New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-11
From the Washington Republican, June ..
ISRAET. a. NJ. T.. CHURCH,.
cornerstone Of the New EdiGcs

I'm posing Masonic Cere monies by the Grand
ledge ofthe District-sp,e mdid Display Of
Co,ored characterization by Mr.. John IL
brooks.
As was previously announced, the cere.
mony of LAYING the cornerstone of the new
cditlce of the congregation of Israel Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest and
hest known in the District, took place yester-
day. The new building will be located on
the corner of and First streets southwest.
I, will occupy a lot ninety bv sixty feet.
The architecture is of the Gothic order, the
material of brick and stone, and when com
nl,ied il will be one of the finest ediices for
worship in the District and an honor to the
r,ople who are laboring so hard for It's con
stuction Long before the hour named for
The commencement of the ceremonies crowds
of calored people had gathered in the yicin-
ito. and by three O'Clock there were fully five
Thousand present. The Grand Lodge of col
ored Masons, who had been invited TO Law
the cornerstone, we've rendered the services
of the Knights Templar as an escort, and the
G-and Commandery, under the command of
Most Eminent Commander John A. GRAY,
and Gethsemane and Simon Communicates
in full uniform, the officers and Master Ma
sons OF the several lodges made up an escort
which WIS lilltlltCiN 10 tlp craft,
They assemble at their asylum, and after the
line had formed marched to the spot, headed
by the Fort Whipple band.
The cornerstone, which occupied the usual
position, was of brownstone, and the box
contained copies OF the daily papers, the
Bible, United States and other coins, the
names of the President and Cabinet, District
olih as, the members of the Grand Lodge
aud other interesting documents.
Al three O'Clock the assemblage was called
To order by the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Mitchell,
aud devotional exercises held. These were
followed 10y short addresses by several we'll
known gentlemen, and then the procession
having arrived, the Grand Lodge took charge.
The communicates were formed in a circle.
and few brief Introductory remarks were
made by Grand Master VIM IL MYERS, after
which the cornerstone was adjusted, the
proper officers of the Grand Lodge officiating
al the impressive ceremony.
The Most Worthy Grand Commander then
introduced Right Worshipful Brother John
ii. Brooks, the orator of the day, who deiv-
cred the following:
Most u o'Shjpfm Grand Master and Members
ct Tie Fratamap--!Sr Knights ond Fel,om-
th'oems: | approach the discharge of the
duties assigned me, in these interesting cere-
monies, with great reluctance from a con-
sclous inability 10 fully meet the requirements
Of - important an occasion.
1t is noteworthy of Masons that they avail
themselves of but few, aud never trivial
occasions, TO appear as an organized body
IN public. Some great duty must at all times
he the motive power that will induce them
To give up their sacred places of retreat and
appear before the world; not that they are
afraid to meet the gaze aud criticisms of all
mankind hot 4 q /,
Profession, but because their chief and mrcal
work, like that of the true Christian, can be
best performed in quiet and transformations
manner. 1t is true that death, the Great
levcler, too often brings us before YOU in
discharge OF the melancholy duty of commit
ting brothers body to its mother earth,
and in his awful presence, no doubt, the mys-
teries that in the eve of the public seems to
surround us, may partake OF Il fearful nature;
but there are other times and occasions when
MasOns have a delight in coming out into
the world properly clothed in the habli-
ments that distinguish them from Others, ;" and
for the performance Of sacred duties peculiar
to their Order from the building of the Tenn
pie of Jerusalem to the present day.
That great monument Of human wisdom
and capacity, the encyclopedia Brittan-
ica," in speaking Of Freemasonry, saws
lone of the first objects of man, in a rude
state of being, is TO screen himself and his
family from the heat of the tropical sun, from
the inclemency of the polar regions, or from
tie sudden changes of more temperate eli
mates. If he has arrived at such a degree of
Improvement as to live under the dominion
of a superior, and under the influence OF a
religious belief, the palace of his king and
temple Of his gods will be reared in the most
magnificent style which his skill can devise
a ind, fra H., 81,
accordingly entitled to very high position
among the other arts. 1t is itself the parent
profession, and requires a combination OF
talent and an extent of knowledge for which
few other professions have, for the most part
any occasion. There is some foundation in
the very nature of architecture for those eX-
traordinary privileges to which Masons have
always laid claim, and which they have al
most always possessed.
"Freemasonry is an ancient aud respccta-
bic institution, embracing individuals Oievery
nation, religion, and condition in life. In
order to confirm this institution and obtain
the ends for which it was originally formed,
every candidate comes under Il solemn en-
gagement never to divulge the mysteries OF
the Order, nor communicate to the unini-
tiated the secrets with which he may be
intrusted and the proceedings aud plans with
which the Fraternity may be engaged. :
The desire for ponp and ceremony displayed
at an early period by the Roman Catholic
priests, in the exercise of their religion, in
troduced Il corresponding desire for splendid
monasteries and magnificent cathcdrals. In
order 10 encourage the profession of arch-
lecture, the Pontiis of Rome and other po-
tentates of Europe conferred on the fraternity
OF Freemasons the most important privileges,
and allowed to be governed by laws, customs
and ceremonies peculiar To themselves. The
association was composed Of all nations,
who were denominated Frccmasons, and
who, travelling from one country to another,
erected those elegant churches and cathe-
drals which men still admire. The govern
ment of this association was remarkably
regular. Freemasons monopolized the build
ms Of religious structures in all Christen-
dom"
1t will thus be seen, my friends, that the
laying OF the cornerstone of temple dedi-
Gated to the worship OF the living God, was,
IN ancient times, considered the exclusive
right and duty of Freemasons, and, follow
lug in the footsteps of our ancient brethren,
We are here to-day advisedly, not for show
and pOmp, but in the performance of an i'm
Portant and interesting ceremony, that from
the earliest ages until the present day has
been regarded as the peculiar work of Free
masOns.
Masonry has ever been the faithful hand
maid and friend of the Church, and had the
church, like Masonry, never deviated from
her primitive teachings, there never would
have been cause for one single jar or ripple
OF That harmonious intercourse and friend
snip that existed between them, from the
Time great Jehovah commanded the temple mt
Jerusalem to be built to the seventeenth
mi, e H.