New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-22
Mr.. DEPEw AT PEEKsKILL
PRoNOUNCING AN GRAFTON AT THE LAYING
OF THE OPERA HOUSE CORNERSTONE.

THE STONE LAID WITH MASONIC CEREMONIES
-PEEKsKILL In GALA pREss-A BIG PRO
cEssIoN AND HOST OF SPECTATORS
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuskl
Peekskill, n. Y, Oct. 21.-This city was IN eaiA
dress to-day, for this afternoon the cornerstone
the $4,000 Opera House. at Depew ana ooutn
sts.. was laid. with imposing Masonic CEREMONIES
by Grand Master John w. yrooman, assisted oy
other Grand Lodge officers Chauncey H. Depe"
pronounced an Grafton, and there was o PROCESSION
The public-school children had holiday, the mef-
camille houses suspended business. the Government
buildings were closed, the city was decked Win
flags and bunting and Peekskill's 10000 people,
with hundreds from neighboring places thronseu
the streets and gathered to witness the ceremony.
At l O'Clock the procession formed IL COM
prised the Peekskill Military Academy Caoete'
Sons Of Veterans, Posts Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic, the entire Fire Department, CIVIC or
CARNATIONS. lodges ETC.. with numerous drum
corps and bands. and passed over an extensive
line Of march. After passing in review in front OF
General Husteds house, it countermarched to the
grand stand, where it was reviewed by the Uraho
Lodge Chief Engineer James II. Haisht was
Grand Marshal. The grand stand, which was
erected on wing Of the half-completed opera
House. contained 100 Of Peekskill's most prom-
nent men and women, beside guests from our
Of town. About fifty amateur photographers
were taking pictures of the procession and during
the exercises at the grand stand.
The exercises were opened at 80 with music
by the Peekskill Cornet Band Then the corner
stone was laid with the beautiful Masonic rltuai,
by Most Worshipful Grand Master John w. woo
man, assisted by the Grand Secretary and treas
urer and the Senior and Junior Grand war
dens. The Grand Chaplain the Rev. j. '" AcK-
erly, Of this village, then offered prayer af'er
which the Grand Secretary read LIST OF the con-
tents Of the box
The Grafton Of the day was made By Peekskilfs
favorite son." Chauncey NJ Dcpew, who spoke as
follows
Fellow Citizens: Few engagements have afforded
me greater pleasure than the privilege OF
in these exercises in Tic place where was Dorii su
upon part Of the Old 1a:m endeared 10 me U! ~
many memories .-..,.. o,.or. IN
This celebration marks most interesting eyent ON
the history OF our vase 1t comes t"e ey. us
bureau that our numbers enute reehsh.1 the ~ nat
rank Of city We have lived TOO NUN ~, IN so
OF a modern town. 1t yields only sentiment and
experience; the does not help and the other Is ao'
of the kind which draws population AND p.Uperlt5
We are exceedingly rich In Revolutionary renpu-
scenes, and can point with pride 81 many Places a,
which are OF value 10 the antiquarian anu tn parrot.
From these hills tie Continental Army watched the
movements Of the British whose raldSs came TO cur
mGntlFion between New 81 gland ana tie rst Of the
the headquarters VI General Putnam. In those
truubloas times Alex ander Hamilton and Aaron buTr
and the dasllng French officers cptivated our grand
mothers aud left many heart acne behind a. they
and their lives have been as peaceful as they "ere
unevebtful Washington Irvlng.s picture OF tie
are Of them. and know the story Of te village IN the
valley Of the Hudson The people Of he,e !a,nl I
poverty nor riches. aud troubled by neither am
IIons nor jealou>ies They looked upon newconltr'
with dlstrust. There is no more startling contrast
THAN that which is presented by the evolution of an
old village surrendeIs gTudgingy aud By degrees -
the demands OF modern methods, Willie the Western
manufacturing and business metropolis before the sod
Is turned for the first foundation the map OF boom.
only miles OF s;aked prairie. shows broad avenues
lined with elegant private residences, electric and
manufactures and upon which arr the MASSIVE
masonry Of the postoiee, the court house and the
tive feature of the picture but the sloes OF the town
has past, aud 1t relies Oh no traditions. Its pro
moters are Intensely practical. and their objective
point Is to make fGtne1 out Of e sale ef tS
hg for knowledge, culture and art which are incident
ey e knew that e s and nd ap wife Tha lad the
courage TO break away from old surroundings and me
not stake their lives and fortune aid the happiness
Of their children upon its growth, unless than
the mere accumulation OF Money Is p%mised hi, it h
church ard The schoolhoi,e, but now he demands
also a university and an opera house The peculiarly
Of older tOwIa has been the slGr>hneSs OF their i'll
Lit,Ie came from without TO feed the current and
there were few interests WITHIN TO promote the healthy
bubbng Of the waters. Until alter Tie Civil War no
minister in this village would nave daFtd preach upon
was prostitutng the pulpit 70 politics and III woud
have been summary dismissed The evils, the horrors
nnd th. nf Inre Thn \lfIn
conscience. but the local church oi every denomination
followed the old orthodox lines, drew it, lessons from
familiar places. and fought more Justify over the
differences OF crerds than against the visible sources
Of sin. There was time when II wOLid have been
Henry WARD Eeecher - speak III th4' Village. our
community furnished all example Of the psinciDle tEn'
full life more mpcne tGable i, the bisory and
the moro imPacable the Intolerance We are also an
of the Rebellion and Of the iaralculabl blessings wh!cn
have sprung from ii, terrible aud tremendous sufferngs
Tie first settler upon this romantic spot had no
incentive for drawing population, 10 Uuy his lands for
lie satisfied with the comfort II life ard neither
cared for nor knew Of It's luxur->. The college was
been an abomnation During the Colonial period the
village pastor was the Leader OF thought. and daily grew
manor and their guests SET roy ,teri:s example Of
manner, and society. For a hall 'eitnry after the
anche "'pE c w we're ap and Se ygr
They were bli<Sfuiy ignorant Of any material or in
tcllcCtlaI IncS Knew ma" the WOrI1.
more than content to have ;c world leave them
alone While we would not think of returning 20 their
conditions, II Is beyond question that their simple
hOmey llfe their una>Surng EO- pita.i;y their con
ccntiated interest, in their fare and their churches
there was far higher average 81 content and com
fort. and much les OF ITOpDrtiOnate poverty and
suffering In the village then than now.
Fifty wears aso the PeckSkill Academy was founded
mediate and con9uous The dornaHt inte , -raal
activities OF the village were aroused. The younger
generation seized with av'dity the larger Opp0rtun
ties. and me circulating library hcrane necessity ~
the people. our cOmmunitv fell easily within th"
lecture field We had no public halls. mi the churche>
were freely thrown open. They too lad II the fore.
OF the awakening. and the accelerated mental artvty
lad enlarged and brOadencd the sphere Of spiritual IN
fuence. The giants If the platform, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Theodore Parker. Edward Everett and Wen
dell Phillips. became familiar figures IN our midst
They lifted our people ~ their own plane and the
study AID discussions Of the problem. they presented
became the occupation Of our leisure hour and the
at our social gatherings. remember
incident showing the sudden liberalization OF tlI'