Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-27
YORKTOWN.
Grand Haihering to Celebrate the
Closing Event Of the. re volutiOn.

Grand tsaihering TO Celebrate the
Closing Event Of the. Ke y"lution.
YORKTOWN, Oct. 13-Distinguished
guests, including the descendants of La
fayette and Steuben, governors of states,
and congressman, began to arrive at
Lafayette hall about II o'clock. Gen.
Hancock arrived at noon and paid his
respects to the governor of Virginia.
The two passed sometime in pleasant
chat and then many persons were pre-
sented to the general, and he shook
each by the hand. AT about 1890,
President Arthur, accompanied by Sec
retaries Hunt, James and Lincoln were
driven to the entrance of Lafayette
hall, and were received by Master of
Ceremonies Corbin
The president shook hands with the
distinguished persons present. A line
was then formed and the party march
ed to the grand stand where the cere-
mony of laying the corner stone of the
monument was 70 take place under the
auspices of the Masonic fraternity. The
Masonic procession looked imposing
with the Tiers ami with drawn swords,
the stewards bearing the white rods,
the masters, Masons, deacons, secre-
taries and treasurers. six abreast, fol-
lowed by the visiting brethren, and the
grand commanders. of Virginia and
other states. All these were but an
escort to the president of the United
States, cabinet officers and congress-
men. The national guests and
army and navy officers who were
attended also by all the troops of
all arms in service in camp. President
Arthur was loudly cheered by the
crowd during the march to the grand
stand. When all had taken the places
assigned them the ceremonies were
opened with prayer by Rev. Robert
Nelson, grandson of Gov. Nelson, who
commanded the Virginia militia at
Yorktown. He thanked God for 100
years of blessing vouchsafed this
country, for Washington, for our
allies, and for our victory, and
prayed that the people of this land
might not pride themselves too much
on their achievements and prosperity,
but that they might thank and trust
the Lord. He prayed tor peace among
all nations and for fraternal concord
among all sections of our common
country. He prayed for the rulers of
the land that they might be pure, and
for the people that they might learn to
love and serve the Lord. AT the con-
clusion ofthe prayer the band played the
Star Spangled Banner, with artillery
| ~
Virginia, then delivered the address OF
welcome. The governor has a fine
presence, clear voice and earnest man
ner, and was frequently appiauded. His
allusion to the unity of sentiment, pur-
pose and destipg of all sections of our
common country, were greeted with
applause. Sen. J. w. Johnson, of Vir-
giuia, chairman CT the congress
sional commission, then made
few appropriate remarks, in which
he read the history of the surrender;
read from the original documents the
account of the action of congress at the
| time; exhibited the sword voted to the
messenger who bore the news of the
surrender. and alluded to the facts that
W. ~. Henry, grandson of Patrick
Henry, and Rev. DR.. Nelson. grandson
of GOV. Nelson, were on the stand. In
conclusion, said column is to be erected
to commemorate not only the victory
of the colonies, but partaken in that
victory by France, a recognition and
acknowledgment of the aid given by
France to this country in the hour Of
its need, was solemn duty left by the
| ,t,l to nc, snp.
and now, after lapse of 100 years, the
congress of SO states and fifty millions
of people, the congress of the nation
which stretches from the Atlantic tC
the Pacific, is fulfilling that duty. Three
millions of people and Is colonies ac-
compliahed this great work, and now
fifty millions of people and 3S states are
celebrating it. Participating in this
celebration are representatives OF the
French nation here at the invitation OF
this government; again French soldiers
tread American soil, and French vessels
again ride in York river. A model OF
the monument to be erected is here
before U.S. Thirteen female figures
representing thirteen colonies, seem to
support on their shoulders column
inscribed with the names of So states
and crowned with the figure OF liberty.
This embodies the idea that from IL
colonies grew SO states, and sprung
the truest and most thorough and genu-
inc liberty ever enjoyed by any people
on the four sides of the base, and Car
rying out the original design of the
continental congress, which are en-
blems of the alliance between the
United States and his most christian
majesty and succinet narrative of the
surrender of Earl CORVALLIS; and now
as is appropriate for the opening of our
celebration, the corner slate of the
monument should be laid with all
grand snd solemn ceremonies, betting
so great an occasion, by the order OF
Ancient Free Accepted Masons, OF
which Washington himself was the
chief member. The workmen. under
the direction of the grand master OF
Virginia, then laid the corner stone, ac-
| ccrdiny IN the ancient and honorable