The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-03-11
THE Drp1cAroRY CEREMONIES.


After an interval Of thirty.seven years
since the foundations were first Ibid, the tall
est monument or structure Of any sort in the
world has been formally dedicated, to the
memory of George Washington in the capt.
tai city which bears his name. TIL ceremon-
les both at the monument grounds and at the
Capitol were Of the most imposing and i'm
pressive character. The weather was in
tensely cold, the thermometer at IL A. u.
ranging fourteen degrees above zero, but the
day was clear n bright, and the event
proved a memorable one in the list Of WASH
ington pageants..
The near approach Of the inauguration GER
emonies sweiled the crowd Of visitors, and at
an early hour the streets presented an unusu-
ally animated appearance with the numerous
military and civil organizations and the
crowds Of spectators marching toward and
converging near the base Of the grand shaft,
SIS feet high. The outdoor ceremonies began
at the foot Of the monument at precisely the
hour appointed, II o'clock. The grand stand
was filled with distinguished invited guests
President Arthur, his cabinet, visiting gov
ernors Of States, Senators and Representa-
tiyes, the members Of the Monument commits
sion, Colonel Casey, engineer in charge, the
diplomatic corps, and others participating in
the presentation.
Senator John Sherman, chairman Of the
| Joint congressional committee, presided and
| opened the exercises with a brief address, re.
viewing the history Of the monument and
paving an eloquent tribute to Washington.
PRAYER was offered by Rev. Mr.. Suter, Of
Alexandria, Va An address by the venera.
BILE w. W. Corcoran. president Of the Monu-
ment association, who was present, but un-
equal to the task Of speaking, was then read:
The Masonic ceremonies by the Grand
Lodge Of the District of Columbia were brief.
The proper functionaries declared that the
square, the level and the plumb had been ap-
| piled to the obelisk, and that its corners were
found to be square, its courses level, its walls
skillfullv erected according to plan. Grand
Master Myron NJ. Parker scattered corn and
poured out wine and oil-emblems OF nour-
ishment, rcfreshment and joy-and in the
course Of the ceremonies brought into use
certain Masonic relics with which General
Washington was intimately connected:
Colonel Thomas L. Casey of the United
States engineers reviewed the work done
under his supervision, and then, turning TO
President Arthur, said: "Mr. President, for,
and in behalf of the joint commission for
tho completion of the Washington monu-
ment, I deliver to you this column"
Tho Presidents address finished the cere-
monies at the monument. Their the military
wheeled into line. the civic bodies and dis.
tinguished participants in the proceedings OF
the day sought their carriages, and the pro,
c~ession, under the marshalship OF General
Sheridan, took up the line OF march to the
capitol.
and then. ACCOMPANIED by his cabinet, the
diplomatic corps, the Monument association,
the supreme court justices and Lieutenant
General Sheridan and staff, walked to the
House of Representatives. The large audience
in the hall arose as they entered and gave
them a round of applause. Senator Edmunds
occupied the Speakers desk and conducted
the exercises. Prayer was offered tby Inc
Rev. S. A. Wallis of Pohick church near
Mount Vernon. Then Senator Edmunds e6-
pressed his regrets that tho o ROBERT Z.
Winthrop, of Massachusetts,, who as speaker
of the House delivered the Grafton when the
corner stone Of the monument was LAID IN
1913. and who was to have delivered the dedl-
catory Grafton, was absent OF account OF SICK.
ness. and introduced Ex-Governor Long, OF
Massachusetts. Governor Long then read
Mr.. Winthrop's Grafton. The address gives
with great detail the history OF the movement
from its inception to its completion, ana con-
pliments the individuals and associations VINO
have been connected with the work. Then,
after describing the monument, Mr.; YIN,
throp n~arrates vividly many Of the deeds OF
Washington, and gives ali analysis OF MS
character as q soldier and a statesman.
After Ex-Governor Long had finished read
ing, Senator Eimonds introduced John w.
Daniel Of Virginia. MIR. Daniel gave q
graphic sketch Of Washington's life ana
work. 49,
The benediction was pronounced by the
chaplain of the House, and the ceremonies
We're ended. -
In the evening there was a grand display
of T. eworks in the monument grounds An
immense crowd was attracted by the s1lSht,
and it seemed as though the entire populaion
of the city had turned out to do honor to the
occasion. The grounds and streets Leading
thereto were thronged with people, ana inc
roadway around the monument was Fackea
with carriages, The President and a num-
her of invited guests, including several cabl-
net officers, viewed the scene from tho win
dows of the White House.