Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-29
YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL !!
An Auspicious Opening.
IMPOSING MASONIC CEREMONIES.

IhfOSINC MASONIC CEREMONIES.
Brilliant Spectacle on the York
River.
n0NORS TO PRESIDENT ARTHUR
Reception by the Governor of
Virginia.
The Cornerstone oFthc Monument.
YorKTows, Va, Oct 18--Alternate clouds
and sunshine, with cool and refreshing air,
chaleeterized the weather at Yorktown to-day.
ihronghout tho morning public attention
was divided between tho beautiful spectacle
presented by the shipping on Yorktown river
and tbe gayety always incident to the assem-
blorc of any large number of brilliantly uni
iorpod remplars of the Masonic order. On
the water the fleet of war vessels lay at anchor
IN line stretching out for upwards of two
miles, the number including the flagship Ten
nessee in the centre, the Trenton Franklin
vandalia Kearsarge, Saratoga, Portsmouth
ana large number of lesser vessels. All the
ships OF the navy wero gaily dressed with flags
from stem to stern and flew the tri-color of
France at the foremast. The river was filled
besides with steamboats,, yachts and sail ves-
sells, and the bluffs were thronged with spec
tators Of the beautiful scene 1t is not ex-
aggeration to say that the waters were alive
with movement equal to the activity on land
1t was about eight o'clock in the morning
when the guns of the shipping announced the
arrival of the govel mt steamer Dispatch
with the President of the United States on
BOARD, salute of thirty-tour guns was fired
from all the large war vessels and the yards
were manned, which the President recognized
by lifting his hat as his vessel passed along
the limo until anchor was droprad
At noon the government steamer Catskill
carrying Secretary Blaine and the French
guests, was saluted and at quarter past
one O'Clock French frigate and corvette ex-
changed salutes with the flagship Tennessee.
Flashing guns rolled clouds of white smoke
over the blue water and sent reverberating
thunders from shore to shore all the morning
Itwas understood that Secretary Lincoln ar
rived in the Smithsonian steamer Fishhawk
on board of which was his family and num-
per OF Chicago friends. Secretary Hunt, of
the navy, and Postmaster General James were
with the presidential party.
Among others from the seat of government
were the following: Senators Blair Sawyer,
McDill, Vance, Johnston, Mcmillan, Brown,
Butler, Hampton, Lapham, Miller, Mitchell,
DAVIS, Aldrich, Saunders, Morgan, Walker,
Harrison, Pugh, Williams, Call, Bayard and
laVld Davis There were also ex-Secretary
Ramsay and ex-senator Mcdonald. Many of
the Senators and others were accompanied by
ladies.
The members of the House of Representa-
tives who came were Briggs and Hail of New
Hampshire, Martin OF Delaware Goode and
other members from Virginia, Davis of North
Carolina, Van Arnmen of New York, Wash
burn of Minnesota, and others. Next to the
president the men who excited the greatest
curiosity were David Davis, Bayard and Lap
ham. When the Presidents steamer was
anchored General Hancock, Admiral Porter,
Rear-Admiral Wyman, and General VIM. It.
Sherman, who had also come down on a govern
ment vessel, went aboard the Dispatch and
paid their respects to General Arthur. Admiral
Porters flag was run up on board the Trenton,
which from that moment became the fagehip
OF the squadron. There was time only ior the
exchange of the briefest courtesies between
the high officers of the army and navy with
the President when the Chief Magistrate got
into steam lunch and went ashore.
=. AS the signal guns on the water heralded
the arrival of the French guests in the harbor,
the Masonic orders entered the enclosure
where the cornerstone ceremonies were to
take place.
The Grand Lodge of the State of Virginia,
which had been assigned the duties of the
hour, was escorted by Mary Commandery of
Philadelphia, members of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania, and the following command
cries: Beauseant of Baltimore Old Domin-
Ion, OF Alexandria st. Andrew, of Richmond
Ihe Fredericksburg Commandery and repre-
sentatives in uniform from similar associations
in Rhode Island and other states, and about
five hundred Knights Templar appeared in
Ine wearing the snowy uniforms and trap
pings of their order.
The cornerstone was already under a der
rick, ready at the appropriate time to be low
cred into place. The platform surrounding
the spot was arranged in the form of lodge
room In front lay on trestle. eight or ten
beautifully ornamented brass guns which Lord
Q11r III I
and which had been brought from different
arsenals TO give interest to the occasion. A
handsome model of the monument to be built
was placed near the site of the cornerstone.
In receptacle of the cornerstone was placed
sllver-lined copper box, made in Richmond,
Va, two and a-half feet long. two feet wide
and eighteen inches deep
CONTENTS OF THE BOX
In the copper box deposited in the corner
stone are the following articles: One copy of
the Holy Bible, copper coin of the United
States, 1903; copper coin of 1888, Washington
and Independence; one silver coin of the
United States, l776; three nickel medals, cop
per coin of 1887, "Mind Your Business . cop
per coin OF 1773, one cent Canada coin, 1853
one French coin 1874 s1G0 Virginia treasury
note of October, 1862, 500 Confederate inter
est bearing note 500 Confederate treasury
note; copy of programme issued by the Com
mercial Club of Richmond, Va, of the York
towH Oentennlul pnOtOgraph OF Confederate
flags combined; Yorktown Centennial medal
diagrame of corners stone as furnished for
execution Richmond (Va.) postoffice memorial
schedule of arrival and departure of mails
issusd 10Th of September, 1881 copy of Vir-
ginia real estate journal of October 1881 COPY
OF travels of Ego and Alter, published in 1879
copy OF methods of teaching languages, and OF
Yorktown Centennial volume copy of 'sYork-
town Campaign and surrender of Carnwallis
17Sl;" copy of the 'tWarwick Richardson
Almanac for 1881 copy Of character OF
Yorktown Centennial Association bylaws OF
South Carolina Commandery, No. 1, chartered
1924; copy Of bylaws of Joppa Lodge. No. 40,
Richmond, Va, copy of sketch of Solomon
Lodge, No. ], and bylaws of Winterpocl,
Lodge, No. "a, of Chesterfield copy of a postal
card calling meeting of Amitv Lodge, No, 76.
of Richmond, to consider Yorktown Centen'
nial a leaf from the Bible ON which George
Washington was made Mason also extracts
from records of the lodge showing his connec-
tion with it also roll of /, sS1 men from the
Fredericksburg lya.) Lodge, No. 4 /. copy Of
proceedings of Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar of Virginia for 1880; also copT OF
diploma (parchmenD Grand Chapter of Vir-
ginias contribution copy of Dover r. A. G.
textbook, edition 18, proceedings for 1880
form OF diplomas ON parchment form OF
chapter on parchment form of commission to