The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-01
THE CORNER-STONELAID.
THE CEREMONIES At TIE NEW
COURT HOUSE.


The New and Old Copper Boxes and
Their Contents Imbedded in the
Northeastern Corner Of the Founda-
ton Wall-The Programme OF the
Cereuonies-Dr Bowman's Prayer
and Judge Harden's Address-The
Contents of the Copper Boxes
The corner stone of the new court houss
was laid yesterday with appropriate cere-
monies, which were witnessed by large
number of citizens A temporary platform
was erected in the northeastern part Of the
site on the foundation walls, and chairs
were provided for the county and city
officials and heading citizens. The speakers
stand was on a raised platform on the
northern wall
Col. r. D. Walker, chairman Of the
board of county commissioners and the
Oldest surviving commissioner presided,
and Judge Fallgant Of the superior court,
Judge Harden Of the city court, and Rev.
W. S. Bowman, b. D., Of the Evangelical
Lutheran church and Rev. A. NJ Wynn of
the Wesley Monumental church. occupied
seats on the stand.
At o'clock Mr.. Charles A. Cox sealed
the box containing the archives, and few
minutes later the line of march was taken
up from the rooms OF the county commits
sioners. in the Whitfield building, for the
site Of the new court house.
Two cOlOred jauitOrs were in advance
with the two boxes, the smaller box
containing the archives deposited in
the cornerstone Of the old building
and the larger box Of archives for
the new building. Col K. d. Walker,
chairman Of the board Of commissioners,
and Judges Falligant and Harden came
next, followed by Commissioner lstill and
Mayor Schwsrz, Revs. Bowman AID VIM.
and after them the other members OF the
board, members Of the city council, county
and city officials members of the bar, repre-
sentatlves Of the city press and citizens.
THE INVOCATION.
When the platform was reached, and the
people were seated, Chairman Walker in
troduced Rev. DR.. Bowman, who offered
the invocation:
Q Lord God Of truth and grace, we approach
thine august majesty in humble recognition Of
the fact that justice and judgment are the
habtation Of thy throne whilst mercy AMI
truth 20 before thy face Thou hast. by thy
providence inclined thy servants TO erect in
this place a temple Of justice. for the proper
administration OF the laws Of the land, and Of
those principles OF truth anu equity OF winch
thou ART the divine author We humbly pray
that thy favor and blessing may rest
upon this great enterprise. Inspire thy
servants who are in authority in this matter
with abundant wisdom and with due sense OF
their responsibility to the God and the p,'ople
whom they serve. Embrace IN thy protecting
providence the workmen who shall rear this
edifice and keep them from accident, misfurt-
une and sudden death
BE thou gfaclously pleased o Lord our God
10 inspire the Judges the lnrles ANA the officers
Of the courts who shall oifciate IN this temple
with an album ant measure Of thv holy srIrt
and with the pure aud peaceable wisdom which
comes down from above that they may ever be
a terror to eyil-doers land the praise of them
that do well
We pray that ths structure TO be reared upon
TINS cornerstone may bee a citadel Ot safety 70
our people, where our rights, liberties and
our possessions may fluid a sure defense-where
our christian civilization shall be promoted
where vice aud crime, and insubordination
shall be made infamous, and where righteous
ness, obedience, law ana order shall be exalted
and to the judge eternal immortal Invisible
the only true God in unity with his Son, our
Lord, and the Holy Spirit, be all possible praise
world without end "Amen!'
JUDGE HARDEN's ADDRESS.
AT the conclusion of the prayer Judge
Harden was introduced He regretted that
he had not had The time TO prepare suita-
Die address, as he was not informed until
Monday afternoon that the cJrner-stone
70 Atlanta, and on his return was engaged
in holding court all day yesterday, ad j1urn-
ing long enough to be present at
the exercises All he might saw
be explained, would be through tue
inspiration Of the eloquent prayer of. DR.
Bowman. Men living together, the speaker
said, must have government, and govern
ment means to say what shall DO right and
what shall be wrong; 70 create what is
III hrf 1fat ic
lish justice, fairness, equity and truth The
law Is the balance wheel between tyranny
on the one hand and oppression on the
other. The first court in the colony of
Georgia was created by George H., who
recognized that the far-of land required
courts Of judicature, aud he established a
court which now embOdies, in the sIpe-
ri0r court, the common law and equity of
Great Britain. This general court OF Geor-
gla was established IN 1872, the year before
Oglethorpe came to this colony. This
court was composed of two justices. Noble
Jones and Jonathan Bryan. In that early
day, the judges Of Georgia received $500
per annum, a d judges now do not get as
much, although they have twice as much
work to do
THE OLD COURT HOUSE
The old court house built in 1881. the
speaker said, when the population was only
0SSuN osgSOy NtS dAGt udLe LOF inc business
OF that day and a source of pride to the
people, but in the last sixty years nearly,
times have changed aud the court house
which was suited to its day was no longer a
source Of pride TO the people of to-day. Grand
jury after grand jury condemned it time
after time as unworthy Of the civilization of
the age, and a deep debt of gratitude. the
Judge said, is due To the past and present
board of county commissioners for wiping
out this disgrace to the civilization of this
day, and giving the county something to be
proud of as the people Of Savannah in 1881
were proud of the court house Of that dav.
There were differences among the mem
bers of the old board "a to the plan and
character of the new court house. but there
was no opposition to building one worthy
of the city. Judge Harden believed that
the old board was actuated by the best in
terests of the people, and it agreed upon a
plan which with some changes was adopted
by the present board.
THE NEW BUILDING.
Judge Harden, in abiding to the con-
struction of the building said that there
10 ,ash