Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-13
IT TOWERS ABOVE THEM ALL

IL 1ONE HI AboNE A'i-- >@
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-With the mer-
curry down almost to zero, and with a north
ery breeze which bore a suggestion of its
Arctic origin, the sprink!ing OF ticket-bear-
ers who began to fill up the seats on the
grand stand at the base of Washington Mon
ument, at ten o'clock this morning, did not
appear to be bent upon pleasure.
The military arrived betimes, the brass
bands were marshalled to their place, and
the troops came to a rest.
Senator Sherman, Chairman of the joint
Congressional Commission, from he center
stand, at eleven o'clock, called about eight
hundred people to order, and proceeded to
speak as follows:
1.-THE commission authorized by the two
houses OF Congress to. provide suitable cere-
monies for the dedication OF the Washington
Monument direct me to preside and to an
nounce the order of ceremonies deemed prop
thing to impress upon you the dignity of
the event YOU hay. met to celebrate. The
monument speaks for itself. Simple in
u enduring marble and granite, resting
upon foundations broad and deep, it rises
into the skies higher than any other work of
costly and appropriate monument ever
erected in honor of one man.
1t had its origin i'll the profound conviction
race, not only in this country, but in all civil.
lied countries, that the name and fame OF
Washington should be pcrpetuated by, u most
imposing testimonial of the Nations graft
ttde to its hero, statesman and father"
Senator Sherman then gave a historical
statement concerning the monument, and
concluded his address as follows:
1T is a fit memorial of the greatest charac-
ter in human history. 1t looks down upon
scenes most loved by him on earth, the most
Of objects deeply interesting TO the
American people, and all eyes turn to it,
snd all hearts feel inspiration in its beauty,
symmetry and grandeur. Strong us it is, it
will not endure so long as the memory of him
in whose honor it was built, but, while it
stands, it will be evidence to many succeeding
generations Of the love and reverence OF this
generation for the name and fame OF George
Washington.
First in war, first in peace, and first in the
this--the prototype Of purity, manhood and
patriotism for all lands md all time. Without
further preface, L proceed to discharge the
duty assigned me.
The Marine Band then played a short
piece Of music, which was rendered almost
inaudible by continual stamping of the
Shivering open air audience.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Luter, OF
Christ's Church, Alexandria, Va.
Hon. w. w. Corcoran, the First Vice
President Of the National Monument
Society, described at length the part taken
In the initiation of the project and the con-
struction of the monument by the society:
To Colonel Thomas l.. Casey, United
States Engineers, was assigned the duty of
presenting the part taken by the general
Government in the construction OF the
monument and of delivering it to the Presi-
dent of the United States. He gave an ac-
count of the first proceedings in Congress,
with a view to the completion of the monu-
ment, and described each successive step in
the construction Of the work until the set
ting of the cap-stone finished the under
taking, and then said;
although the dimensions Of the founda-
ton base were originally planned without due
rcgard to the tremendous forces to be brought
into play in building so large an obclisk, the
resources of modern engineering science
Of the grandest monumental column ever
erected in any age OF the warld. In its pro-
portions the ratios of dimensions of the
% iS1sfa, o Befsi G have the Been "ne ea4e!
fully followed, and the entire height has been
made slightly greater than ten times the
that, for grace and delicacy of outline, is not
excelled by any of the larger Egyptian mono
liths, while. i'm: dignity and grandeur it sur
passes any that can be mentioned. Mr.. Presi-
dent, for and in behalf of the joint commits.
sion for the completion Of the Washington
Monument, 1 deliver to you this column"
President Arthur, lin accepting the mon
ument, said:
yellow C~ouNTRYMEN: Before the dawn
of centuries whose eventful years will soon
nave faded into the past, when death had but
lately robbed this Republic of its most beloved
and illustrious citizen, the Congress OF
the t limited hat States tDSpi edg;e re- t t6s filth 6;ta
Is now, II the '', seat Of a'''T the ana ac f"ssi
Government, a monument should be erected
column that stretches h~eavenward from
Witsossp To a Ther %bo h we stand ID bears ear.
the covenant viii Which 0ene our H. fathers he,.s
made their children have fulfilled. In the
completion of this great work of p~htriotic
tional rejoicing, for while this structure shall
endure it shall bc to all mankind IL stcadfust
token of the affectionatc and reverent regard
IN which this people continue to hold the
keep the foremost place in the hearts of his
countrylren. The faith that never faltercd.
ene WIS wisdom that was broader and deep.
the courage that shrank from nc peril and
was dismayed ny no defeat, The loyalty tina;
Kept al selfish purpose subordinate to the
demands of patriotism and honor, the
saga!city that displayed itself in camp and
Cabinet alike, and, above all, that harmon
iOus union OF moral aud intellectual
quotations which has never found its pul
al!tel among. mon. These are attributes OF
character which tho intelligent thought OF
TINS century ascribes to the grandest figur.
81 the last. But other and more eloquent
lips than mine will to-day rehcnrse to you in
story of his noble life and its glorious
achievements. 10 myself has been
assigned the simple and more for.
NAL duty, in the fulfllmcnt OF
which ! do now. as President of the United
States and i'll behalf OF the people, receive
this monument from tho hands of its builder
and declare it dedicated from this time forth
Washington"
The President read his address in a firm.
clear tone. and, 1T its conclusion. cheers
broke forth and were hearty and pro-
longcd.
Tho Masonic ceremonies by the Grand
Lodge OF the District Of Columbia, which
then followed, were brief. The gavel used
by Grand Master Myron w. Parker was cue
prepared for and used by General Wash.
ington as Grand Master pro tenn. i'll laying
the corner Of the National Capitol OH the
18th Of September, 1898, the sacred
volume belonging to Fredericksburg Lodge
No. 4, Virginia. upon which Wash
ington took the first VOWS of
Masonry; that belonging to St. Johns
Lodge, No. l, of tho City Of New York.
upon which on the Both of April. 1889, he
took the oath of Office as first President of
the United States; the ''Great Light belong
ing to Observation-Disclosures Lodge, No.