New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-26
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Chy q Albany and for other pnrpo:esa.. un.e, N.
act for the encouragement OF literature, TO raise too
and 10 pay the same 20 commissioners IOr ~,
navigation between Troy and Waterford which yoas
know above, below Albany, and then PROCEEDED
Albany isand By experience % Sc q
a. H., I'D the . S snS % p % e y eSd Po6
;qase q the 20 sy 70, "s gTes o ,Sd Ssrs prs s,
the present Cour House sad toe nigh. be sod
therefore Be enacted 4. Jobs T.yGr paHe h
Sp v Ss9' da s%sSs Re w l Ss a
e rS.s n ts t 81 81, sy s &c couhe Of Revision
Court. Of Justice and the common CoaneI &C. Ar ,o,,-...
further provided that the managers or the otters
aforesaid should raise by lottery $4,000 and pay the
same TO the said Commissioners for the purposes Vi VI"
Not word is found in the body OF the bill about I'm.
proving the Hudson River below the CITY OF AiD2ny' IL
nevertheless bearsthls Endorsement ,,ds 1904
Rsref That does not appear Improper to The Camel , ."
How the ears of the Governor and Of the Legislature
would have tinged under the sting or critlcls anu
what howl OF indignation would have gone up from Ine
partisan press either side now, II Democratic or s
the Governor had approved bill for the erection OF the
new Capitol the title OF the bill being An act TO pro
Albany and for other purposes say nothing Of the
| money being raised, not by tax, but by lottery =.
Capitol, laid by Philip 8 Van Rensselaer,, then
Mayor in the presence Of the Chancellor the Judges Of
House Commissioners, and the leading citizens as
we learn from the newsPapers Of the day and a. was
occasions. it was TO he built on improved plans EN-
bracng much elegance with convenience and dur
billty" Its total cost was about $4,000 which paid
In part by the State and IN part by this city, The Gov
sembly the supreme Court and the Common Council Of
the city, ALL at first had rooms In IT, In the attic was
Arts and the Board OF Agriculture while the County
Clerk and the City Marshal occupied the basement
My feowczens, in the 20 years since the building OF
the old Capitol our State has had glorious and marvel
growth, true 10 its motto or Excelslor Inc oln
answer lis reorements Movements were foot for
the erection OF In 1868 the first appropriation
made for the purchase Of ground In the same year
resolution passed the Senate directing the Trustees Of
the Capitol and Chairman Of the Senate Committee
In 1885 an act passed authorizing the erection OF
Capitol condition that the City OF Albany should
give TO the State toward the purpose the ground CON
monty known the Congress Hail block This condition
was Complied WITH aud In 1866 the hrst appropriation OF
s25OOO made for the building The work was begun
and has steadily gone on each year mesh appropriations
have said that almost the whole OF the past history
of State has been written within the portals 81 se
the new one. Whether what Is to be shall be as honora
BILE and glorious what has BEEN will depend not upon
the agncence OF the structure to be erected nor upon
the sodty OF the foundation upon which it rests but
upon the intelligence. energy. virtue and patriotism OF
assemble here From foundation TO dome il may be 81
granite, firm rock, and lasting as the hlls, YET
will be built in vain unless the State sha nave ne
foundation deeply Laid in truth, equity aud Justice aud
shall have for its cornerstone great and endne rev
sSS b Sg F FGSe o he Republic for in
perils Of war, and left as rich legacy TO US
Pt tBe Lord Sep be civ he Waterman Eakeh vain"
prayer that our beloved state may continue grow in
the future il has in the past and that us n
prosperity and power but also in wider and wider d
fusion OF the elements Of domestic happiness among ne
people To this wholesome and substantial growth, the
Efforts of every one OF Us can contribute with the help OF
God. And may God grant to each OF us the VIII W 40 MS
At the conclusion of the Governors address, Mr.
Harris again came forward, ana, addressing MI
Anthem the Grand Master OF the Masons, SAID; -.
It seemed most fitting that your Ancient and Honor
able Fraternity, should be invited TO per- the CIT
State Of New-YorS and this invite you TO do with
| the usual forms OF Masonry"
From time immemoral it has been the nstom Of the
Ancient and Honorable Fraternity OF Free anu Aecepea
Masons to lay when requested 10 do S1th their an.
Gent FORMS the eOrnertones OF buildings erected Tor
the worship OF Cod for charitable objects for the paI
| ment, and OF other buildings This cornerstone
we may Lay In ian se 10 me
and desire show publicly our respect for the Gov
ernment under which live The first duty OF Masons
In any undertaking. Is TO invoke the blessing OF the
Architect upon their work Lei 81 US then
offered nrsvef in which he referred TO solomon as
| Grand Master King Solomon" After the prayer the
| Governor, assisted by the superintendent and oiner
| officials, lowered copper box into INF cavity over
which the cornerstone was to be laid IN the box IN
addition TO the newspaper and 0her aree
was a silver plate, on which Is inscribed:l
This Corner Stone Ssy Capitol BqlDg for the pse aa 'o0"n0
''' of b sS FHss@' &: state ''''
| Was laid on the 2,th dsy Of June, A. D. 1871.
| By His Eroelency
| sohn T. Hoffman, Governor Of the state Of Newton,
| Assisted By the
Worshpu Grani Lodge Of Preemason.of New York
| NJ w. John II. Anthem. O. NJ
The box also contained the Laws relating to the New
Capitol Reports OF the New Capitol Commissioners to
the Legislature, photographic and Photographic Views
of the NewCapto Annual Message Of the Governor to
TO the Legislature 1871 Annual Reports OF the state
Departments for 1871 New State sdanual for 1871
and Cvnnist, the Old and New Charter or the City Of
Albany the Message OF the Mayor and other Public
Documents relating TO the government OF the city OF
Albany for 1911 the Albany City Directory, aud the
| names O the Capitol Commissioners.
The cornerstone was then raised instantly by means
OF powerful steam crane, and lowered into It's place.
While This done salute was fired, and the choir
sang an ode written for the OCCASION the following
MY .ss marble , Witt as,I S5oys T"NoSdsh'
While stronger far than her pillars
The nations life Is mOldinz
80 its towers shall glow in their salptuei STOW,
Our happy bills sdornng,
| TIN the workmen wait By ihe Temples Gate.
Beyond the Golden Morning
The Masonic ritual was then carried ont Al Its con.
cluson another ode sung the Chaplain pronounced
benedction, and the ceremonies brought 10
| end by the Grand Marshal, who made the following
proclamation, in the name OF the Grand Lodge:
proclaim that the cornerstone OF the Capitol
OF the state OF New-York has this day been found
square, level and plumb and trusty, aud laid
c0rding TO tho old customs by the Grand Master Of
Masons."
not suppose there any still alive who pres
the laying OF the cornerstone OF the Old Capitol
He wrong James Gilbert, born in October, 1852,
witnessed IT, and rode in carriage In the procession To-
day. With the exception OF slight ameness, he is hale
and hearty, carrying his 81 years like younger
Mr. Gilbert says that the sh0ne brightly during the
Afternoon on which, in 1906 he took part in the laying
the cornerstone Of the old Capitol.