being nearest the cornerstone. Or
| either side OF the platform were erected
rows Gf benches, which were crowded VIII
! ladies' and other spectators so fortunate -
| to lind sittinG-rOOm. The arches and gar
lands Of evergreen, with appropriate dc.
vices in view OF the union OF Nichmond and
| Manchester. provided by the ladies OF the
| smaller place, attracted mitch attention.
| But there WIS 10 need for the gay thron9
| of men In regalia and women in attire OF
many colors, nor OF any artificial arrange
ments to make the scene beautiful. The
ceremonies were performed on Il spot beau
| tilted bv nature, and the most careless spec.
tator must have been struck by the natu-
raj framework Of the picture even more
than by what the hand Of man had done rs
preliminary to the great work OF connecting
bv 4 new link the GeStinieS OF the north
side cf the James with those OF the south.
The exercises were commenced by the
singing Of an ode in German by tue Nlr-
-inia GeSangvercin, which was, by the way,
| 4 most interesting feature OF the pro-
crumme, A dcv0uI and impressive prayer
| was then offered by the Rev. j. Powell Gar
land. formerly of Manchester, but now
pastor of the Trinity Methodist Church,
| hichmond. lie implorcd the blessing OF
| the Almighty upon the undertaking now
commenced, and prayed that tie super.
! structure, the cornerstone Of which was
now laid, might be durable, and that the
enterprise might rebound TO the welfare o1
both cities.
Tnc band then played IN air, after which
the cornerstone was laid by Grand Master
| Owens, in accordance with the time-honor
| ed usage Of the Masonic Order.
The scene of the exercises was then
changed to the speakers platform, AND
Judge 3. X. Wexford, the orator OF the
day. was introduced. We give iul
sketch of his admirable address,.
ADDRESS OF JUDGE WEXFORD.
Tn Fame's high temple, where the great
of other days, 'front.' the sublime elevation
of accomplished destiny, look Gown upon
ne. there are two confronting walls. Upon
the one garands OF victory AND Wreaths OF
glory encircle every brow, and the br!eht
rays of a meridian sun are reflected BACK
with brilIiancy so beguilin@ 'hat few who
saze tail to be allured-yet so dazzling that
few who arc alurcd fail to be blinded, only
to bury in the hopeless obscnrity Of one OF y
other of thousand pit-fallsevery high ana
noble faculty. Shadows rest upon the
other, sadly truthful in their revelations OF OF
frowning fortune, repelIins in their gloom