River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-05-27
THE CORNER STONE CEREMONIES.
a Large Assemblage Present to Witness
the Memorable Event.
Able and Interesting Addresses by Messrs.
T. Cleary and A. P. Weld.

linger long in the remembrance of this
village as the day upon which the cor
ner stone of our public school building
was laid. At 1870 P. NJ. the Masonic
fraternity of this vicinity, representa-
tives of Star Prairie Lodge. members
of the district board, chaplain and
speaker assembled at Brackets Hall
where procession was formed under
Merrick, and marched to the grounds
accompanied by the River Falls Cor
net Band. A large concourse of citi-
zens of this village and vicinity had
gathered there and the grounds were
well filled with people and carriages.
The assemblage was called to order by
Grand Master Thos. Cleary who stated
the object of the meeting as follows !:
From time immemorial, or for so long as
the fraternity OF Free and Accepted Masons
has existed, it has been customary for II to
conduct in accordance with its rites and GER
emonies, the laying OF corner stones OF public
editices. Ii so conducts them, whether the
building may thereafter be dedicated solely
to Masonic use, or to any respectable public
use. And Tor the purpose OF so laying the
corner stone OF this public school building,
we, as Free and Accepted Masons, being duly
authorized by the Grand Lodge OF the State
OF Wisconsin, have gathered to-day, accom-
panied by the brethren of the craft OF this
vicinity. In these ceremonies you are now
about TO participate, and they will proceed
in accordance with Masonic usages and Gus
toms.
After which prayer was offered by
the chaplain, Rev. A. S. Collins. The
Grand Treasurer then deposited in the
receptacle prepared beneath the stone
a copper box containing the village
papers, a roster of the lodge, names of
school board, architect and builderand
coins of various denominations. Dur
ing solemn music by the Band the
stone was placed III position. The
working tools--the square, level and
plumb-were then presented by the
architect to the Grand Master who
distributed them TO his officers and
directed them to try the corner stone
| anu dSC6I GotII IL ~ NCAC SttAO"DlS w
| its place. The officers having ascer-
| tanned that the stone was square, level
and plumb, the elements of consecra-
| ton, consisting of corn, wine and oil,
were scattered upon it and the stone
pronounced to be duly laid according
| to the rites and ceremonies of Masonry
by Grand Master Cleary VINO also ex-
planned the meaning of the symbols
| used, as follows
Ladies and gentlemen:-In explanation of
| the forms and ceremonies "dopted IN laying
| this corner stone, Will that IN Masonry
| every ceremony cond' 10y the craft, has
| it's peculiar signlficaD nd meaning, and is
| designed to iuculcat ne especial point OF
| moral or masonic ] 'fOu, ana impress
upon the thinking ne lesson oil value.
| This foundation stem we have lad to-
| day, as you will O Z p, is situated in the
| northeast corner building; one OF It's
| sides facing the nol.n, masOnically termed
| the place OF darkness, an one OF It's sides
| facing the east masonlcally termed the place
| OF light, thus by its situation symbollzng hu-
man lite, human study and human effort
| From the darkness to light, from infancy and
| childish innocence, yet ignorance, to manly
| life and knowledge 1t illustrates mental and
material progress and the accomplishment
| H the desires ana hopes of man to improve
and grow better. 1t IS also a symbol OF per
| maneuce and Of lasting, solid, remaining val
ue and teaches the lesson that III all that Is
good, noble and manly, permanence OF
! foundation, tiXedness OF right principle, as
| the starting fundamental point, can alone
insure stability and true character III all the
works that follow. In testing the stone we
| have made use of the Plumb, Square and
| Level. These implements or working tools
| teach US, Historically, rectltude Of conduct,
morality and equality. The Plumb teaches
US to walk uprIghtIy in our several stations,
| TO hold the scale OF Justice in equal poise, to
observe the Just medium between intemper-
| ance and pleasure, and to make our passions
and our preiudices coincide with the line of
| duty The Square teachs Us to regulate our
actions by rule and line, and to harmonic
our conduct by the principles Of morality
and virtue The Level demonstrates that we
are all descended from the same stock, par
take of the same natures, and share the same
hopes, and although distinctions among men
are necessary to preserve subordlnatlon, yet
no emineuce of station should make MS tor
get that we are Brethren, for he who is placed
on the lowest spoke OF fortunes wheel, may
be entitled to our regard
The stone is laid with sacred ceremonies Of
| conservation, the emblems used being corn,
wine and oil, typical OF nOurishment, refresh
ment and joy. The nourishment that gives
! strength ana aDll1Jy jOf manly TOLL llle ueCs
essary refreshment Tor recuperatlon ana re-
invigoratiOn; and the absolute JOY that re-
suits from work we'll and conscientiOusly
| done
And so, accom- panied by the solemn invo-
cation OF thanktulness, blessing and devotion
to the Supreme Architect OF the Universe
which accompanies all Masonic ceremonies,
this corner stone has been laid to-day in ac-
cerdance with the ceremonies OF the craft,
with due and Masonic regard to its situation,
permanence and conservation, and all the
| lessons which these essentials teach. And
in behalf OF the fraternity OF Free and Accept
ed Masons | will say that we are most happy
in having the opportunity OF laying this
foundation stone, on which it is our earnest
wish a building may arise that will prove an
inestimable blessing throughout this commu-
nifty to future generations as well as the pres
eut, and an honor, OF which they may well
be proud, to those whose particular eXertionS
have merited, and | may say obtained the
univerf n" )bation OF all.
Aft, .ue address of Mr.. CleaTy the
marshall introduced MIA. P. Weld
who spoke briefly.
lie said that he was glad to
have the opportunity to address
this people at this time and while
he would have been glad to have
as an excuse that he had just been
called upon to make few remarks he
was denied this relief by the fact that
the editors had announced that he was
to speak in advance. A flood of rem
iniscences came over him as he stood
upon that place and the mind run back
over quarter of century to the day
when a few earnest men who had come
to brave the trials and prlvations of a
pioneer life, had resolved that al
though they might suffer their child
rem should not be deprived of the adj
vantages of education because of their
new life in the wilderness, and 50 act
ing upon the best model they had they
built the Academy so long landmark
in our village. The building was
erected in 1856 and Prof. Wilcox was
chosen the first Principal. The first
president of the Board of Trustees
being Jacob Shepherd but he declin
ing to serve, Prof. e. w. Pratt was
chosen in his stead and continued to
act until the final dissolution of the
corporation. Uncle Charley Cox was
the treasurer, his duty after the first
year being to enter zero ON each side
of the cash account. OF that board of
trustees three. n. n. Powell, Jacob
Shepherd and W. r. stephens, are dead.
Prof. Wilcox was man of broad cult
ure but strict in morals and religious
views. lie was not what is generally