The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-04

ments. the Grand Lodge OF Masons' uie
military many OF the secret socieues Va
Richmond. the Council and It's oihcers'
besides many other organizations ana
throng Of individual citizens
The line OF march was along the prm-
cipal streets 10 the City Hall lot Whe'e
the ceremonies were inaugurated by pray
er. offered by the Rev. Moses ID. hose'
ID. d., of the Second Presbyterian church'
Masonic Ceremonies.
The Masonic ceremonies were OF Sol
emn and imposing nature, and were par
ticlnated in by a large number of repre-
sentotves from various lodges. The cor
ner.stone OF the splendid edihce which ls
fo 0eure prominently IN the history Oh
NirgInia's capital. was laid on that mem
orahle evening in the presence OF great
crowd of citizens. The ceremonies were
,nterspersed with vocal music by chor
- .hout 10 voices. The singers were ac-
companied by an organ - -, .,
,rne corner-stone having been laid and
.ba working tools turned over 10 CORONER
W T.. Cutshaw, the city enslheeI' ,oi
onel l., !. Bass. president OF the boaIu ~, "a
Aldermen lin the absence Oh Masoi
- ..,rrineton). introduced as the orator
- ,ho dav. the Hon. Beverly II. Well
Sars 3,,dce Of The Circuit Courts of Rich
mond and Henrico.
Judge wslIford's Speech.
Judge Wellfoid's speech was csrelu.y
prensrcd. ana was delivered III eioqu0"s
stvie. 1t abounded III vast s,oly
,nformation concerning the city OF ifch-
49, 80 md state OF Virginia, and was
rrnlete with many valuable scgSesuons'
,,..r1s of commentator 20 the loyal Gu
vcns of Virginia and Richmond, and con-
taireo much sound advice as 20 the proper
means of furthering the interests ana
welfare Of the city -.
1udoe Wexford reviewed, IN brief the
history OF tre late war, dWelt AT so"S
10, 9th upon the prominent part Nlrslili"
COOK I'm the great struggle, and SPOKE
Of the destruction and ruin so pid1rD
borne by Richmond and her cltizehs' ii'9
graz hic descriptions OF many OF the sSo'S'
en- the great struggle. and Of the self-sacI-
oo,,,se md heroic deeds on the part Of
psrv Of Ricbmond's loyal sons were such
&c cir the blood and inspire with adinl-
ration the hearts Of patriotic souiherhers'
ana ne was frequently interrupted with
outbursts OF applause.
Richmond's Early History
In CHANGING at the early history vi
Richmond, Judge Wexford sald: me pas
of Richmond. as an organized community
reaches back beyond May, l742. 1t APP
naars from the act Of the General Assem-
DIV of that date. that William Byrd had
latelv before laid out town upon MS
lands at the falls Of James river, to the
east Of Shockoe's creek, ana MADE sale
of lots therein. The act of Assembly, ~
view Of that fact. gave the sanction ol
colonial law 10 the erection ana estap-
isbment Of this town, and conferred upon
it's froeholders the rights ana privileges
tHappfofoTc erected by ACT
of assembly. This was the beginning OF
the corporate life OF this community.
a. the May session Of the General
Assembly of Virginia in ln9 in the thiro
year of the Commonwealth, the seat OF
government was removed from the city
Of williamsburg 10 the town OF Richmond
but the first session of TIC General As
senblv was not held in the new capi'al
until May, 100. At that session an dcl
wa PASSED charging the limits of the
town and establishing the permanent To-
cafjon Of the capitol ond pubic buildings
upou Shockoe Hin. At The session OF
Nav. 17S2. an act was passed entitled An
Act for incorporating the town OF kich-
mond. and for other purposes and TINS
act. TOR the first time, gave To Richmond
the title OF city.
The city OF Richmond. therefore IS
almost c0eval IT, its birth with this great
American Republic. The history OF the
che has been wrapt up IN the history OF
tie other for more than one hundred
years. ana Richmond has lot been be-
mind any Of her sisters aRl0pg the hun
dreds of Transatlantic Israel i'm render
ing the history of the first century Of the
American Republic memorable. glorious,
and luminous for oil coming time.
First Governor of Virginia.
I'm March, and again in July, Of 40,
the colonists Of Virginia had assembled
here. through their representatives, in
convention of the embryo Commonwealth.
In the first Of these conventions the colony
wac placed in an attitude of defence for
the then impending war. That historic
church on yOnder hill was the seat OF
that Convention. and its aisles still ring
with eloquent tones of Patrick Henry
as with the foresight of an lsraeliIlsh
prorhet, and the fiery eloquence OF
Grecian Dcmosthenes, he prepared ms
peonle for the conflict. The Committee OF
Defence then appointed was constituted OF
such men as Patrick Henry, Richard
Henry Lee Robert c. Nicholas, Benjamin
Harrison. George Washington Andrew
Lewis. Edmund PendletOn, Thomas Jet-
ferson. and others.
.The work of this Convention was con-
densed into the establishment OF tempo
rarv government, TO take charge OF me
interests Of the new colony, modesty
STYLED a Committee of Safety. This com
mittee Of Safety was the first executive
representatives of the free people OF VIZ
ginia. II consisted of eleven gentlemen
Edmund Pendteon. George Mason, John
Page. Richard Bland, Thomas i.udWell
Lee Paul Darlington, Dudley Disses'
William Cabell Carter BraNton, James
Mercer, ana John Tabb. The subsequent
events in the ensuing year of the adop-
tion OF the Constitution and the election
OF Patrick Henry. as the 1irst governor
of the state of Virginia, and few days
thereafter Of the Declaration of lndepcn-
dence Of all the States, made upon the
motion Of Virginia, by the Continental
Congress, were the logical sequences of
these conventions of the Virginia colonies
in HlJ"
RfChmond's Future.
Judge Wexford then sketched the part
Virginia took iH establishing the indie
pcndencc OF each OF the colonies as free
States. dwelt at length upon the Revolu-
tionary war as participated IN by Yin
ginia. the war of lsl2. and the great civil
struggle and touched upon the numerous
grand statesmen and gallant soldiers. the
Mother of States furnished To struggle
for the rights OF the people. lie pointed
ont the disadvantages To which the stale
of Virginia was subjected IN repairing her