Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22
stamping Of the shivering open-air audi.

SuteT, ol OhIist enoteus @si~~,-''~,
Va. and DR.. j. C. yelling, president
of Columbia University, thereupon read
the address prepared by Mr.. W. W.
Corcoran. to whom had been assigned
the honor Of representing the part taken
in the initiation Of the project and the
construction of the monument by the
Washington Monument Society, oi
which he is first vice-president.
at has been said," he began, = that
the fame Of those who spend their lives
in the service Of their country is better
preserved by unwritten memorials Of
the heart than by any material monn-
ment. The saying is preeminently true
Of the man whom the people Of these
United States must forever hold in
grateful yeneration as one entitled above
all others TO the honored name Of PateY
PatnG. Yet the instincts of the heart
do but follow the impulses Of our higher
nature when in honor Of the mighty
dead they call for commemorative
column or a stately monument, not, in
deed, to preserve the name and fame OF
an illustrious hero and patriot, but to
signalize the gratitude of generations
for whom he labored."
The speaker described the efforts
which were made in Congress and else
where, beginning the day after the
burial of General Washington's re-
mains, and repeated from time to time
during the next thirty years, to CON-
bine public sentiment in support of some
one of the various projects which were
mooted TO erect commemorative struc-
ture which should be lasting evidence
of the sentiments Of gratitude and
reverence which filled the hearts OF
Washington's countrymen.
In September, 1888, a meeting OF
the citizens Of Washington was called
to take the matter in hand, and on that
occasion the Washington National Mon
ument Society was formed, with Chief
Justice John Marshall, then seventy
eight years old, as president John
Crouch as first vice-president and
George Watterson, who deserves to be
remembered as the originator of the
movement, as secretary. The plan
adopted by the Society was to secure
the assistance and unite the voluntary
efforts of the people of the country in
the work, and to this end contributions
were limited to the annual sum of one
dollar from any one person. The col
lections on this plan amounted in 1886
to $2S. 1000, which sum was carefully
placed at interest, and in that
year advertisements were published
inviting designs from American artists.
Many were submitted, and frem them
one by Robert Mills was selected by
the Society. In lS47 the Society : fund
amounted to sS7 900. the limit upon
subscriptions having been removed, and
preparations for the work Of conStruc-
tion were begun. Congress, by reSo-
luton. granted a site on any of the un-
occupied public grounds of the city OF
Washington. to be selected by the Pre-
sident of the United States and the
Monument Society. which duty having
been performed, the cornerstone was
laid on the 4th Of July. 1913, in the
presence Of the executive. legislative,
and judicial branches Of the Government,
foreign ministers and officers, and vast
concourse Of citizens from all sec
tiOns Of the Union. Among guests on the
stand were Hrs. Alexander Hamilton.
then ninety-one years old; Mrs. Dolly
Paine Madison, Mrs. John Quincy
Adams. George Washington Parke
Gusts. Chief-,IIstitc fancy. Lewis
Cass. Martin Van Buren,, and Millard
Fillmore. The work progressed steadily
until 1854. when the shaft had reached
the height of 1856 feet ard had cost
100000. The treasury of the society
having now been exhausted. a me
mortal was presented TO Congress, re-
presenting that no plan which was
likely to succeed for obtaining further
sums had been devised. and asking that
Congress should take action in the
matter. Complications of a political
nature now arose in the Society. and, in
consequence, action by Congress and
further work upon the monument were
for some years delayed. In 1855 Con-
gress gave the Society formal charter.
and efforts were renewed TO secure funds:
but the condition of the country from
1860 to 1870 rendered all exertions lu-
tile. by 1876 measurable success met
the efforts OF the Society, very con-
siderable sum having been promised by
responsible bodies. and the Society de-
sisted from its efforts only when, on the
I'd Of August of that year, an act Of Com
gress appropriating 100000 to con-
tinue the construction of the monument
had become law of the land.
According to the provisions OF
the act the Society transferred and
conveyed TO the United States in
due form all property, rights, aud ca>c-
ments belonging to it in the monument.
- 1t is glory enough" said the speaker
III conclusion. e. for the Washington Ma
tional Monument Society that its pious
labOrS. as put to the proof Of time,
have issued in the majestic structure
which stands before MS to-day and il
is glory enough for the legislative and
executive departments Of the Govern
ment that in assuming and directing
the completion Of the monument on
the foundations laid by the people. they
have at once redeemed a sacred national
pledge and fulfilled "a sacred national
duty by giving to this great obclisk the
elimination and crown with which il
towers above the earth and scars hoa-
venward Ike the fame il commemo-
rates.
THE MASONIC CEREMONIES.
The Masonic ceremonies by the G,rsnd
Lodge Of the District Of Columbia.
which then followed, were brief. The
proper hnctionarieS declared that the
square. level, and plumb had been ap-
piled to the obelisk and that it, corners
were found 10 be square, its courses
level. iiS walls skilully erected accord
Ing TO the plan. Grand Master Myron
h. Parker then scattered corn and
poured out wine and oil. emblems
Of nourishment, refreshmcni. and