The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-11
CORNERS STONE LAID.
Foundation of a New Masonic
Temple.
iT IS WELL AND TRULY FORMED,
Impressive Ceremonies Attend the In
itiatory work on Splendid Build
fng-A Clam-Bake Follows.

order being duly performed. There were from
800 70 600 persons assembled at the site "nen
the procession OF officials appeared. The iot,
which Is on the corner of Second and Pike. was
acquired by st. Johns lodge several Yeas ago
and Is admirably adapted 70 the purpose ms
First Regiment band led the way from the rem
devious at Freed's ball, and was fonoueu "
the Knights Templar, sixty strong, In thelr siHi
pie but handsome uniform, under the commAnu
OF Senator Trusten p. Dyer, who Is pas, glanu
master of st. Johns lodge.
The Grand Lodge of Washington, represented
by go officers all attired in full regalia, came
next and formed around the center part OF IN
terest The massive stone which is 10 form the
initial Of an imposing structure, was LAID In
place, the work being superintendent by Messrs.
wilmot and Davis
The grand officers present were: Most worthy
grand master. James Ewin Edminston, Dayton:
deputy grand master, Thomas Amos, Coliax;
senior grand warden, Alfred A. Fiummer, Port
Townsend; junior grand warden, edward H.
Hare. Tacoma; grand treasurer, Benjamin har-
ned, Olympia; grand secretary. Thomas NJ Ree1,
Olympia; reverend grand chaplain, HARRISON
w. Egan, Walla Walls; grand lecturer, Sonn ~
Hudgin, Dayton; grand orator. Joseph NJ lay
lor, Seattle grand marshal, James A. west,
senior grand deacon, John T. Tweed. Olympia:
junior grand deacon, Horace " Taylor: grand
sword bearer, Alexander ]. Cook. Vancouver;
senior grand steward. John j. Jones, haiia
Walla; junior grand steward, Philip West, Port
The past grand masters present were:
Most Worthy James r. Hayden, Seattle; Joseph
A. Kuhn. Port Townsend; g. o. Halter, Seattle;
Devils Zeigler, Spokane; Joseph Smith, kalan1a.
Nathan s Porter, Thomas II. Reed, olsm l,n.;
William McMicken, Z. D. 6. NJ: Lewis Van
fleet, T. J. G. W
The grand officers who occupied the platform
around the cornerstone were:
Grand master. yeInes T. Edminston; deputy
grand master Thomas Amos; grand orator,
Professor Joseph u. Taylor; grand senior
warden, Alfred A. plummec; grand junior
warden. Edward X. Hare; grand chaplain, Har-
rison Egsn: grand secretary, Major Harmed
grand treasurer, Thomas II. Reed.
II was 10 30 O'Clock when Mos; Worthy Grand
Master james Even Edminsson announced the
order Of the day. declaring that in accordance
with the custom OF Masonry, the laying OF the
foundation stone would bn celebrated by suit
able observance. They were there at the invita-
ton of st. Johns lodge, who proposed to make
meeting place worthy OF the order in Seattle
He directed. that the stone be laid.
While the preliminaries were arranged the
hand played the "Waysidc Chapcf' revcrie
with exquisite pathos. The grand chaplain,
lev. Harrison Egan, invoked the divine bles-
sing upon the work of the order and the task TO
be undertaken that day.
Grand Treasurer Thomas u. Reed deposited
the clsket containing records and memorials in
commanded, 'sIet the stone be lowered" and
this was done, the band meantime playing the
s'Soldier's Dream"
The actual ceremonies were then performed
with becoming solemnity, and as each step was
taken in the impressive ritual the large crowd
stood uncovered and in perfect silence. The
deputy grand master applied the square, the
grand warden the level, the junior grand master
the plumb in turn reeitiug the principle of the
order of which each was embleInatical, and de-
ciartng that "the craftsman has done his duty
faithfully and we'll"
Appropriate officials then advanced bearing
three silver goblets, and emptied their contents,
corn, wine and oil, upon the stone, repeating
the symbolic meaning of each.
The grand master uttered the Masonic bene-
diction, and tapping the stone with his mallet.
he declared it to be well-forned, true and
frusty, and the massive stone sank solfdy into
the underlying cement. The honors of three
times three were given, and the mechanical
work was done.
