Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-09
g1np Yartn Guilty agnrning gunrnal AMID Courier.
The Laying of the Corner stone OF the
New Masonic Building at NOrwalk
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ceremonies.

The Laying OF the Corner stone OF the
New Masonic Building at NOrwalk
Kesterday-ImPOsIng Ceremonies.
About one hundred members of New Ha-
ven commandery, Knights Templar, with the
American band left this city at 1 o'clock
yesterday afternoon for Norwalk to assist in
the Masonic ceremonies attending the laying
of the corner stone of the new Masonic build
ing in that place yesterday afternoon. The
event took place in the presence of thousands
of spectators, including Knights Templar
from all over the State. The exercises COM
menced at O'Clock and after music by the
band and a quartette Editor B. w. Naples of
the Norwalk Hour made the address of well
GOMEZ in which he appropriately compliment
ed the liberality and enterprise of the Nor
walk Masonic fraternity and spoke of the
inception of the enterprise which St. Johns
lodge was now bringing to successful
result Proceeding he said:
Late in 1884 the owners of the property on which
mart of the property on which these foundations
rest has peculiar and interesting Masonic history
sonic calendar, George Harrison, provincial grand
master of New York, in aid by charter under
YORK Instituted St. Johns lodge, No. 1, at Nor
walk 1k;, o-..d s g. 1obn,s ,odaa No
l. at NorwaIk, by the most worshpiful Grand lodge
munication held in New Haven on the 18th day Of
october, 579s, by the same calendar. The first
n rs Of had hf bu Hdg What mas WAS ahen
considered handsome mansion on this very spot,
soa @ that tRe Of
St. Johns lodge was held. For
@
possible to secure the old mansion and It's SITE TO
L., ofodh OUo Of m
ers of the property heirs by direct descent from
Benjamin 5saae were consulted and an met the Ma
not unexpected but not the less appreciated On on
nas a0d the odss the
mittee, be Instructed to apply to , the
poration. The act was granted and empowers the
association to construct this building, and further
benevolent PURPOSES. OF the work that has since
that all of the funds necessary for the final compile
ton Of this building are provided for and that we
cupancy early in the coming year.
Most Worshipfu1 Grand Master Henry IT:
Green, of Danielsonville, then took charge of
the ceremonies. A tin box containing the
usual memorabilia, a list of all the Masonic
fraternities in the State, the names of the
officers of the Grand lodge, the names of the
members of ST. Johns lodge, copies of the
Norwalk papers, sprig of acacia from Jeru-
salem and bit of stone taken from King
Solonon's temple, was placed in the interior
of the corner stone. After other appropriate
exercises the grand master finished his ad
dress.
The orator of the day was Rev. Edward
Anderson, of Norwalk. After the exercises
were over various visiting organizations par
ticipated in parade, and afterwards col
lation was served. Bank Commissioner
Hyatt was grand master of the procession.
In the evening ball was held in the City
Hall which was largely attended The new
structure will cost in the neighborhood of
$50, 900 and will be built of brick and gran
tie. 1t is SO feet front and will be ITO deep,
three stories high in front and four in the rear
large store will occupy the first floor,
offices the second and a magnificent lodge
room, with convenient ante-rooms and cham
bers, will occupy the third. The ban
quet hall will be on the fourth story of the
rear portion of the structure. The building
is being built by the Benjamin Isaacs Ma
sonic and Benevolent association for st.
Johns lodge No. 6, F. and A. M. All the
members of the association are members of
the lodge. The corner stone, handsome
granite block with polished face bearing the
following inscription, GA. D. 1885," was
laid at the northwest corner of the founda-
ton.
In the stone was deposited box with the
following named articles: Report of Grand
lodge, F. and A. M, for 1885 and 1886, by
laws of St. Johns lodge No. 6, bylaws of
Washington chapter No. "a, bylaws of Clin-
ton commandery, Z. T., and bylaws of
Washington council, R. and S. M, full list
of the officers and members of St. Johns
lodge No. 6, Washington chapter "A, Wash
ington council and Clinton, commandery, full
list of officers and members of Benjamin
Isaacs Benevolent association, stone vouch-
ed for from King So1omon's temple, a sprig
of acacia from the Mount of Olives and cop
les of Norwalk Gazette, Norwalk Hour, South
Norwalk Sentinel, South Norwalk Reporter,
Mechanics Journal, Norwalk Star and High
School Review.
With the exception of the corner stone of
the new Masonic Temple in Middletown laid
a few weeks since this is the first Masonic
corner stone laying in the State since 1871,
when the Masonic Temple here was built.