Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-27
THE CORNERSTONE LAID.
CERENfONIEs Az TIE NEW ODD
FELLOWS HALL.


FELLOWS HALL.
Abe Grand Lodge OF Georgia an
the Grand lincampment Lay tn
Corner Stone with Impressive II
crcises-The Grafton by Hon. /
w. Mcidrim-rhe Parade and tn
Visiting odd Fellows.
Yesterday .he Odd Fellows Of Savanna
laid the Cornerstone Of theirnew hall an,
realized "a hope long iadulged. 1t wa
about 3 o'clock when the procession
headed by the Guards Band, moved ~
Bull street and over the route previously
published in the NEWS.
When the line arrived at State anC
Barnard streets a halt was called, and
Grand Master Henry F. Everett with a
number Of the officers aud members Of
the Grand Lodge and Grand Eucampment
and visiting grand officers, members o.
the Odd Fellows Hall Association, Noble
Grands and officers OF Magnolia Encamp-
ment and Patriarchs Militant, took seats
upon the platform.
THE GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS.
When all were seated the Grand Master
,said:
s.Nfy brothers, we have assembled on
this occasion to perform an interesting
and important ceremony, one which,
trust, viii have its proper influence upon
your hearts and minds.
''For many years past the brotherhood
in Savannah has looked forward TO the
realization of an ardent hope, aud has lt
at last in view. This lot has been selected
upon which TO erect an Odd Fellows hall,
from whose walls the white banner Of
friendship, love and truth shall be flung
10 the breeze. and from whose doors there
shall 60 forth an earnest brotherhood,
jealous in those offices Of love which
have given 70 the order 50 honorable a
name among men.
1--WE are here to-day to inaugurate this
enterprise by laying the cornerstone With
The solemn ceremonies BETTING such an
occasion. Before proceeding 70 cur i'm
mediate duties, il IS right and proper that
we invoke the divine blessing, without
which no good work can succeed"
A hymn was then surg and acting
Grand Chaplain Z. I. Christian followed
with a PRAYER. invoking divine blessings
upon the building and the order.
THE CORNERSTONE.
After the prayer the articles which
were to be deposited in the cornerstone
were placed in a copper box. Grand Sec
retary John g. Deitz, Of Macon, read a
Hist Of the documents, coins, etc. Among
the papers was a copy Of yesterdays
MORNING NEWS, which contained a
sketch OF the order in Savannah, copy
Of the Times and Local, copies OF the by
laws OF some OF the lodges, with rolls Of
members, souvenirs OF various kinds, and
about pound Of old, odd and rare coins
Nearly $1,000 in Confederate money was
put in the box, as was also a
protest from T.. q. Thomas A.
Askew, President OF the Hall AssO-
citation, against the ceremony used in
laying the cornerstone. A poem written
specially for the occasion by DR.. George
II. Stone. p. G., and entitled "a Glimpse
Beyond" and another, written by Grand
Herald &. Il. Hyde, were also deposited
IN the box.
DEPOsTTg-$G THE STONE.
While the stone was being slowly low
cred into position the Grand Master said:
AS this cement binds together the stones
d this structure 50 may the cement OF
brotherly affection bind us together during
all the days Of our lives here below; 80
may the cement Of divine love, in our
Fathers own good time, unite US as liv-
ing stones in the temple above. AN house
not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens"
Water and mustard seed we're sprinkled
upon the stone and a wreath Of flowers
was strewn over it by the Grand Master.
TIE GRAFTON.
The grafton was delivered by Hon. p.
W. Meldrim, who in speaking OF the insti-
tuition Of the order in Savannah said:
'.Ihe birthplace of Odd Fellowship in
Savannah, the Old City hotel, has long
since been closed as a place Of public en-
tertainment. Lyceum nall, which gave
the order home, has been replaced by the
elegant structure on the corner OF Brough-
ton and Bull streets, while the old Wash
ingtOn hall, which stood at the
corner OF Bay and Jefferson streets,
and where the fraternity tarried for
awhile, mingled its ashes with the dust of
our streets over forty years ago. Here on
dnis spot where now we stand stood the
house prepared by the municipality of
Savannah for the entertainment Of the
first President Of the United States, when
in May, 1891, be visited this city. That
house has been torn down and, in its
place, noble hall Will soon be erected as
a permanent home for a deserving order.
and litter monument to our beautiful
city"
As TO SECRET ORDERS.
Referring to the organization of secret
orders the orator said: 'ln a state of ma
ture the hand Of the barbarian Is con-
sUantly uplifted in savage warfare. Might
makes right, and the dependence OF man
upon man is so slight that the breath OF
lancied wrong will kindle into tiercest
names the fires OF the human heart. But
even the rudest savage, painted, ignorant
and cruel, has in infancy been forced to
gain his eustenance from a mothers
breast. Strong. brave, and fitted as he Is
10 cope in deadly conflict with wild beasts
and wilder men, yet his strength and
bravery and fitness were all derived from
the rude teachings of his savage sire
Now IN nature, barbarous or civil
lied, can man be found free from depend
rnce upon man. Wealth. social position,
talents. commanding influence, may all
be his, but he was, is, and ever will be-
from the cradle to the grave, dependent
npon his fellow mau. In childhood a
mothers love- fathers care,
are all that enable him 10 meet
aud bear the ills Of life. Cast the
babe upon the sands OF the shore or leave
him 70 rest ia the glades OF the forest and
the fish Of the sea or The birdsM the air
viii soon rend his young limbs asunder
and destroy the life That can only be
nursed into strength and manhood upon a
mothers breast.
BEAUTY or ODD FELLOWSHIP.
SIN youth the hours OF our childhood
WOULD be leaden not golden were it not
Tor the friends OF our boyhoOd. and tina