The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-03-06
THE OBLIGATORY CEREMONIES.

After an interval of thirty seven years
since the foundations We're first laid, 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. The ceremon-
les both at the monument grounds and at the
capitol were of the most imposing and i'm
presslve character. This weather was in
tensely cold, the thermometer at IL A. ~
ranging fourteen degrees above zero, but the
day was clear and bright, and the event
proved memorable one i'll the list of Wash
ington pageants
The near approach Of the Inauguration GER
emones swelled the crowd of visitors and at
AN early hour the streets presented am 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,
300 feet high. The outdoor ceremonies began
at the foot OF the monument at precisely the
hour appointed, II O'Clock The grand stand
was filed with distinguished invited guests
President Arthur his cabinet, visiting GOV
errors of States, Senators and Representa-
tives, the members of he 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
paying an eloquent tribute to Washington
Prayer was Offered by Rev. Mr. Suter, Of
Alexandria, Va. An address by the venera
bic W. w. Corcoran. president of the Monu-
ment association, who was present but I'M
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 functionares declared that the
square, the level and the plumb had been APP
piled to the obelisk, and that its corners were
found to be square, its courses level, its walls
skillfuly erected according to plan. Grand
Master Myron NJ Parker scattered corn and
poured out wine and oil-emblems of nour-
ishment, refreshment 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
the completion of the Washington monu-
ment / deliver to you this column
The Presidents address finished the cere-
monies at the monument Then the military
wheeled into line the civic bodies and dis
tnguished participants in the proceedings of
the day sought their carriages and the pro-
cession, under the marshal>hip of General
Sheridan, took up the line Of march to the
capitol.
President Arthur reviewed the procession
and then, accompanied by his cabinet the
the supreme court Justices ard Lieutenant
General Sheridan and staff, wake 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 by the
Rev. S. A. Wallis of Pohick church near
Mount Vernon. Then Senator Edmunds ex-
pressed his regrets that the Hon. Robert C.
Winthrop, of Massachusetts, who as speaker
of the House delivered the Grafton when the
corner stone of the monument was laid in
1S4S, and who was to have delivered the dedi-
catory Grafton, was absent on 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, and COM
pliments the individuals and associations who
have been connected with the work. Then,
after describing the monument, Mr.. Win
throp narrates wildly many of the deeds of
Washington, and gives an analysis Of his !
character as a soldier and a statesman.
After Ex-Governor Long had finished read |
ing, Senator + imonds introduced John w. !
Daniel of Virginia, MIR Daniel gave a
graphic sketch of Washingtons life and
work.
The benediction was pronounced by the
chaplain of the House, and the ceremonies |
were ended.
In the evening there was a grand display |
of works in the monument grounds An |
immense crowd was attracted by the sight, |
and it seemed as though the entire population |
of the city had turned out TO do honor to the |
occasion. The grounds and streets leading !
thereto were tbrunged with people AMI the |
roadway around the monument was packed !
with carriages. The President and a mum !
Der of invited guests, including several cabi- |
net officers, viewed the scene from the win |
dows of the White House