The New York herald., 1877-10-14
Laying the Corner Stone Of the Regi-
melt'S New Home.
INTERESTING CEREMONIES.
Speeches by Secretary William NJ. EyartS, Mayor
Ely and Grand Master Couch.
A BRILLIANT GATHERING.

the site Of the proposed structure, oil sixty
sixth street and Fourth avenue, in the presence Of
brilliant gathering The occasion excited great inter-
throughout the city, and any stranger visiting the
avenues through which the procession passed, and
seeing the vast throngs of people lining tho side
walks, doorsteps, windows and hlling all
available space, might have thought that some
great holiday was being celebrated. The procession
was formed in Fifth avenue noar Twenty.sxth street,
| al two O'Clock. Colonel Emmons Clark and his star
rode at the hoad Of the regiment which, arrayed IN
| iun dress Uniform and marching In column OF
patoons sixteen 'front.' turned out IN full force, $50
strong Then followed carriages two ABREAST tor the
Governor and his staf ihe Governor, account Of
his weak eyes, which he Is no, allowed to expose to
the sunlight except when absolutely necessary,
being absent, represented by AdJutant
General Townsendl Mayor Ely Secretary Of
state William N. Evarts and the trustees
OF tho new armory fund, Robert Lenox Kennedy,
Royal Phelps and W. w. Aslor. Next came SEQ uni
formed and ununiiormed veterans OF the Seventh
regiment headed by Colonel W. A. Pond and General
Duryee and the officers OF the Grand Lodge oil Aasohs,
State OF New York, headed by the Most Worshipiul
Grand Master Couch
THE PARADR
An immense gathering Of people witnessed the for
nation Of the procession, and when the inspiring
strains Of the Seventh regiment band gave the signal
msnt on both sides of the streets far outnumbered
opened somewhat chilly, was now warm and bright,
and Tho brilliant military display aud the fine march
ing greatly enjoyed by the spectators The route
OF the procession lay Fifth avenue to Sixtyseyenth
street. In sixty seventh street the regiment formed
line extending from the Park 10 Fourth avenue
and presented the honorary guests, in car
riagcs, Grand Masons and veterans passed by them
up to the monster platform, which the
mony was 10 take place This platform,
which covered the whole immense block
from sixtysixth to Sixty-seventh streets, and tom
Fourth to Lexington avenues, must have ned nearly
tour thousand people at this time, large number OF
these being ladies. But even this monster platform
could not hold all the people anxious TO view the
ceremony, tor the roofs Of the neignborng buildings
were all covered with curious spectators At tue cor
oil Sixty sixth street and Fourth avenue separate
Enclosure on the platform was set apart ior
the speakers and trustees; behind them sa.
and military aids in their glittering uniforms. What
with the bayones gintng now IN the warm sunlight
picturesque appearance OF the Grand Lodge OF Ma
sons the gay OF elegant ladies' their
| oil bright bonnets and waving spnshades, and the
| snowy uniforms OF the officers, spectacle
strong that hats ana parasos were universally called
into requsltion TO protect the eyesight
CEREMONIES
After the invocation OF the blessing Of sod upon the
structure Mayor Ely opened the ceremonies with
graceful speech, which riveted the attention OF tne
| spectators and was received with applause
! SPEECH OF MAYOR ELY.
/ MES of this occasion, said Mayor Ely, is 20
pleasure well duty. am glad to have oppor-
iunity behalf OF the people OF this city 70 present
our grateful acknowled dgments to the Seventh regl
ment and tue oner regiments OF our National Guard,
| for tho inestimabie services which they
dered during the present and past years. We are
proud OF our military organzatons but as the Official
particularly in ths,r relation TO our city government
and their utility in the maintenance and enforcement
auxiliary Kill to police orce. II @ Of
and excitement nothing inspires our community with
SO much sonndenSs as The presence % Of our
crease in our police force as well as in
our regular army would be Immediately neces-
sary. We all admit that in order TO protect frontiers
standIDg army is Indispensable But Tor the man
tensnce Of internal order they not needed,
tainy not in TINS portion oil the Union. ! sincerely
believe that in all the elements which combine TO
form efficient troops our city regiments are not
excclcd ~ any army in the world. During the
dcploraole railroad riots OF last summer what more
coulo have been done by regulars than was done by
riots meeting called in Tompkins square,
in the immediate vicinity OF the armory where Tho
seventh regiment was undor arms. THIS meeting,
| which proved TO DO peaceable nssemoase, was
viewed with great alarm by our citizens, but was,
happily most beneficial in lis influence. But had the
! gentlemen who called upon me beon real
izea, and : there r,,a had assembled from ON, al,
| 80, 900 men, organized for rapine. l have no
doubt, none whatever, OF the result Upon whatever
scenes the moon might have looked during night Of
horror, the morning sun would have peace
ful city, which the offended majesty Law had been
i
only poss ble because city regiments had been
removed to the seat OF Tho effect OF their alb
sence 1t that time IS stili ieit oo 6y 3 our over
| burdancd taxpayers In the So, 900 OF riot
bonds still outstanding and the Sl2o,OO0 added an.
nuaiy to our taxes for interest refer 10 these facts
incentive 70 our ctzens to respond, literally
aud promptly, to the appeals OF the Seventh regiment
for the meaus to complete their armory, whose
stone VIC have assembled on this pleasant day to lay.
contribution TO this object is OF justice well
as an act OF generosity. am not the orator Of this
| occasion. That hign privilege devolves upon tho
|
you, hon. William ii. Evarts lApplauso)
ADDRESS or SECRETARY EvAGTs
Mr. Evarts stepped forward and aid:- When tho
officers oi these active aud organ zations did
| mo tho honor 10 ask me to take some nart IN the
celebration in which all feel great an interest
could not hesitate to accept was grateful, indeed
that In my temporary Withdrawal from my residence
| In this CITY had not beon entirely forgotten my
| interest IN what was going New York dts
paraged | had but one doubt, and that was whether
lind opportunity for such preparation would all
commensurate with the Just demands ofso interesting
! a ceremony. But tho coninitiee kindly assured INC
that q simple and brief address III my usual manner
II not adequate to the requirements OF tho OCCASION
would sasy the expectations of the regiment aud It's
| friends. tAppausel This famous regiment is well
known throughout the country as anything connected
with The city Of New YORK during the last niy years
The project IS TO furnish drllroom and an armory
hat shall DO adequate and ample ana tho means that
sought from voluntary contributions OF the citizens
| repaying In some small degree the immense dgUt
| that tho community owes to this regiment. ZAP
pmuse) Tho wider connection Of this military or
ganzton with It's sisters ts compecrs ts rivals the
interesting, the vital relations between the citizen
sodiery aud the clvl government and peace in
the community these are larger influences which add
TO but are not necessary TO interest In this cero
| monial and In the enterprise with which IS
connected THIS regiment now for more
| than nity years without vcissitudes either
| In It's conduct, in its services In its
ropute, In It's high order In discipline and the great
general character OF It's MEMBERS and It's relations
the feelings, TO the interest," 10 the honor of this
muny, presentsa greater, more uniform ana a longer
career OF unbroRen character and worth than per-
haps 10 be expected III an organization voluntary,
having any OBJECT Of pront and NOT controlled by any
i domineering state authority. tApplauso.) And now
| during this periods OF nity years, in the various
| forms oil military attendance and service, the
| history Of this regiment is the history Of tho
occasions upon which military ala had been
| needed BY this CITY. by thls community and
by this country. No doubt soldiery nko this,
equipped indeed Tor disc plinc for military
force, is TO hnd It's principal in the peaceful
pomp and ceremonies In which military display