The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-11-12
Mordecai Noah's Grand Project.

On the 26th OF October, 1925, was
celebrated the opening of the Erie
canal. About a month before, when
the community, eagerly anticipating a
connection with the tide water. was ex-
cited with tho visions of prospective
greatness. and ready for any display,
there arrived from New York Major
Manuel Mordccai Noah. nigh sheriff of
the county of New Yors consul at
Tunis, and self-style,l Judge of Israel.
He came with glittering robes and in
sigma of Office, to establish the city of
Ararat on Grand Island, then covered
with dense forest. Although loyal
and devoted son of Abraham, Major
Noah had not succeeded in arousing
enthusiasm in his scheme among those
of his own faith. AS shrewd man of
tho world. au able lawyer. success
full politician, and the editor of the
principal organ of the Tammany party
in New York, and withal sanguine
that the city would prove mine of
wealth to its founders, he had no diff
Guilty in persuading some of his Cen
father of the late Gerritt Smith, to buy
nearly the whole OF Grand Island, then
Just surveyed and offered for sale by
the United States government
On this lonely bu. extensive island,
between the forks of the Niagara, and
lying midway between Lake Erie and
the Falls of Niagara, he determined to
build city of Oriental splendor. Al
ready before his arrival on the scene.
flagstaff bearing tho ''grand standard
of Israeli had been erected on the
chosen site, and stone having an in.
scription in Hebrew and in English had
been prepared to dedicate with i'm
posing ceremonies This stone, al
ways known in local history as "Mor-
dec:i's cornerstone" was intended
rather as a memento of the founding
of the magnificent city Of the Jews than
Us the support of any particular build
ing. In those days the luxurious
steam-yac of wealthy citizens. which
now plough the rapid current of the
Niagara. existed not IA the imagina-
ton of the veriest dreamer; even row.
boats we're wanting with whic-- to con-
vey the crowd eager to behold the
spectacle presented by the birth Of an
Oriental city in the depths of the for
est The brilliant and andacious Eoah
conceived tho idea Of having the cere-
mony celebrated with due ponp within
the walls of St. Paups Church (in Buff
f:.lo) twelve miles from tae site of bis
city To this end were invoked the
willing services of ELL the dignitaries of
the town. the military and this Masons,
Major Noah the central figure appear
ing as the Judge of Israeli in black
wearing judicial robes of crimson silk.
trimmed with erinine, and q richly
embossed golden medal suspended
from his neck.
The bright September day opened
with the booming Of cannons. The grand |
procession embraced tho best that the |
iown could offer. Hating at the chEich |
door, the troops opened each way. and |
the pageant entered; while the band |
played tho grand march from Judas
MGccd6e,ls the cornerstone of Ararat
the city of refuge for tho people who !
rejected Christ. was laid on the COM
munion table of d Protestant Episcopal
church, and dedicated by Hebrew |
ritual. The Masonic rites were per |
formed with the typical corn, wine,
Ind oil. the choir sang .'Old Hundreds,
and the rector. in full canonicals, pr.
nounced o Christian benediction.
Mordecai Noah never saw the site
Ararat, and the Hebrew race disrs
gatdcd his grandiloquent proclamation |
and the tax levied for its building; but |
its cornerstone, after many curious |
migrations, occupies conspicuous
place in tho rooms of tho Buffalo His |
torical Society, where relic-huntcrs
are frequently seen copying ITS inscrip-
tion.-Jare N. Welch, in Hdrrer's Mag.
sxine for Juiu.