The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-31
ANARCH TO WASHINGTON
TIE CORNERSTONE LAID WITH
IMPOSING CEREMONIES.

of the Proceedings-An Address on
washington's Connection With Ma
sonry-The Grafton of the Day De-
1ivered by George William Curtis.
NEW YORK. May 30.-In the presence of
a great concourse OF people the cornerstone
Of the Washington Memorial arch was laid
this morning, with much pomp and cere-
mony, by John w. Vrooman, grand master
of the Masons in the state Of New York, at
the site of the arch in Washington square.
A platform was erected on each side of the
roadway which the arch will span, one for
the Masons and invited guests and the
other for the singing societies led by Frank
H. Damrosch.
Among the prominent people present
were Mr.. and Mrs. Grover Cleveland, ex-
Secretary and Mrs. Fairchild, Daniel
Huntington, president Of the Academy of
Design, ex-Mayor Cooper and nearly all the
members Of the arch committee.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Bishop Potter. Then followed a hymn by
Robert Underwood johnson, sung by
Director Damrosch's choir of 200 voices.
THE FIRST ADDRESS.
Henry G. Marquand, chairman of the
Washington memorial arch committee, de-
livered the first address.
Waldo Hutchins, president Of the depart
ment Of public parks, next spoke in behalf
of the city. He said the monument, the
corner stone of which they were about to
lay, would not appeal alone. but as an
eternal symbol of great human aspiration
and the struggle for self-government. sit
will remind us of the rainbow arch of
promise of American liberty" he said, "for
it is not monument like those of Greece
and Rome, which were erected to personal
pride and selfshness, and which crumbled
and decayed, but one built to truth and
freedom, and which will endure forever"
George William Curtis, the orator of the
day, then stepped forward and delivered his
address, which was loudly applauded.
WASHINGTON AS A MASON.
The laying of the cornerstone, by John
W. Vrooman, was the next event. After
the formalities of the grand lodge had been
gone through with Mr.. Vrooman made a
speech, which told of Washington's connec-
ton with Masonry. He said the official
record showed tlat the honored name of
Washington appeared on the pages of the
books of the Masonic fraternity as an ideal
man and Mason. Washington was made a
member of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 on
Nov. 4, 1852, at the mature age of 20 years,
and while serving as an adjutant general in
the British army.
Rev. Robert Collier, who was arrayed in
the regalia Of the grand lodge, then took
the Bible on which the oath was admins
tered to Washington as first President of
the United States and read from the page
on which Washington Is said to have put
his hand while taking the oath of Office.
After the singing of 'The Star Spangled
Banner" and the hymn "Praise to Thee, o
God of Freedom" the ceremonies closed
with the anthem "AnerIca" by the choir.
THE ARCH MOVEMENT.
The arch is the outgrowth of a suggestion
of William Rhinelander Stewart that the
arch Of wood erected at the time of the
centennial Of the organization of the federal
government, May 80, 1889, be perpetuated
in enduring marble. For the purpose "A
committee was selected, with Henry G..
Marquand as chairman, and it was decided
to expend 100000 on the project, the
money to be raised by popular subscrip-
tion. The marble arch viii stand about
100 feet from the north curb from WASH
ington square park, and it will arch a
beautiful drive through the park.
THE GRAFTON OF THE DAY.
Following is the text of the grafton de-
livered by George William Curtis, already
alluded to:
This is day Of proud and tender memories
With malice toward none, with charity for all,
1t commentaries the triumph of American
patriotism and the assured integrity of the
American union.
What day in the year could be more fitting
than the day consecrated by such memories on
which to lay the cornerstone of q monument
which shall recall alike the beginning of the
union and the glory of its greatest citizen?
Never before could this duty have been
performed with greater Joy :, and nd
union, the great result of the revolu-
ton and of the devotion of Washington, has
been tried by fire, and its dross is burned away.
Whether the flowers fall to-day upon the graves
of the blue or the gray, they fall on the dust of
Americans. AS nothing but American vaor
could have hoped successfully to assail the
union, so nothing but American valcr could
have successfully maintained it. Thank Godl
whatever colors we may have worn in the past,
to-day the sun shines upon nation which is all
true blue.
ALL HAVE SHARE IN THE GLORY.
In beginning this memorial work if New York
Is justly proud she does not forget chat all the
American cities of the revolution have their
distinctive patriotic renown. In Boston was
rocked the cradle of Liberty. In Philadelphia
independence was declared and the constitution
was adopted. In Baltimore sat the continental
congress when it was driven from Philadelphia,
and in Charleston harbor the great fleet of Sir
Peter Parker was dispersed and destroyed. But
New York was tue scene of the last act of the
revolution, and of the opening drama of consti-
tutional union. In New York the flag of England
was lowered. From these shores the proud
sovereignty of Great Britain sailed away. Here
the first congress of the United States assem-
Oed. Here the first President was inaugurated,
and here the national government of the union
began From the day, 2S1 years ago, when
hendrick Hudson first saw the island on which
the city stands to the present hour, these
closely related events are by far the greatest
and most in the annals of New
York. Until now the part taken in them by the
city has wanted monument Henceforth the
monument that we raise will tell the glorious
story
AN ARCH OF PEACE.
In older lands monumental arches and
columns of victory celebrate territorial con-
quest, personal ambition, and the armed march
Ol empire. But IN this younger land or liberty
ana law, where the army is but policeman and
tne navy a watchman of the coast, we build an
arch of peace, the symbol of the republic in
which the guaranteed right of every citizen is
Tue security of the commonwealth and whose
nTst chief magistrate is the perpetual
Illustration and inspiration OF American
G!ltzenship. II is him especially, the dominat-
tug ngure of his time, the individual personal
iiorce that has so largely nodded our history
MN MN who refused the crown and made the con-
d q cluster of dependent colonies and left it an
independent nation, that this monument espe-
eially commentaries.
A MIRACLE.
That in the perilous tumult of the time, the
jealous clash of doubtful communities, and the
HoG conflict of selfish interests and passions,
srwR