The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-05

this issue, every reader can judge OF
its merits for himself. He finished,
and the masons moved forward to
complete the work. Slowly the great
stone begins to descend to its place,
and as it does, the loud reverberations
of the big guns outside, tell the null
titude what is going on. Now 1T has
reached the bottom, and the
grand master and his as
>Iistants come around it and
be beautiful and expressive final
forms are gone through. 1t is over at
last, and the cornerstone is laid. Hon.
F. b. Sexton delivered the closing
oration-a very fine address-and
Rev. Josiah Whipple, the benedfction.
STRAY NOTES. ~
The music furnished by the Prus-
sian band, was voted excellent by
eVeryb dy.
What more glorious weather could
have been desired? The fellows that
bet "it would be raining" got badly
left. Hurrahl for Hazen.
The box that contained the deposits
was not more than half filled. a full
list of the articles will be given to-
morrow.
A miniature Mardi Gras is what a
gentleman termed the affair. The ex-
tent and variety of the various dis
plays certainly entitled it to this APP
pellation.
|. Governor Lubbock created quite a
laugh when he asked the crowd to be
quiet for just two minutes till their
photographs could be talken.
Col. Sexton, yesterday, while deliv-
ering his address at the capitol
grounds, mislaid his gold spectacles,
which he would like to receive at the
Raymond House.
Over sixty students of the Capitol
Business College were in the process
sion yesterday. 1t hal the champion
standard bearer and flag.
Mr.. Stephen w. Blount, of San
Augustine, one of two survivors of
those who signed the Texas declara-
ton of independence on the I'd OF
March, 1886, is in the city and took
great pride in the ceremonies of yes
terday.
Col. John G.. Mccoy, OF Dallas, the
Oldest member of the grand lodge
present, who bore the holy writings
| in the Masonic ranks yesterday, also
performed the same service at the
laying of the old capitol that was de-
stroYed by fire.
While the Travis Light Artillery
were preparing yesterday to take part
in the celebration, the horses attached
to one of the gun carriages ran away
| throwing the driver, Sergeant John
Fitzhugh to the ground and seriously
injuriDg his right leg, over which one
of the wheels passed. This was the
only casualty of the day
The following telegram was re
ceived yesterday from Col. Abnel
Taylor, capitol contractor:
CHICAGO, March 2.
81 regret my duties to my state pre-
vent me from being present to partic
ipate in laying the cornerstone of the
most magnificent state house no this
continent, being erected in one of TIL
gTandest states, whose destinies arr
welded in manner that must b.
colhmended by the long line of heroe.
who bought her liberty with thei
blood"
I SECTIONS ADDRESS.
Towards the close of the ceremo
MES, and while the Masonic Crane
Lodge, arrayed in white aprons, stooC
around the cornerstone, Hon. f. B
Sexton, himself high in the Masonic
order, addressing himself to the "Mos
Worshipful Grand Master, brethren
and ow.citizens," delivered an ora
ton, of which the following is tn,
closing portion:
But there areI other moral and in
tellectual agencies which have beer
powerful and indispensable allies t,
The spirit of enterprise, without who's
aid the progress of Texas would hav
been much less, II not quite inconsid
/ cradle. The most important among
them are religion, education and leg
lslation. Of these agencies q German
| philosopher and an American senate
have well said that they are "thre
great corporations into which tn
whole of human society MAY
be resolved" By religion, i
can hardly be necessary to say
and yet may be well to say
that tie dogma of denomination
and sects, the bigotry and cruelty O.
priesthood, the bitterness of name
forms and ceremonies, are not meant
mean religion in that broad anC
catholic sense which includes tn,
fatherhood of God and the brother
hood OF man; which recognizes mans
moral responsibility for his eonduc
not only to human law but to Hin
who is the founder of all law as well
1nis is recognized and respected b,
all governments. 1t includes no
merely organized churches all Of
whom, believe were represented il
the progress of Texas and who wer,
earnest workers for the general gooC
as well as for the 7 To - cation of theij
own tenes. But 1T comprehends
likewise all associations and frater
mites which take God as the
foundation OF obligations tt
human duty, and inculcate as a duty
that man should help his brother man
| Chief among these is the time-honoreo
fraternity who have to-day put in
place the cornerstone Of the new cap.
itol of Texas in accordance with their
ancient and immemorial usaQes. II
Is within the personal knowledge of
hundreds who hear me. L trust / will
be pardoned for saying it is within nv
own that tho moral, material and
social development of Texas during
the past fifty years there has been no
more potent factor than the Fraternity
OF Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Our masonic altars were erected by
the campfire of tt immigrant. in the
log cabin of the frontiersIaan and
In every neighborhood where
men, who were strangers as to
previous acquaintance, but known
to each other rs MaSons, met. Broth
erly love, relief and truth were
our teachings; assistance, benevolence
and charity were our practices. Who
can measure the good influence ex-
erted in the upbuilding OF new state
by an institution organized like
ours, 10 teaching such doctrines
and practicing such prineiplesl
/ speak by the card when
| say that majority of the early pub
lie men OF Texas, of those who shaped
her political destiny, were members of
the fraternity. There are many yet
living who know, as / do, of instances
where the law and the officers would
have been poWerless to suppress social
disorder, and to prevent violence and
bloodshed without the moral