The architect OF the building, Francis y. Will
cox, was summoned TO the platform, and pre-
sented by the grand master with the nipple
meats OF the craft, charging him to see that
they were used faithfully in the performance
of his task
Grand orator J. N Taylor delivered the fol-
lowing eloquent address, which was listened
10 with profound attention:
Most Harsaigfsll Grand Master, Brethren Of The
Masonic Fraternity. and Felicts Citi-esss: From
tine Immemorial IL has been the custom OF the
Masonic fraternity to lay corner stones, not only
of Masonic temples, but also OF sacred and pub
lie c6ificeS. The national capitol in Washing
ton, the various state capitol buildings, custom
houses colleges. universities, hospitals, asylums,
public school buildings, piers Of celebrated
bridges, canal docks, postoinceS, public docks,
wharves and levees each and ali these have
been founded by this ancient and imposing
ceremony. 70 take away the history of Free
masoury from America would be to draw from
more than 50,ooo sacred aud magnificent edifces
their foundation stems. planted there by this
ancient and honorable Masonic fraternity. In
fact X is The undisputed prerogative of the
Masonic society 10 perform this CEREMONY and
u belongs 70 no other institution on earth
Fox any other society than that OF tho Masonic
20 perform tie ceremony OF laying the fouuda-
ton stoae OF public building would be to fur
nish q drama bordering closely upon the
burlesquo To establish this assertion perhaps
il Will be necessary to draw somewhat from the
annals of the Masonic order
Be il known that In medieval times the
Masonic order was a kind of trades guild, not
unlike in organization the various trades
unions of todSy, composed of operative stone
maSons. These guilds OF builders travelled IN
and down throughout European countries. build
Ing the great csthedrss and magnificent palaces
of medieval civilization. Nothing can be more
indiSputably evident 10 the student of Masonic
history than the descent of Freemssonry from
these medieval builders guilds. How much
farther back in history the Masonic order ex.
tends is not known, nor is il within the scope of
our present purpose 20 inquire. We leave that
matter 10 the antiquarian, simply adding in
passing that Frcemasonry, so far as its origin is
concerned, may appropriately be called the
ss0rcat Unknown.
edifees erected by our operative brethren of
medieval times may be mentioned ST stephens
a. Vienna; Rheims and Notre Dame in France;
Milan cathedral aud the Cathedral, Baptistry
and Leaning Tower OF Pisa, In Italy: the great
York cathedral and the magnificent castle OF
Carnarvon, in Great Britain TO which Nigh, be
aAfh a.
There is an old book extant called the "Eratres
fontia." or Bridge Builders" which gives an
account OF Brotherhood that was founded for
the express purpose of travelling far and wide 10
build bridges. IL Is stated that the great bridges
over the Dee and Eden were constructed BY this
brotherhood. Bridge building was always con-
sldercd charitable work, and as the founda-
tion stone OF speculative Masonry is charity,
there can be no douhs that this brotherhood oi
bridge builders Was connected, in principle AZ
least with the great Masonic brotherhood
az shet kind of men is the Masonic fraternity
conposed2 This is . very pertinent question
fog any enc - ask who seeks its mysteries Iet
Us sSe. We ind borne upon the registers of It's
lodge membership the names az the greatest and
wisest men of all ages. Even kings and poten.
tales have condgsccnded 70 lay aside Tor 4 time
their crowns and sccpters and take up the syIn.
hoilc trowcl ard lambSkln badge of Innocence
snd aid IN disseminating the great moral truths
and lessons OF FFeemssonry, Frederick the
Great, the Prince of Wales, King William o.
Germany and GAyihasdi. arc but few of the
great European Free MaSoas Of tie past and ths
preSen.. In eur own country. Washington,
''frst in war, erst In peace and first in ,he
hearts OF ais soan'Tymsn; was also Mssou,
military honors Lafayette. the lover OF liberty
and the tread OF America; Hamilton the grea,
master OF nnsnoe; Franklin; WHO bottled the
lightning of heaven; he Wiz Clinton, the
statesman, the immortal James A. G&rfela-sll
these were moro than ell other greatness
attributed to them-they were Free and Ae-
In the ancient days IL WAS ..ia, $40 Ia :.