Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-23
0ftte New Court H0uIe of Belmont
County, st. ClairsyilIs.
NEARLY TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE
Witness the Grand Ceremony---A Fine Pro-
cessiOn Of Mssons, Odd Fellows
and X, of P.'s.
SEVERAL FINE SPEECHES DELIVERED.

thrown open to the throngs of people Whc
came from all parts of the county 70 wit,
ness the ceremonies connected with the lay
ing of the corner stone Of the new Court
House now building at this place.
At nooH TO day the crowd was variously
estimated at from eight to ten thousand. In
errly part Of the day I~-.l- - --..~;o. aud
/ cciumps of uniformed might be seen com
ing from the train, and marchiag and coun
termarcbiDg on the msir street, which
though it had hPe0 thoroughly swept the
night before, was very dusty, and became
more so as the day grew older.
The weather was cool and pleasant and
| the
/ Signal Flags,
which iloated from the steeple Of the school
house, indicsten fair weather, and the eX
pectations of the people were that Belmont
county create st day had come.
At halt past II o o'clock the Most Worship
ful Grand Lodge of Ohio, +. Il A. NJ, was
| opened n due aud ancient form, in Masonic
Hall, N. W. Grand Master j. NJ, Goodspe
IN the East, assisted by the following ap
pointed Grand Officers: D. ). Williams,
Deputy Grand Mas'er; Jesse r Purnell, Sr
Grand Warden; VIM. B. KIRK, Jr Grand
Warden; B II. Mackell, Grand Treasurer;
\. Coocb, Grand Secretary; &. c. Sedge.
wick, Grand Chaplain; r. T. Howell Grand
Senior Deacon; j. NJ. Brilles, Grand Junior
Deacon; d. b. Comley, Grand Stewart.
The following Past Masters we're bearers Of
| the clemens OF conservation, in gold and
silver vessels: II. II. Harrison, the corr;
j. H S. Trsiuer, the wine, and j. W. Glover,
the oil. Also other Past Masters, as fol-
lows: A. NJ. Shipman; the three great
lights: O. C. Williams, John Meyer, julius
Brihs; the three lesser lights: Principal
Architect, J. W. Yost, Grand Marshal.
Atl2.l5 p. m.
The Procession
had commenced forming IN front OF the
lodge room OF the +. u \. NJ. on Main
street, and the bands were discoursing their
mu.ic on all sides, irrespective Of the posi-
ton they were to occupy in the parade BY
one clock the procession had formed in
line and marched east over the hill until
people began 10 get impatient, thinking
| that the procession had gone to Belaire TO
Law the stone They at last counter
marched west TO Marietta street, and
from there 20 the space in front OF the
! unfinished building, where the ceremonies
took place. The parade WAS estimated to
include about five hundred members OF Sc.
cret fTsterDities The column as 1t marched
up street with its regslia and the music o.
the seven bands. made very presentable
sight and aroused enthusiasm III every
| breast.
he recession came TO q standstill in front
of the platform erected on the walls of the
new building and at 2:2O the choir, com
posed OF St Clairsvile, Martins Ferry aud
Bridgeport music i talent. rendered hymn
form ,fe Masonic exercise book. This wa:
followed By prayer by Rev. c. c. Sedgwick
Chaplain Of the Grand Lodge. This va:
followed by the filling Of the treasure boz
to be put into the corntr block.
The corner stone was placed in position
at 2:46 p. NJ, during the time OF which
opera,ion; the choir rendered some more o.
heir excell Mt music. The corn was ther
scattered on the stone as an emblem o
plenty. the vine as an emblem Of Joy an
badness al oil as on emblem Of peace
Blessing WI 8 their invoked by the Crane
Master, viii h WAS followed by benedcliol
9y the Ora, d Chaplain choosing the cere
w0D'es
At 3 p. III.
Al the close of the ceremonies thu a9
,mblcd multitude repaired 10 the tal
rounde, whsre meeting was orgsuiz@i b!
i cosirg David Rankin, Of Belhlre, q
iairman, who after q few remarks, int'c
,u.Cd Senator Williams, of Cuyahogs conn
Y. who addressed the meeting in = few vel
.ac!rn r, marks, IN which he expressed
.,y Kindly feeling tor Belmont county an'
- irs,i,utions, eulogized her great mel
.nd menriored his coming 70 this place il
ISL. During his speech an inter
rup;ion occurred caused by maj
Irling oil pony, on the rae
rack. In connection with this inciden
Mr.. Williams raised laugh by the remar
hat he could be out run but could not b
ont talked. Mr.. Williams at one time wa
d,tor and proprietor OF newspaper, the
Independent Republican,
ruilisl ed in this place
Mr.. Samuel Clark vas thea in'roiu'c.
" the chairman. He came onward ant
nsde very pleasing address on the sGAjec
ohio" conhnipg himsel. principally t
5istory and statistics He stated anons
o,Eer things that our great rueu had 10
cen born great, but had been made grea
ny education: and, Complimentary t,
oIr wou,~, said that al
r,,+ m,n Lad had Cr.l
no,Eers. He th,n said GaR I'd . A'
qo,s and girls concerning their intiIenc,
aad future possibilities.
J. r. Smith, Of Bellaire, then addressed
he people On the subject Of The Ne"
QUIT House He mentioned the E'aa
ru,n the county has produced. 'Ihe -oi,d
= Of she new building is only surpassed by
he stone in the hills Of Belmont county
10 yours lawyers h. said In yoac prac
ice 10 the new building let
Truth, Integrity and Honesty
e your chief motives After congraulat
rng rhc people on the choice Of the site tol
ne new building and the splendor whict
will he part OF l's eMstehc'
h. closed 10 make way for Hon K }. Alex
sn6er. who was deferred from dehy7rln!
his address BY heavy rain which had 6esI
rh,este ming for several hours. For The be !
fit of the people who were very anxious tt
hear Mr. Alexander remarks on the ''Oi.
Court House. we publish the unsPokeE
address below:
The Old Court House.
The building ,f the old Court House wa
commenced 10 A. ID. 1873 and on Augls
-, 1914, it vas completed and accepted b.
The County Commissioners.
William Brown WAS the contractor. CLp
tain Robert Thompson, an old soldier OF tn'
Revolution, Who, neglected by al uH-'a'e
ul county, died September } A. d ISIS
/, The County Poor House, at the advanced
sCe of eighty eight years did the ca7Pente
work.
His hands fashioned the old cuP2!a s.
graceful and symmetrical.
He rests now from b's lsbors near to
center of the Union cemetery. - ne yea-
ago pnt the long neglected grave OF n
old hero in good order.
The old COCrt Hcure is built OF very larT