The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-10-26
YORKTOWN.
Gov. Halliday Delivers tine Aaares or
welcome.
senator JORnstOn's Remarks-The Dis
t1Dguasheea V~fsfGorss

tangufsheA VfsfUorss
YORKTOWN, October 19,-At the conclu-
sion of the prayer the band prayed s'Star
Spangled Banner with artillery accompani-
ment.
Governor Halliday, Of Virginia, then de-
li7ered an address Of welcome. The Cover
nor has q fine presence and an earnest man
ner. He was frequently applauded.
United States Senator J. w. Johnson, Of
Virginia, chairman of the Congressional
commission, then made q few remarks, in
whiched he sketched the history of the sur
render. He read from the original docu-
ments the account Of the action OF Congress
at the time. He exhibited the sword voted
to the messenger who bore the news of the
surrender and alluded to VIM. Henry, grand
son OF Patrick Henry and Rev. DR.. Nelson,
grandson Of Governor Nelson, who were on
the stand. He said that few men knew that
the column to be erected was to ID
rate not only the victory Of the colonies but
the part taken in that victory by France.
Recognition and acknowledgement had been
given by France to this country in an hour
of need and it was the solumn duty left by
the Continental Congress to its successors:
and now after q lapse Of one hundred years,
the Congress of the nation which stretches
from the Atlantic to the Pacific is fulfilling
that duty. Three millions of people and
thirteen colonies accomplished this great
work, and so, 900, 1000 people and thirty-eight
okotoc ora an1nhra%inr ~ " Tho rorf;on~in fhio
celebration are the representatives of the
French nation who are at the invitation Of
this government. Again French soldiers
tread American soil and French vessels again
ride York river. The mode! Of the monument
to be erected is here before us. Thirteen fe-
male figures, representing the thirteen colo
MES seem to support on their shoulders a col
umn inscribed with the names of the thirty
eight states and crowned with the figure of
liberty. This embodies the idea that from
thirteen colonies grew thirty-eight states and
sprung the truest and most thorough and
genuine liberty ever enjoyed by any people.
On four sides of the base and carrying out
the original design of the Continental Con-
gress are the emblems. of the alliance between
the United States and His Most Christian
Majesty, and a succinct narrative of the sur
render of Earl CornWalis, and now as an ap-
propriate opening, our celebration of the
cornerstone of the monument will be laid
with Gil grand and solemn ceremonies befitt-
ing 50 great IN occasion by the order Of the
Ancient, Free and accepted Masons, Of
which Washington himself was its chief
member.
Workmen, under the direction of the Grand
Master Of Virginia, then laid the corner
stone. The chair occupied by the Grand Mas
ter on that occasion was one which Lord Bot
tetourt, when loyal Governor Of the Old Do
minion, presented to the Grand Lodge of
Virginia, and in which George Washington
sat when Grand Master Of the Virginia Ma
sons. The sash and apron worn by Grand
Master Peyton s. Gales, of Virginia. were
worked by Mrs Lafayette and presented to
Washington in 1884 at Mt. Vernon. After
ward, in 1912, they were given to the Wash
ington Lodge Of Alexandria, Va, by Major
Lawrence Lewis. The gavel was made
from a portion Of the quarter deck Of the
United States frigate Lawrence, the flagship
of Commodore Perry at the battle and 7icto-
ry on Lake Erie, September 10, 1918, and
was presented to the Masonic Veterans As
ISOLATION by the venerable brother M. W.
Rev. Marshal B. Smith, June I'd, 1880.
Judge B. r. Welfard, Of Virginia, Masonic
orator, then made an eloquent address, at
the conclusion Of which the cermonies
ended,