The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-26
seat of the nenesal 8

seat Of the general government. a |
monument should be erected |
to commemorate the great events OF his
military and political lite. The stately |
column pointing heavenward from the
plain whereon We stand bears witness TO
all who behold it that the covenant
which our fathers made, their children
have fulfilled in the comoIe-
ton of this great work of
patriotic endeaTor. There is abundant
cause for national rejoicing for
while this structure shall endure 1t shall
be TO all mankind 8 stesdfast token of
the stfectlonate and reyerant regard in
which this people continue 20 hold the
memory of Washington. Well may he
ever Be kept in the foremost place IN the
hearts of his countrymen. The faith thai
never taltefed. the wisdom that was
broader and deeper than any learning
taught IN schools, courage that shirked
from no peril. and was dlsmayed
by no defeat. the loyalty that kept all
selfish purposes subordinate to the de
mands OF patriotism and honor, the sa-
gaclty that displayed itself in camp and
| cabinet, and alike and above all that
harmonious unison of moral and intel
lectual qualities which never found its
| parallel among men-these are the attri-
butes OF character which the intelligent
thought of this century sscrlbes to the
grandest figure of American history.
| But other and more eloquent lips than
mine will TO day rehearse to you the
story of his noble life and its glorious
achievements. while to myself has been
assigned the simpler and more formal
duty In which do now, as president OF
the United States and in behalf
people, accept this monument from
the hands of its builders and declare it
dedicated from this time forth to immor-
talIze the life and memory of George
Washington.
The president read his address in a
firm clear tone and at it's conclusion
cheers broke forth and were hearty and
prolonged.
The Masonic ceremonies by the Grand
Lodge of the District of Columbia ,wb ict
followed, were brief. The proper func
tionaries declared that the square, the
level and the plumb had been applied tC
the obelisk ard that its corners were
found to be square, its courses level and
its walls skilfully erected according tC
the plans of the Grand Master Mason
Mr. Parker scattered corn and poureC
out wine and oil, the emblems of nour
ishment and refreshment and Joy, alC
in the course of his mystic ceremonies
brought into use certain historical fact
with which General Washington was in,
timately connected. The gavel used Wa
one prepared tor and used by Genera
Washington as Grand Master pro ten
. while laying tue corner stone of the ma
tIonal capitol ou the 18th of September
1893. The several volumes used ba
long to fredericksburg lodge Nc
of Virginia, upon which
3 Washington took the fidelit,
vows of Masonry. That belonging Il
st. Johns Lodge No. 1, city of New
York, upon which, on the Both day O
April. 1882, he took the cath of Office a
the first President of the United States
the "Great Light" belonging to Alex
ander Washington Lodge No. %, Alex
/, ander, Va, upon which he, as VOL
, shiptul master, received VOW
3 of initiates, the apron VOL
!! by him, which was worn b,
Marquis Lafayette; golden urn COL
tanning a lock of his hair belonging t
? the grand lodge of Massachusetts tn
, "lesser lights" one of three sperm can
!, dies borne in Washington's funeral pro
, cession, were all exhibited.
q The address of the grand maste
, brought this part of the proceedings {
an end.
The remarks of the various speaker
!. were inaudible, but puffs of steam fror
their mouths was the evidence that pre-
:, ceediDgs were being carried on accord
> ing to the program, and at ever
+ little intermis.1On the outsiders stampe
y approvingly.
Upon signal from the chairman
I Senator Sherman, the assemblage agar
r broke into cheers, the military wheele
j into line, the civic bodies aud the d..
y tinguished participants In the proceed
o ings OF the day sought their carriage
s and the procession, under the marsha
e ship of Gen. Sheridan, took up its lin
!, of march To the Capitol.
The streets OF Washington to-day wei
: gay with flags and bunting, and thol
8 sands of people filed the sidewalks 81.
u thronged the buildings along the line
h march.