The San Francisco call., 1896-10-15

ject of the home, the order by which il
was projected, the date of the laying oil
the cornerstone and the names of the trus-
tees and the architect of the structure; the
constitution of the Grand Lodge F. and
A. M. of California.
The first volume of the proceedings of
the Grand Lodge, F. and A. M. of Cali
fornia.
The address of Grand Master Preston
for the present year.
Copies of the proceedings of the Grand
Lodge from 1892 to 1895, inclusive.
Copy of the proceedings of the Grand
Chapter, r. A. NJ. of 1896.
Copy of the proceedings OF the Grand
Council, r. and S. NJ, of 1896.
Copy of the proceedings of the Grand
Com mandery, K, T., of 1896.
Copy of the proceedings of the Grand
Cousistory, A. and A. s. R., of 1896.
Copy of the proceedings of the Grand
Chapter, o. E. s., of 1896.
Bylaws of Masonic Widows and Or
phans' Home.
List of subscribers to Masonic Widows
and Orphans Home fund.
Copies of the San Francisco daily pa
pers and of the Oakland Tribune for Octo-
ber 13, 1896.
The next ceremony was that which al
ways accompanies the laying of a corner
stone by a Masonic fraternity. The grand
master stood in the east. the deputy grand
master at the north, the senior grand war
den at the west and the junior grand
warden at the south. When the metallic
box was placed in the cornerstone the
Masonic choir sang ''Place We Now the
Cornerstone" and the grand master
prayed
At the conclusion of the ode the work
ing tools were distributed among the
grand officers by Architect Little, the
49, xroIf . +1ao ha -,
the deputy grand master, the level to the
senior grand warden and the plumb to
the Junior grand warden. The corner
| stone was lowered into position
when Grand Master Preston commanded.
AS it descended the grand officers paid
homage to it. The grand master spread
mortar on the stone with his trowel.
Then the other principal officers applied
| the square, level and plumb in succession,
and after due announcement the grand
master gave the stone three blows with
! his gavel, and declared that the work had
been we'll done. Then the vessels of corn,
| wine and oil were poured on the stone by
the deputy grand master, senior grand
warden and junior grand warden, prayers
| following that the Great Architect may
''bountifully vouchsafe the corn of nour-
| ishment," that "during their intervals
from labor the craftsmen may continually
be blessed with that refreshment of which
wine is emblematical, and that 'our
| loved fraternity may long exist to pour
forth the oil of Joy upon the hearts of the
widowed the fatherless and the dis
tressed."
The grand master offered prayer and
| placed the working tools in the hands of
! the architect, praying that he might per-
| form the work not only to the satisfaction
of those who intrusted him with its fulfill
ment but in such manner as shall secure
! the appreciation of his own conscience and
rebound to the credit of the ancient craft.
| The choir sang another ode and then Rev.
| DIR. Voorsanger, the grand orator, pro-
nounced an eloquent grafton.
| Most worshipful grand master and brethren,
| whose footsteps led him this day to this
| favored spot in the sunny Contra Costa hills
| Thrice happy he who. with US, may witness
this sacred consummation of hopes long de-
| long unrealized. We stand on the hilltops
| o'erlookiug our domain, every foot of which
speaks of faith, hope and charity. We stand
at the closed groove, in which is sunk the key
stone, noble symbol of patient faith kept alive
| by the love of our brethren. We stand aloft,
gazing on the rich valleys of this dear, dear
land; we watch the silver lines of the waters
beyond, we watch these kindly faces, beaming
with pleasure at the fulfillment of this holy
task, and. surely, our first thought is-God is
good; the master who steels the arm for the
sowing time permits us to stand on the thresh-
ing floor and sing our song of praisel
Brethren, this is a sacred hour. Well may
we tarry to learn its lessons. There are few
such periods in our busy lives. Usually we
| grapple with problems that often remain un-
| answered until we have gone our last journey.
| We banker after power, riches, glory; we IL
/ puted strength, the unhallowed selfshness of
/ our ambitions and desires. Life is a battle-
| field strewn with the corpses Of unsatisfied