Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-07

Of The officers OF several churches, cent OF |
1894 and other coins. several Confederate |
notes, silver coin OF 1890. Union and Con-
federatc Veterans badges, City Directory,
Richmond newspapers, and a large number
Of other papers bearing upon Rishmond
history.
The ceremony OF laying the cornerstone
was witnessed by a large crowd. who
showed deep interest in all the proceed
ings, Notwithstanding the evening was eX.
tremely hot and close.
The Address.
The stone having been put in place. the
address was delivered by Rev. John Pol
lard. Jr.. az follows:
Mr.. President, Neighbors, and Friends
A public hall may he either nuisance or
blessing among people. Ii all depends
upon what sort OF hall it is. IL it Is TO be
a place Of revelry, roof to cover enter
tainments which minister to the lower in
stncts and passions, = refuge for perform.
ances which the private psrl0r would not
tolerate. then its only influence is to blight
and to curse. II, on the other hand, ii is a
temple dedicated TO deceney and good or
der. to charity and refinement, TO the dlf-
fusion Of knowledge, and to innocent, ra-
tional entertainment, then public hall in
a neighbOrhoOd becomes 4 source OF beneht
to the people, and in the erection OF one
all good citizens may rejoice. From my
personal acquaintance with the gentlemen
in charge OF the structure which is now 10
rise on the spot where we stand, am per-
fcctlv satisfied that it il to be building TO
it exactly the latter description. There
| fore, as u minister OF the gospel and resi-
| dent OF Richmond, having deeply at heart
| every interest OF our historic and lovely
city. thank them most cordially Tor the
honor Of participating in the ceremonies OF
| this hour.
on the cornerstone we lay this afternoon
| "A hou &c is To stand-a house spacious, solid,
| and imposing. A house is she thought and
work only of civilized man. The savages
who once hunted and fought on this very
| ground had no conception OF building be-
| yond their viQwam hoyels constructed OF
forest sapling. by female hands, while the
men near by reclined in Idleness or per-
| fected themselves in the use OF the bow.
| Old Powhatan himself never possessed
house to cover his proud. royal head, until
/ vorkmen went from jamestown to con-
, s,fuct II for him on the shores OF the York.
Man. In his earliest stages OF civiliZatlon,
thinks only OF house to be his dwelling TO
shelter him from summers scorching hest
and winters chilling blast. But when he
has well progressed in civilized life his
| high advancement becomes marked by
e6ifices devoted to public usss-in houses
, dedicated TO religion. 10 justice, 10 charity,
TO learning. to art, to healthiul and rational
! entertainment. The house which is To rise
on these foundations will be tribute to
| civilizations onward march.
congratulate the gentlemen in charge OF
this movement. congratulate them on
the near realization Of their hopes and
plans. congratulate them on the name
they have selected for this building-Cor-
coran Hall. Who does not love 10 honor
Corcoran "a man who reversed the rule
OF money getting; whose soul did not
narrow as his fortune increased, but whose
heart widened as his estate enlarged-a
man OF pure life and incOrruptible In
tegrty-a man who delights to spend his
last days in doing good. aud whose old age
is made bright by the benedictons OF thou
sands OF his cOuntrymen. CorcOran Hall
The very name Is suggestive OF industry
and honor, Of public spirit and phlan-
tbropy; and as it shall continually fall on
the ears OF the youth Of our city, it will
tend to inspire them with correct princl-
pies and exalted aims. (ApplauNe.J
congratulate these gentlemen on the in
cyltably good effects Of their enterprise.
Some one has cynically asked why, In the
divine economy. health has not been made
as contagious ~ disease. / believe health
I, contagious. Let mother meet babe
in the street that Is rosy and plump, and
Immediately she will 20 home and con-
slider how she can make her infant
20. Let a man see his neighbor
growing stronger and fatter every day. and
he will inquire for that regimen OF diet
] 1 tttf oh gtten
and begin to apply them to his own case.
Let the health officers Of one city learn that
another city has succeeded in largely re-
duelng it, death-rate, and immediately
they will commence inquirlng into the sani-
i,ry measures by which the end was at
tanned. But, Whatever you may say about
health. am perfectly sure that improve
mcnts are contagious. Two years ago
one OF our worthy citizens went To
the vacant square on Groce street
between Twsnty-sixth and Twenty
seventh and built him res
denee; soon after came another worthy cit
iZen and built him home Immediately ad-
Joining, and now the whole square Is oe-
cuped with brick dwellings OF admirably
neat construction and the end ls not yet
in that neighborhOod. Some months age
neighbor Davis commenced an elegant resi-
dence at the corner OF Broad and Twenty
seventh; but neighbor Vaughan, at corner
OF Marshall aud Twenty-sixth, was not
going 10 be left. and one morning we
walked up and found that he bad converted
his dwelling into q stately mansion. And
thus the contagion spreads; may II
keen on spreading until many more break
out with The disease, which is moth
ing more than contagious health. And
now when Corcoran Hall rises, new, ee-
CANT, imposing, don'tyou think these land,
lords owning property around here VIII
catch the fever and begin 10 think OF
wbitewash and paint and general improve
mentI II they don't, | know this: Iheii
possessions will look very insignificant III
comparison. They won't he tit 10 Keel
company with Corcoran Hall. After tllis
wouldn't be surprised if our City Father'
begin TO look after their enSine-houst
across the way.
congratulate these gentlemen on what
NAV be the consummation OF thelr moIc'
mont. i hope the day is coming When' De'
sides the ends to be at once realized, tht
roof Of Corcoran Hall will cover we'll
furnished gymnasium, where the youn-
men OF Church Hill shall be FURNISHED
with the best means Of athletic eXer
else and physical development. wher
il shall cover well-selected library ioi
quickening and moulding the inteleetGi,t
life Of our people, and when these wain
shall give accommodations to school lol
training the young in the industrial AM
aesthetic arts. and from time to time resouhC
with the eloquence OF the best lecturers %, o.
our land. Such sre some OF the posslblll
ties OF the future.
And now we lay the CORNERSTONE. her'
, under the brIobtlisht Of an october sun and
sky: here in the presence OF this Immense
, throng Of Richmonds sons and daughtsrs
here almost in hearing Of the ripping o
Bloody Run, where. in the ages long gon'
by, civilization and saysgery met lace u
| face and contended for the mastery In IN
| new found world here In full sight Oh tn
time.scarred but ever sacred ediuce II
which Patrick Henry struck the Keynote
OF American liberty; here, now' we Deyli
~. Tn