The Portland daily press., 1883-09-26
BURNSIDE MEMORIAL.
having the Corner Stone of the New Hall
at Providence, RI.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., Sept Thousands of
| persons to-day poured into Bristol by boat and
train to witness the laying of the corner stone
| of Burnside Memorial Hall. The decorations
about town were very profuse. The President
came up from Newport, arriving about noon,
| two hours later than he was expected. The
| Bristol Artillery fred salute as soon as
| President Arthur came in sight. President
| Arthur was received by Col. S. Pomeroy Colt,
and the Congressional delegation from this
| State aud driven to Col. Colts residence, Gov.
| Brown sitting with the President
At Col. Colts residence the Presidents path
was strewn with flowers by twenty maidens,
arepetition of the ceremony Of welcome to
| President Monroe in 1917 at the same house.
| After short stay within the house the Presi-
dent joined the line of procession, which includ-
| ed militia, crews from the training ships, vet
eran associations, city councils OF Providence
and Newport, the congressional delegation,
grand lodges of Masons, and Masonic orders
escorting the presidential party.
At the site Of the memorial buildings the
presidential party disembarked and occupied
the seats reserved on the platform. The cere-
mony of laying the corner stone was performed
by the Grand Lodge OF Masons, after which
Judge Lebanon B. Colt delivered an grafton.
1t is proposed to set apart portion OF the
building for the collection Of souvenirs of Burn
side and military relics. Over the main en-
trance Burnside Memorial" is to be cut in the
granite and on the front is a niche to be filled
by brodze statue of Burnside.
The line was in siv divisions and was 20 min
utes in passing given point. The second di-
vision following the militia was composed OF
apprentices and seamen from the u. 8. steam
or Portsmouth, Grand Army Posts and other
veteran associations. The third and fourth
divisions were composed of officers of the city
governments OF Providence and Newport, judg-
es of the Scpreme Court, members of the leg
slature and town committees OF towns adloin-
ing Bristol. The fifth division was the Grand
Lodge of Masons of Rhode Island, St. John
and Calvary Communicates, and knights Tenn
plar of this city. The sixth division was COM
posed of the presidential party. Crowds throng-
ed the streets as the procession moved. Much
display Of decorations was prevented by the
high wind which prevailed.
Arrived at the site of the hall, President Ar
thur was seated in the place of honor by the
side of the Grand Master of Maosns, and after
the ceremony of laying the stone, he vas
corted to a dais within the walls of the build
ing from which the speaking was done. A
crowd of from 1000 to 5000 persons surged
about the building at the time, but the gale
prevented the words of the speakers from
reaching many save those in their immediate
vicinity. Samuel Norris, marshal of the day,
delivered an address of welcome, and prayer
was offered by Bishop Clark. The oration was
then pronounced by Lebanon B. Colt, Judge of
the United States District Court.
President Arthur was then introduced He
said: II heartily join with you in paying trib-
ute to the memory of that distinguished citi-
zen Of Rhode Island, whose name yonder
structure is henceforth privileged to bear So
long as it shall endure, 1t will, in some degree,
serve to perpetuate the fame of a soldier faith
full to his trusts, whose courage found its only
rival in his modesty; of a statesman, whose
every act was prompted by the loftiest patriot
ism; of an earnest, sincere and manly gentle
man, who abounded in all courtesy, who
scorned all deceit, aud who never failed to fol-
low in the path of duty whithersoever it led. I"
The benediction by Rev. George L. Locke
brought the exercises to close. The Presi-
dent was then driven to the residence of Gov.
A. o. Bourn, where lunch was served to se
lect party of twenty. The table cloth, part
Of the silver and the linen in use were used at
reception to Washington in 1880. From 8 to
o'clock the President received invited guests
in Gov. Bourn's residence and this was fol-
lowed by public reception lasting an hour
longer. During the reception the band from
Fort Adams played on the lawn in front of the
house. President Arthur then with Colonel
and Mrs. S. p. Colt drove about town, visiting
the Edge Hill farm, where Burnside's last
hours were passed. At p. m. a dinner was
given at Col. Colts residence complimentary
to the President, at which all his party and
most OF the distinguished guests Of the day were
present. The President returned to Newport
by special train, leaving Bristol about IL p.