Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-10-01
CORNER Stone LAID.
An Interesting Ceremony at the New
Pythian Castle Yesterday.
All the Local Lodges Participated
in the Parade - Congressman
Dovener Omciated as Master of
Ceramonies-Cold Weather Had
an Effect on the Crowd.

The corner stone Of the new Pythian
Castle at the corner Of Twenty-seventh
and Chapline streets, was laid yester-
day afternoon with appropriate cere-
monies. The chilly weather had the
effect Of keeping the crowd down to
smaller proportions than if the exer-
c.ses had taken place on Sunday after
noon, in accordance with the original
programme. There were five hundred
persons present, exclusive of the mem
brs of the order a temporary plat
form was erected at the northeast cor
ner Of the structure.
At two o'clock the local lodges began
to assemble at Baltimore Lodge room
on Market street. but it was past the
hour for the ceremonies to commence
when the order Of march was given.
The column was headed by Meis.er's
Band, which made excellent music dur
ing the march The following organi-
cations We're in line. each with a fair
proportion Of Its membership: Couer de
Leon and Bernard STANLEY Divisions of
the Uniformed Rank, Black Prince
Lodge No. 19, Baltimore Lodge No. G,
and Ohio Valley Lodge No. 81.
The procession reached the Castle
about half-paSJ three o'clock. After
slight delay, during which the band
played America" the exercises were
opened with the introduction by Major
r. c. Catch, Of Capt B. B. DOvener,
who was 70 Otliciate as master of cere-
monies. The Rev DR.. w. H. Cooke,
pastor Of the Second Presbyterian
Church, offered up a fervent paryer, in
vCking Gods blessing ana guidance
upon The work which has been started,
and upOn the order
Capt D0vener then read from the rit-
Ual Of The order, the introduction to the
formal placing Of the stone in position.
and followed this with an interesting
historical address. He told how the
first lodge was organized in 1864 by
Jus-us II. Rathbone, a soldier of the
late war, who had conceived the idea
of insCtuting an order founded on the
triple tenets-Fr.endship. Charity and
BrOtherly Love In searching for an ex-
ample me selected the story of Damon
and Pythias Capt Dovener. related
the story, telling how the tyrant Do
nysius condemned Damon TO death.
without giving him an opportunity %
visit his wife and child: how Pythio-
agreed to die in his stead if Damon
would not return within three hours;
how devoted servant killed DamOns
horse, but did not prevent his reaching
ghe place Of execution in time TO redeem,
his pledge: and how the tyrant was so
impressed that he forgave and repr,eved
the brother. tt was the lesson. of this
story which the order aimed to teach.
Capt. Dovener praised the order Of the
Knights Of Pythias, and closed his brie5
remarks by giving a concise history of
the growth of the order, from a half
. dozen men to 100000, with a grand jur-
.sdic-ion in each Of the "A States. In
/ West Virginia there are 5000 members
of the order. The address was listened
/ TO with the clOsen- attention. When the
| speaker had concluded his remarks, the
large copper box was placed in the
cavity in the corner.
The box was presented by the Wheel
] ing COrruglting Company. The lid