The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-11
THE oAplToI CORNER STONE,

Account of the Laying of the Stone by
George Washington and the Masonic Or
der-But one Newspaper Reporter
PreSent-Unique Description Of the Event
from An Old Newspaper.
Washington Posi,
The incidents and ceremonies connec'
ted with the laying OF the corner stone
have passed into tradition, and it is
doubtful if there are half dozen per-
sons in the country who were alive at
the time OF the ceremonies, while it is
quite certain that there remain no eye
witnesses OF the event ut all. Owing 10
q combination OF circumstances, Chief
among which was the prevalence OF the
yellow fever sCourgc in the year oil
grace 1903, there came near being left
no written record OF the event, As all
the newspapers in Georgetown, Balti-
more, Philadelphia, and the surround
ing region had suspended publication
some days before, on the breaking out
OF the fever in Philadelphia, and one OF
the lew ii not the only account extant
is to DO found in the rare old files OF the
Columbian Mirror and Alexandria Gazette,
OF September 20, 1903,
Those were not the days OF hustling
newspaper enterprise, when the morn
ing papers would come out with four.
page illustrated report of a previous
days procession and stenographic re-
port OF all thespeeches. The laying OF
the cornerstone OF the national capitol
was admitted TO be great occasion, one
OF the greatest that the young Republic
had ever seen, yet, although the cere-
monies took place on September Is, the
Washington correspondent OF the Col.
umbian Mirror must have taken good
three days off to recover from the effects
thereof, for the account OF the proceed
inGs penned by the reCuperating news.
paper man at tho old tavern in George.
town was dated the 2lst, and the pub.
lished account did not appear In the
Alexandria paper till the 25th. Still it
was mastery piece OF Journalistic
work OF the old style, and it began us
follows;
ION Wednesday last one OF the grand
est Masonic PROFESSIONS took place
which perhaps ever was exhibited on q
like important occasion; 1t was in all
probability much facilitated by an i'd
vertisement which appeared many days
before in several newspapers OF the
State.
about 10 o'clock Lodge No. 8 we're
visited by that congregation so graceful
to the craft, Lodge No, 90 OF Va with all
their officers ana regalia and directly
aiterward appeared on the southern
banks OF the Grand RIVER Potomack;
ono OF the finest companies OF volunteer
artillery that has been lately seen, para.
ding to receive the President Of the
United States who shortly came in sight
with his suite-to whom the artillery
paid their military honors, aud his Elk.
celloncy and suite crossed the Poto-
mack, and was received in Md, by the
officers and brethren OF No. % Va. aud
No. 0 Md. whom the President headed,
and preceded by band OF musick; the
rear brought up by tho Alexandria Vol
unteer Artillery; with grand solemnity
OF march, proceeded to the Presidents
Square in the city OF Washington; where
they we're met aud saluted by No, 10 OF
the City OF Washington. in all their ele-
CANT regalia, headed by Brother Joseph
Clark, Rt. W. G. NJ. p. I. and conduct
cd to Il large lodge erected for the pur-
pose of their reception. After short
space OF time by the vigilance Of Brother
q. Worthy Stephenson, Grand Marshall,
2. I. the Brotherhood and other bodies
were disposed in second order OF pro-
cession which took place amid bril-
liant crowd OF spectators OF both sexes
according to the following arrange
ment, viz:
The Surveying Dept of the City Of Washing
ton,
The Mayor and Corporation OF Georgetown.
- The NtEklnta Artillery.
Commissioners OF the City OF Washington and
their nttGndan
Stone cutters, mechanics.
Two swOrl,bGnrerS.
Muxons Of tho first degree.
Bible, &c, on grand cushions.
DeucOus with stats OF office
MusQnS OF the second degree
Stewards with wands.
MAsOns Of the third degree.
Wnrdons with truncheons
Secretaries with tools OF office.
Past masters with their regllia.
TreRSurors with their Jewels
Band Of musCk.
Lodge No. - Of Virginia, dlSpo seu in their
own order
Corn, wine and oil.
Grand Master r. r George Washington, W. NJ.
j., No. y, Virginia.
Grand sword Bearer.
"The procession marched two abreast
in tho greatest solemn dignity with
colors flying, musick playing, drums
beating, and spectators rejoicing; from
the Presidents Square to the Capitol in
the City of Washington; where the
Grand Master ordered u halt and direct
cd each troop in the procession to in.
cline two steps one to the right and ono
to tho LETT and face each other, which
formed an hollow oblong square |;
through which the Grand Sword bearer
led the van; followed by the Grand
Master T. 7. on the left Tho President
OF the United States in the centre and
the Worshipiul Muster OF % Va. on the
right, all OF which other orders that
composed the procession advanced in
the reverse order OF the march from the
President Square to tho southeast cor
Mr. OF the capitol; and tho artillery
tiled of to a destined ground to display
their naneuvGrs and TO discharge their
cannon. The President OF the United
States, the Grand Master p. T., aud the
Worshipful Master OF No. % Va. taking
their stand to tho cast OF n huge block
aud all tho Graft forming circle to the
westward stood in solemn and awful
order.
1.-THE Grand Marshal delivered to the
Commissioners a large silver plate with
IN inscription thereon, which tho Com.
missioners ordered to be road, and
which was rs follows:
'"This South East Corner Stone OF tho
Capitol OF tho United States OF America
in tho city OF Washington was laid on
the 18th day OF September in tho year
1903, In tho thirteenth OF American In