The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-02-28

Jonn Lodge, NO. i, city OF New YORK,
and upon which, on the Both of April,
1879, he took the oath of Office as the
first President of the United States; the
"Great Light" belonging to Alexandria
Washington Lodge, No. 22, Alexandria,
Va, upon which he, as Worshipful
Master, received the VOWS of the initi-
ates; the apron worn by him, which
was worked by Nine. Lafayette; q gold.
en- urn containing lock of his hair, be-
longing to the Grand Lodge of Massa-
chusetts; and "the lesser light" one of
three sperm candles borne in Washing
toms funeral procession were exhibited.
The address of the Grand Master con-
cluded as follows:
Know We all, we people, that we be Free.
masons, loyal and true citizens, obedient to
law and order, and can never be concerned
In plots and conspracies against true gov.
eminent: The immortal Washington, him
SELF Freemason, devoted his hand, his
| heart and his sacred honor, and, il need be,
| his life Also to the cause of freedom, of con-
science, OF speech and of action, and from
MS successful leading has arisen this Nation.
! To him and the memory of his deeds CRATE
ful people have erected this memorial in the
| capital which he founded, and which will
bear his name to the remotest ages, monu-
| ment towering above other monuments as
| he towers above other men,"
brief prayer by the Grand Chaplain,
asking blessings, nourishment, refresh
ment and Joy upon all assembled, and
response by the brethren, $50 mote it
be, amen," brought this part of the pro-
ceedings to an end.
COLONEL CAsEY's PRESENTATION SPEECH.
10 Colonel Thomas L. Casey, of the
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 President of the United States. He
gave an account first of the proceedings
In Congress with "a view to the completion
OF the monument, and described each
successive step in the construction of the
work until the setting of the cap-stone
finished the great undertaking and then
said:
although the dimensions of the founda.
ton base were originally planned without
Que regard to the tremendous force to be
Drought into play in building so large an
obelisk, the resources of modern engineer
ing science have supplied the means for the
completion of the grandest monumental
column ever erected in any age of the world.
In its proportions the ratios of dimen-
sions OF several parts of the ancient Egyp-
tian obelisks have been carefully followed.
The entire height has been made slightly
greater than ten times the breadth of the
base producing an obelisk that for grace and
delcacy of outline Is not eXcelled by any Of
the larger Egyptian monoliths, while in dig
nifty and grandeur 1t surpasses any that can
be mentioned. Mr.. President, for and in be
half of the Joint commission for the compile
ton of the Washington monument, / deliver
; to you this column"
ACCEPTED.
} President Arthur was greeted with F.;
round OF hearty cheers and the audienc,
listened more eagerly to his remarks thai
to the words of any other speaker. TIL,
President in accepting the monument
said:
FELLOW COMMUNICATIONS the dawn o
: the century, whose eventful years will sool
have faded into the past when death hat
I but lately robbed this republic of its mos
beloved and illustrlous citizen, the Congress
of the United States pledged theIfaith OF TIN
t Nation that in this city, bearing his honorec
? name and then, as now, the seat of the gen
I eral government, monument should b.
erected to commemorate the great event
of his military and political life. Thu
stately column that stretches heavenwarC
7 from the plain whereon we stand bears wit
ness to all who behold 1t, that the covenan
Y which our fathers made their children ha
! been fulfilled In the completion OF thi
l great work of patriotic endeayor there 4
= abundant cause for National rejoicing, TO
Q while this structure shall endure 1t shall b.
to all mankind steadfast token of the af
Q fectionate and reverend regard in which THU
| people continue TO hold the memory o
: | Washington. Well may he be kept in TIL
. foremost place in the hearts of his country
i men. The faith that never taItered; thu
. wisdom that was broader and deeper THAI
Y any learning taught in the schools; tn
{ courage that shrank from no peril an,
y was dismaved by no defeat; the loyalt,
| that kept all selfish purpose subordinate Il
the demands of patriotism and honor; TIN
= sagacity that displayed itself IN the cam
D and Cabinet alike, and, above all, that har
r moniouS union OF moral aud intellectual
!. qualities which has never found its paral
Il lei among men, these are the attribute
r of character which the intelligen
l., thought ofthis century Nscrbes to the grand
c est figure of the last. But other and more elo
II quent lips that mine will to-day rehearse T.
u you the story of his noble life and its gloriou
achievements To myself has been asst gned
simple and more formal duty in the fulfill
t ment Of which do now, rs President OF tn
= United States, and In behalf OF the people
. receive the monument from the hands OF 1t
) builder, and declare it dedicated from thi
B. time forth to the immortal name and mem
4 DRY of George Washington.
The President read his address in
l. firm, clear tone, and at its conclusio
e cheers broke forth and were hearty an
It prolonged.
y IMPRESSIVE AND INTERESTING.
" This programme was hurriedly gon
through with, owing to the uncomfortabl
n cold. Nobody seemed disposed to della
% the proceedings for all had red noses an
IS cold toes. Nevertheless the exercise
!. were interesting and impressive, e:
e pecially those conducted by the Masoni
le fraternity. The procession from tn
It monument to the Capitol was a grci
"a success. Both sides of Pennsylvani
n avenue were thickly lined with peopl,
rs and the windows of all the buildings wei
J. filed with faces of spectators. I'll
magnificent street was never moi
= magnificent. People forgot their re
u noses and cold toes in watching the mil
y tary procession and listening to the fin
= music of some of the finest bands
70 the country. Two hours were spent c
the march from the monument to Il
stand on the east front of the capito
where the procession was reviewed by Il
President Ten thousand people we
~ gathered there to see this review, and
III was q fine sight. OF all the milita