The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-21

forefathers, and such may they ever continue
10 the end of time.
To those fair ladies of the City Of Charleston
whose skiiful fingers have weavtd the Cec' RI
lions which adorn this occasion, take great
pleasure, not simply in returning the thanks
of the Craft, but to as sure them that they have
won place in our hearts. And do not tnlnh
that The suggestion will be inappropriate, tha'
If they ever expect 10 better Their condl'lon IL
This life that this will be most capital oppor
tnnity, for some of MS at least not on'y 1oglVe
their healts bull their hands.
To one and all We again extend cordia
welcome and Masonic welcome.
A short interval then elapsed, during which
Muler's Band, from the clouds, let fall
pleasing air. The grand master then an
nouhced that the Grand Lodge would row de-
s.end and proceed to the laying Of the corner
stone.
Forming at the steps, and received With
due salutations, the Grand Lodge passed
through the opened ranks the brethren, anc
assembled upon the flooring I the northeast
corner Of tie temple.
G.M.: We are tmght 'in Masonry that be-
fore engaging in any great or important un,
dertaking. we shold always Invoke The bless
ing OF Almighty G ID. Our grand chaplain
will now lead us in our .devotions. Brother
A. Toomer Porter, grand chaplain, then offer.
ed the following prayer:
Almighty God, the only Archit ct of the
universe, We how with humble reverence be-
fore Thy divine majesty, conscious OF our
unworthiuess, and sensible OF our III ter 1eeD e
ness before Thee. We approach Thy throne
implorng Thy blessing upor US and upon our
order. We ask Thy grace AMI strength, lnat
we may SD practice those great principles
taught us in Thy holy VOID. by which we pre-
Tess to be guided, that through us society m y
be elevated, and we may be iasirum Il tai III
making lighter the burden of care aud sorrow
which it Is the lot OF man 10 bear. We know
that ..eXcept the Lord build the housa, they
labor in vain that build IT," We, therefore,
pray Thee to manifest Thy goodness 10 us In
this our present undertaking. Preserve from
harm all who are engaged in the instruction
of this temple, and may no work ever be
brought within lis walls which does not meet
with Thy approval. Bless all the inhabitants
OF this city, the people OF this State and coun'
Try. and let Thy favor rest upon The Craft
everywhere. Knit our hearts together in The
bonds of charity, truth and peace, and grant
that we ALL having finished our labors IN this
earthly temple. al last may oil be recelre
into those heavenly habtations, prepared for
those who love and serve Thee. So mote II
be. Amen.
Brethren $50 mote II be. Amen"
The relics taken from the cornerstone of the
cd hall were then placed in The stone followed
out for the purpose, together with anoih'l
glass Jar, carefully sealed, containing papers ol
the Grand Lodge, coins, medals, &c. The cor
ner-stone, by order of The grand master, was
then lowered by three gradalions. at the cal
of the grand master the principal architect
Mr. John H. DevereuX, then presented the
working tools of his profession, and the grand
master having descended to the foundation
applied the plumb, square and level to the
s'one. Again rising, he eXciui ned: II Lave
tried and proved this stone by plumb, square
and level, and pronounce it to be we'll formed,
rue and trIsty."
D,puty Grand Master R. S. Bruins then pre-
sented the grand master with splend'dly
polished holn Uf immense sz', containing
corn, saying, Most worshipfnl, essnt You
with the corn of nonr rshment."
The grand master then sc.ttered the corn
upon The stone, and the senior grand
warden, Carwile, presented him with pitcher
of VIM, saying, "Most woishipfu, 1 pre-
sent you with the wine Of reireshment." The
grand master poured the wine upon the stone,
and the iunior grand warden, Jas. a. Hoyt,
then presented him with silver vessel OF
oil, SAYING, ''Most worsAirful, present you
with the oil ofjoy." The grand master poured
the oil uroa the stone, and standing forward
with extended hands, he made The fol owing
Invocation:
MAY the all-bounteous Author oil Nature
bless The inhabitants Of this place with all the
Ii. es saries, cJnvenences and comforts If life;
| assist In the erection and COM lleLion OF This
| building; protect the workmen against every
| accident; long preserve this structure from
decay and grant to us all supply OF the
| Corn oil nour rishnent. the WINE ofretreShnent,
and The Oil Of jog. So mote IL b.. A'ne2.
The graad masl-r then struck the stone
three times with hi, Hiram, and The brelh
rem looking wards the deputy grand master
In the east, gave the public grand honors Of
Masonry in due form by three times three.
The grand master then delivered the various
implements of architecture 10 the architect
saying:
Worthy sir, having thus, 'as graud master
| of Masous. laid the foundation stone OF this
struclur-, now deliver these implements OF
your profession into your hands, lntrust'ng
| you with The snperintendence AMI direction 01
the work, having full confidence in your skill
! and ca.acily TO conduct The same. Stone
pushed in.
Tue Cornerstone was then pushed into lis
place, and being secsred, the Grand Lodge re-
turned to the speakers stand with the same
ceremonies as those with which they lett it,
The anthem LET there be Light" was next
sung By the choir, after which the grand mas
ter addressed The us embly as follows:
Men and brc;trca here assembled, b. Ii
| known uni o you, that We be lawful Mas1ns,
true and faithful 10 the laws Of our county,
and engaged, by solemn obligations, TO erect
magnificent bindings, to be s"rriceabie to The
brethren, and tO fear God, the Great Architect
of the Univer.e. We have among us, concealed
from the eyes of all men, seer, IS which cannot
| be diyulged, and which never have been found
ont but these secrets are lawful and honor
| able, and not repugnanL 10 the laws OF God Or
| maa. They were ialrusted, in peace and hon
| or. 10 lhp NJ IS )ns of ancient times, and having
b. en- faithfully transmitted to us, it is our du y
| TO convey them u imp aired to the lltest pos-
terity. Unle>s onr Craft were good and our
calling honorable, we should not have lasted
for so many centuries. nor SHOULD We have
been honored with the patronage OF so many
| llustrious men In al ages, who have ever
shown themselves ready 10 promote our inter
ests ana Gelen us from all airersarit S. We
are as ,emb!ei here today in the face ofyou al
| 10 build house, which we pray Col may de-
serve 10 prosper, by becoming place Of coa-
| CONS 4 ~ roOd men and D-OmOIlUn harmony