The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-12
LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE.
Alliance Delegates and Grand Lodge of
Masons Participated Good Crowd
Present-Maj Pages Splendid
Address.

Present-Maj Pages Splendid
Address.
Thursday was a fearfully bad day
for any out door exercises, but a large
crowd attended the ceremonies. Even
a few ladies ventured out and braved
the elements. A number of leading
Alliancemen from this and other States
went to the cemetery and stood In the
chilling atmosphere until the corner
stone of the Polk Monument was placed
in position, after which all returned to
Metropolitan Hall to listen to the ora
tor of the day, Maj. Mann Page, OF
Virginia.
On arriving at the cemetery all left
for the hallowed spot where the ashes
of the dead Allianceman lay at rest,
The Raleigh band preceded the Ma.
sonic Fraternity to the grave. Imme-
diately following the band came a long
string of citizens generally. just at
the point q man of national repu-
tatioh was heard to remark that
this was the ~handsomegt tribute ever
paid a man. The weather was singing
cold and sleeting. and yet sucha crowd
turned out as seldom he's ever been in
lakewood Cemetery. Near the place
where the grave is marked was erected
a temporary stand on which were a
large number Of ladies, among whom
were Mrs. L. L. Polk, the widow of the
deceased; Miss Carrie Polk and Mrs..
J. W. Denmark, his two daughters
Mrs. M. Mewborne, Mrs Marion But
Ter, Mrs. Wardall, of Kansas; Mrs.
johnson, of Pennsylvania; Mrs. w. s..
Barnes, Miss Barnes, Mrs. Davis, of
North Carolina; Mrs. w. H. Worth,
Mrs. R.. G. Rivers and quite a number
Of others.
The exercises YER opened by Grand
Master of the Masons, Moye, who spoke
of the custom of the Order in laying
corner stones and the fact that no Or
ganization of men did 80 much of this
work. He also referred to Col. Polk as
a Mason, his high standing in the fra
ternity and the universal love and re-
gard the Masons had for him.
Then, after Chaplain Broughton had
offered prayer, the corner stone was
laid with the beautiful and solemn Ma
sonic ceremonies.
The deposit was made and when
corn, wine and oil, signifying plenty,
joy and peace, had been place. under
the stone, it was put in place.
Chaplain Broughton then pro
nounced the benedIction and the croud,
that had stood silent, respectful, while
the ceremonies were being conducted,
and while the sleet and rain beat with
icy strength upon their heads, strik,
ing deep into their shiveripg bodies,
started hastily for the city and back
to Metropolitan Hall, where Col, Mann
Page, CT Virginia, concluded the exer-
cises with the following address:
ADDRESS OF MAJOR MANN PAGE.
Brother President, Ladies and Gen
tlemen, and Brethren of the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union:
I'VE have assembled here today to
assist in the laying of the cornerstone
of the monument to our beloved and
honored brother, the late L. L. Polk,
first president Of the National Farm
ers' Alliance and Industrial Union.
"LeonidAs Lafayette Polk was born
in Arson county, North Carolina, on
the oath of April, 1887. He was the
son of Andrew Polk, a farmer of Neck
lenburg county. and was himself
trained for the same pursuit. His
early boyhood was spent upon the
farm and at school In his native coun-
ty. In 1855 and 1856 he took a course
relating to scientific agriculture at
Davidson college, and the next year, at
the age of twenty, he was married to
Sarah P. Gaddy, a daughter of Joel
Gladly, a prosperous farmer of Arson.
About that time he purchased his
fathers old homestead from the exec
utors and settled down TO farming. In
1850 he was elected by the Wings, ct
the head of his ticket, q member of The
Legislature from his native county.
He made The canvass openly as a
Union man.
In the legislature, along with many
other Wings, he exerted his utmost
power TO prevent the calling of she
State convention; but President Lin
coins proclamation calling on North
Carolina for troops to invade her sister
States broke the backbone of the op-
position, and converted him and the