, 1872-10-31
THE FIRE MONUMENT.
The Cornerstone Laid Yester-
day Forenoon.
Impressive Masonic Ceremonies
at Central Park.

Addresses BY Mayor Mediu and Hon
S. s. Hayes.
The cornerstone Of the Fire Monument a
Central Park was laid yesterday. Inspite Of tht
leaden skies and raw winds Of the morning.
Large number Of persons assembled at the nfil
"aukee depot to take q free ride to the edge OF
the city and witness the ceremonies The Crane
Masonic Lodge Of Illinois was invited to Law tht
Stone with the impressive rites Of the Order, ane
came IN their regalia. accompanied by binds
Eusworth's Zouaves, Knights Templar and til.
following lodges: Cleveland. Garden CITY. Pie
iades, Keystone, Covenant, Wabansia, Meterio
Bigeiow. Tho train, consisting of eleven carg
kindly furnished by the Northwestern Railroad
left at 1880, and in fifteen minutes reached itf
destination.
TIE SITE oF THE MONUMENT
is at the terminus Of Washington street. a
platform had been erected, and the stars and
stripes waved above it in the damp air. The
useful derrick from which the stone hung sus.
pended did not know itself in it's new suit Of
evergreena. Carriages containing number OF
the fair sex we're on the ground, and away be-
yond them could be seen laborers carting dirt
from an excavation where lake is to abide, to
where miniature mountain is to break the
monotony Of the plain. To the south we're
trees, and the bit OF the park already sodded.
and to the west the beginning Of other ponds.
and all over and around tho places where in a
few yeara from date will be shady groves and
sylvan recesees for ss whispering lovers made. ~
Tt will be nice then. To the north lay Hum
boldt Park, and away south is where Douglas
Park Is yet to bloom like another Eden.
TIE DISTINGUISHED COMPANY,
While these typographical notes we're being
taken the procession OF Masons WAS slowly wind
ing lts way around the road to the scene Of ope-
ratlons. The spectators took up the best posi-
tions they could find, among them being Mayor
Henry Greenebaum, 6. q. ?. Holden, Isaac r.
Hitt, 2. F: Runyan, Clark Lipe, Charles Lod-
ding, David Cole, Paul Cornell, Colonel Snow
hook, Hon. Carlyle Mason, and about two hun
dred others. The members Of the Grand Lodge
stood round in circle, the Templars behind
them, and the other l1asona behind them.
Silence prevailed for faw minutes, while an
enterprising photographer made picture Of the
scene.
CALLED TO ORDER.
Tho Most Worehipfu1 Grand Master Cregier
called tho assemblage to order, and said that on
Oct. 3d. B. G. 1908, King Solomon had dedicated
the temple at Jerusaleu1, and On Oct. 80, 1872,
they had assembled to lay the corner stone Of .
monument to commemorate the most direful
calamity thateyer befen people.
The Grand Chaplain, Rev: Robert Co11yer,
made prayer.
CONTENTS OF THE BOX.
Grand Treasurer Church read the list OF arti-
cles in the tin box to be deposited in the di1ninu-
tive vault beneath the stone. There we're copies
Of the laws under which the West Side Park
Commissioners act, copies OF the first, second,
and third annual reports Of tho Commissioners,
photographs OF the monument, copies OF the
transactions Of the Grand Lodge OF Illinois, the
eleventh annual report of the Board Of Public
Works, piece OF the Court House bell, copies
Of the daily papers issued after the fire, and Of
Oct: and 80, 1872; report Of the Relief and Aid
Society, maps and photographs Of the burnt dis
trlct, North and South. an account Of Chicago
one year after the fire, and Of the railroads.
THE STONE LOWERED.
Tho box was deposited in it's long home, the
stone was gradually lowered, the band all the
"hile playing Plegeis hymn, beginning
Solemn strikes the funeral chime
Notes Of our departing time,
A we journey here below
Through pilgrimage Of woe.
Mr. ". l.. B. Jenney, architect Of the West
Side Parks, spread the actual cement, and then
presented the working tools to the Grand Mas
Ter. The symbolic masonry was next in order.
The Acting Deputy Grand Master, DR.. Powell,
sprinkled on the stone corn, the emblem Of
plenty, the Senior Grand Warden, Sutton, poured
aRon a}Rs%aaei it win vine, IT., the emblem Of joy and
n, Barnard, annointed it With oil, the en-
olem Of peace. The tools OF tie craft
we're applied to the stone by the three officers
aamed, the Grand Master struck it three times
ustiy ad according to tie fors Of the @ agcient ana
raft, Grand Marshal Cushman made proclama-
ion, the Divine blessing was invoked, and tha
entire assemblage joined in singing the follow
ng
ODE, WRITTEN FOR THE OCCASION.
b art the Corners laid;
Father, the Craft Th!no aid
Thy Blessing crave.
Guide Thou the cunning hand,
Be with the workman band,
Long let the City stand,
From harm, It save.
Tho Cornerstone is laid,
The Corner, level made
Plumb let It stand.
Proud may the column risa
Approve our WORK, Allwise, |
And bIesa this land.
"Let there be light, was said,
When forth through chaos sped
The boon divine
Spread far our Citys fame,
And lere, in Thy Great Name,
Sad memories shrine.
Through East, South, West and North,
Der bill and plain, |
Let knowledge wide be spread |
All men by love be led: ]
Let FIRES commotion, dread
Come not sgan.
Heayenward point the shaft
PTo7d by the Ancient Craft:
While 1oftier spire,
Tells from deeper base,
How love, With Saving grace
Came promptly to efface
Chicago'a Fire,
INSCRIPTION.
Ihe Grand Master returned the working tools
bis profession to Mr. Jenney, and committed
10 future care Of the monument to him, The t
orner stone bears the following inscription:
Laid By the II. H. Grand Master of A. F. l. A. Mn-
D. 1872.
Thus ended the Masonic part Of the pro-
ramme.