The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-15
ITS CORNER STONE.
Unique Council the First
Royal Arcanum Order to
Establish a Home in
New Jersey.

which is being erected by Unique Couu-
Gil, No. 434. Royal Arcanum. al jackson
and Clinton avenues. was laid on Satur-
day afternoon at half-past four O'Clock
with impressive ceremonies. The erec-
ton of this building is an important
| event in the history of the order. as it is
the first one to be erected by any Ar
canum Councilin the State of New jersey.
a full description Of the building was
printed In Saturdays JERSEY CITY NEWS.
1t is to cost $15, 200. Unique Council was
instituted on January 30, 1880. with
twenty-seven charter members. Its
growth has been steady. and it DOW num-
bers 1888 members In good standing. The
need Of batter accommodations and the
lack Of a good hall in their vicinity bad
been apparent to the members for some
time. The ACCESSIBILITY of having a home
of their " was thoroughly discussed
by the members, aud resulted in the ap-
pointment of a Building Committee. who
were instructed, OF June 10. 1892, TO pur-
chase q piece. of property upon which to
erect u building, and, on July ., 1899, a
resolution was adopted to transfer the
entire permanent fuud to the Building
COuTLulLte6 10 fHHk6 SuCu II PURCHASE.
SITE SELECTED.
After considering several sites they
finally purchased the property on the
northwest corner of Jackson n Clinton
avenues for the sum OF 81, 800. The COM
mittee intend to keep the cost of the erec-
tiou and furnishing of the building with
In the sum of S15. 900. The cost or main
lenance of the same with interest on
script, and other expenses will be
from 81, 500 10 $4,000 per year. They ex-
pect TO cover this as well as to realize
quite a sum, besides, from renting the
lodge rooms, concert hall and store. The
store is to be one of the features OF the
building. aud Will undoubtedly bring a
fair rental whiie the various lodges and
councils in the vicinity have already
spoken for the lodge rooms for eve y
night in the week.
After the preliminary arrangements
were made the work of building was soon
begun. Ground was broken, The founda-
tions were laid, and by last week all WAS
ready for the laying of the corner-stone.
Saturday was selected, and Invitations
were sent to all the neighboring councils
to attend. The members OF Unique
Council. aud representatives from nearly
every Jersey City Council met at the
lodge rooms, in Becker's Hall. at four
O'clock. The Second Jersey City Com
pany of the Boys Brigade, headed by
their drum aud fife corps, VINO were to
accompany them TO the building, ar
rived. A liue or march was formed and
headed by the boys. The Boys Brigade
was under the direction of First Lieu
tenant Van Dyke and Second L~ieutenant
Schott. The members were headed by
Grand Vice Regent of the State Of New
Jersey Potter, Past Grand Regent Nc
Doweil, Grand Orator Starr. Grand Sec
rotary Alberts, Deputy Grand Regent
Miller aud GranG Chaplain john Alvin
Young, who Is also Regent of Unique
Council.
CHAPLAIN scoTT's GRAFTON.
The ceremonies were begun at half past
four by Regent Young. He said that,
owing to tue disagreeable weather. the
exercises would lie held at the next meet
ing of the Council, and that the present
ceremonies would be necessarily brief.
They opened with a prayer by the Chap
lain. w. T.. Scott. He next introduced
tue Orator Of the council, Mr.. D., q. Bos-
worth, who delivered a very eloquent
speech, the principal one during the cere-
monies. He said
"When The inspired prophet wrote: "A
man that hath friends must show himself
friendly he little thought that some day
mis- words words would be the inspiration,
the theme of fraternity for thousands of
men III all lands. Masonry. the founda-
of fraternal orders, Odd Fellowship aud
its Thousand kindred branches, find their
highest exposition. their browning glory
in this the American organization for pro-
lection TO tue home and furethought for
the 1nture. AT the head of all insuran ce
orders, the Royal Arcanum stands pre-
eminent In the dignity n character OF
ritual, and above all, in the high social
grade the pc sonnet OF its membership.
Gladstone said the future of Anglo-
Saxon civization and liberty rests 10
The hands of the upper class
We have drought our banner to the front
and planted the Standard under heights
Of the most advanced civilization or
America. III spite of the manifest wis
dom of provision for the future of these
dependent op us and the value OF life In
surance, there are still some who like the
gambler say, i do not believe in playing
a game that tnKes death to win.'
"Seltishuess Is the curse of humanity.
and we put against this expression OF its
most hideous type, the exclamation of
the noble member OF our order. as he
bids a long fare well TO his loved ones,
confident thar the arm OF the Royal
Arcanum will shield those near and dear
to him, as he knows they are provided
for.
1--WE aim also to lift each other up, not
after we nave achieved success, to wrap
ourselves in our W complacency aud
mantle OF s~elfishness. but rather reach
out the baud OF friendly help TO Others
less fortunate.
"Iia wing reached the platform of sue
cessful endeavor, we do not push down
those Climbing up the ladder OF fame, u
reacn ont win friendly grasp 10 lirt them
to our level.
Our aim Inns been high, our success
most gratifying. Then %brothers, let this
noble hall after 1t has been completed, be
a beacon set upon this hill to light men up
to u purer and nobler LIE. As we look up
to its lofty proportions, may u thoughts
go up to higher deals aud to the Sacred
Goal beyond. and when we stand before
the Great White Throne, not a brother
missing, we eau look back upon This lie
which lis only q cloud In the grand SYM
phony of Il ernity on This existence which
is but a span III the bridge that unltes US
with the unseen, this state which is only
a verse in the poem of everlasting life,
and thank God we ere all brothers to all
eternity"
HISTORY OF THE ORDER.
By this time Il crowd had begun TO
gather, but the were prevented from
crowding around by the Boys Brigade.
The members stood in u semi-circle in
front of tne stone. the Boys Brigade
formed behiud them. and III the rear of
tnem. After Mr.. Bosworth's speech MI.
Young said:-
"The Royal Arcanum was never before
In a position to lay a cornerstone,
SO we have no service for the cere-
mouy.n
He then introduced Grand Secretary
Alberts who gave the history OF the
order. 1t was founded. he said, III
Philadelphia, sixteen years g by nine
men. 1t was intended at hrst to be n
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