The Mineral argus., 1885-03-05
The Ceremony Of Defeating the Wash.
ingtOn Monument Executed Ac.
cOrding to Programme.
A Scene Of Brilliancy Such as the Ma.
tiOnal Capital Has Seldom. II
Ever Presented.
Eloquent OratiOns by X. G. Winthrop
and John w. Daniels. with Some
Minor Addresses.

The Washington Monument, the highest struc-
ture ever created by human hands, at the city
Of Washington on the .lst inst, were Of an inl-
posing character. The celebration was in two
parts, one at the base Of the monument and
the other in the hall Of the house If represen-
tatives where the principal orations were de-
livcred.
AT THE MONUMENT
The day was cold and dsagrceable The
military arrived betimes. the brass lands
were mar-haled 10 their places. the troops
come to "a rest. Senator sherman. chairman of
the joint congressional commission, from the
center of the stand, at II o'clock, called about
AN people To order, and SAID something about
the people keeping their hats on. These ne
marks were greeted with byc,y stamps, 10. the
opportunity was good one 10 10 store circulation
to chilled limbs ami cxrrenitic.. SENATOR Sler-
man then proceeded To give brief history oi tho
monument. from the organization Of the Wash
Ington Monument Association in iSlS and tho
laying Of the corner stone on thu ith Of July of
that year to its completion in ISIS. lie was
followed by ". W. Coicoran. the Ihlanihro-
pisf, who described AT length the part tab n
ON the initiation Of the project and the con
struction of the Monument society.
me Masonic ceremonies ny me Grand
Lodge, District Columbia which then fol
lowed, were brief Thcpiopcr functionaries
declared that the square. the level anal the
piumb had been applied To the olelisk and
that its corners were found Ia be square, its
course level. its walls skillfulv .rcctt,. ac-
cOrdin" To the plumb. Grand Master Myron
N. Parker scattered corn and poured ont
wine AMI oil, cmbems of reficsilnent and
Joy. and, in the course of the mystic cere-
monies. brought into use certain historic
relics with which Gen. Washington was i'm
mediatcly connected The oavcl used was
one prepared for and used bv Gen. Wash
ingtOn. as grand master of the fraternity IN
laying the corner stone of the national cap
ltOi O:i the Sih of September. 1913, "A sacred
volume belonging Ia fredericksburg Lodge
No. !. of Virginia, upon which Washing
ton took the first VOWS Of Masonry, and that
belonging to St Johns Lodge No !. city
OF New York, upon which ON the Both of
AErll, l's9. he took the oath OF
States; the great light belonging to
Washington Lodge No 1.. Alexandra.
Va. upon which he. as worshipfui
master, received the VOWS of the initiation:
the apron worn by him, which was worked
BY Madame Lafayette; golden ring. con
tanning lock of his hair, belonging To the
grand lodge Of Massachusetts,; the lesser
light, one OF the three sperm candles borne In
Washington's funeral procession. were exhib-
tied The address Of the grand master con
cluded as follows:
Know We all We people that we he Free Masons,
loyal and true citizens. obedient to law and
order, and can never be concerned In plots and
cousptractes against the true government The
immortal Washington. himself q Free Mason. de-
voted his hand, his heart, his sacred honor and
Of conscience, Of speech and Of action, and from
his successful leading has arisen tins nation. To
him and the memory Of his deeds . grateful peo-
pie have erected this memorial in the capital
which he founded and which VIII hear his name
TO remotest ages. . monume mt towering above
other monuments as his lowered above other
men.
The monument was then formally de-
liverel to President Arthur by Col
Thomas ]. Casey, the engineer.
President ARrHuR's ADpREss
resident Arthur in accepting the monu-
Fellow Countrymen: Before the dawn of the
fsded into the mast, when death had but lately
robbed this republic Of its most beloved ana
=, citizen. the congress OF the United
STATES pledged the national faith that I'm this
CITY bearing bis honored name and then, as
nov, the seat Of the general govrnment a mon
ument should he erected to Commemorate the
great events Of his military and poiiticai life,
Inc stately column that stretches heavenward
from the plain wherein We stand hears witness
our fathers made, their children have fulfilled |
In the completion OF this great work OF patriotic
endeavor there Is abundant cause for national
REJOICING, for, while this structure shall be to
:. s,,, and reverent regard in
he memory Of %ashnr,o continue Win to p hold
Keep the foremost place IN the hearts OF all his I
,o,untrymen The faith II . never faltercd, the /
eai ming tanrht in schoo,a ~. p,, rnah any
.hrank from no peril and was d;smo~.a ~, ," T
icfeai. the loyalty that kep; ali srlti III
to the demands Of patriotism and
lonor. the sagacity that displayed IL self In camp
M cabinet alike. and aboye all that harmonious
'as n ~ ,,ora am nteliectuai quarters which
IRE the attributes of cbar,c,.r h;,. IL, ,,,,.
ent thought of this centnrv a'cr;,.s ~, III,
randest iirnrc Of the last. But other and more
,"I ,, hi,s than mine will to-day rehear-e To
on ,.e -'ofv ~ ms noble lite and its glorious
a.. .,'' 10 myself has been assigned a