The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-02-01
MICHIGAN MAsONS
At tho Laying of the Conversions for the
New Masonic Temple at Detroit

New Masonic Temple at Detroit
1t was day full of impressive
scenes and ceremonies, at Detroit,
which included a big parade of the
Masonic bodies of Detroit with large
number from the state an excellent
drill squad from ST. Bernard Com
mandery of Chicago. A half dozen
splendid bands gave inspiration TO the
scene, although the weather was so
cold it nearly froze the notes in the
leaders horns.
Chief Marshal w. S. Green and staff,
led the parade and were followed by
the first division which consisted of
Detroit Commandery No. 1; De Molai
Commandery No. 5, of Grand Rapids;
Damascus Commandery No. AZ, Detroit;
Windsor Ont Preceptory; st. Bernard
Commandery, Chicago; Ann Arbor
Commandery No. -, and Pontiac Com
mandery No. p. These bodies made a
beautiful picture as they moved along,
masses of solid black surmounted
with white-plumed black chapeaus.
The evolutions of the Communicates
were particularly admired
The second division consisted en-
tirely of thirty-second degree Masons
III INC MlCliRuh DONtItlZn AOllSlolOiN
of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite,
marshalled by Hon. VIM. c. Maybury,
the illustrious commander-in-chief.
The third division was the largest,
consisting of the blue lodges, Geo. j.
Jack. marshal. The lodges repre-
scented were Zion No. l. Detroit No. q:
Union No 8; Ashlar No. 81; Oriental
No. 24O; Kilwinnning No. 207; Pales-
tine No. $50. Schiller No. 263; Corin-
THAN No 241, all of Detroit and Mt.
Clemens No. 6; Myrtle No. 50, of Belle
Vile: Wyandotte No. ITO, and the Great
Western and Windsor lodges of Wind
sor. Ont.
The fourth division was composed of
the grand lodge of the state of Mich
igan. The representatives marched in
line and in all numbered 3s4, all from
outside of the city. l.. T. Wood, of
Pokagon, was grand marshal. After
the representatives came the grand
officers in carriages, among them be-
ing Grand Master Hugh McCurdy, of
the grand encampment, Knights
Templar, and deputy for Michigan of
thirty-third degree Masons, and Grand
Commander Pomeroy, of Saginaw,
of the grand commaLdery OF Michigan.
The streets alone the line of march
were filled with interested spectators,
but when the various bodies had ar
rived at the site of the new temple the
crowd was So dense the participants in
the ceremonies could hardly reach
their positions. Upon the arrival of
the officers of the grand lodge O. r.
Baldwin, on behalf OF the Masonic
Temple association, presented them
with the copper box and contents to
be placed in the cornerstone. 1t was
duly and formally accepted. The
gavel of Grand Master w. III. Phillips
then fell, and Grand Marshal Lucien
+. Wood commanded silence. Grand
Chaplain A. A. Knappen invoked
the divine blessing on the work 10 be
undertaken, the fraternity responding
$50 mote il be-"
Then followed the impressive cere-
monies used by this ancient body in
laying a cornerstone. Grand Master
Phillips called for the working tools of
the grand architect. A square, a level
and plumb were presented and
handed to Deputy Grand Master Bow
ring, Senior Grand Warden Carton and
Junior Grand Warden Winsor respect
lively. and each was separately ordered
to tell the moral and Masonic uses of
the jewel given him. Each then
tested the stone and reported it true.
A copper box containing Masonic
records, papers, etc was placed in the
hollow of the stone and the grand
master, attended by the senior and
junior deacons, placed some mortar
upon the stone and smoothed it with
a trowel Then he struck the stone
three times with his gavel and pro-
nounced the stone to be well-formed,
true and trusty and correctly laid ac-
cording to the rules of this ancient
craft. This was the signal for the lib
Grafton of the GOO pigeons which were
to carry the news of the days event to
various cities.
The grand master next poured from
vessels of corn. wine and oil-emb lem-
attic of plenty, JOY and peace-while
he delivered an invocation TO the Grand
Master of heaven and earth for bless
ings. The working tools were re-
turned to the architect and the cere-
monies ended with bendiction by the
grand chaplain.
Some Splendid Speeches.
The huge Auditorium building was
filed in the evening TO hear the
speeches on different phases of Ma
sonry. There was good music before
the introduction of the speakers and
also sandwiched in between, but the
speeches were the best features. NJ.
II. Chamberlain, president OF the Ma
sonic Temple association, presided and
first introduced Elder +. A. Blades, Of
Detroit Chief Justice McGrath, of
| the Michigan supreme court, spoke
upon THE Corner Stone" referring to
the foundation truths and principles
of Masonry. "Masonry-Its Progress. A"
particularly as to Detroit and Mich
igan-was the topic discussed by
Hugh McCurdy, most eminent grand
master of the grand encampment
of the United States of America
Other speakers were Rev. Ralph Mac
duff on the influence of Masonry; Geo.
w. Moore, its benefits; Vino. Maybury,
its beauties; A. j. Sawyer, Women in
Masonry"
Five Narrowly Escaped Cremation.