Evening star., 1896-10-21
an INTERESTING CEREMONY TODAY
First Building Of the American Uni
versity Group.
THE ADDRESSES DELIVERED

laid on the joists which Were in place in
that part of the structure. Upon the plat
form were seated the trustees of the uni
versity, the speakers, invited guests and
others. The weather was favorable and the
audience was interested in the ceremonies
which mark an epoch in the history Of this
great educational enterprise. The specta-
tors reached the site by carriages and by
The electric cars. There was an informal
procession. with the exception of a con-
tingent of the Masonic bodies. The pro-
gram was as follows: Singing, America, c.
Burlew and Dr. Gibson conducting the
musical portion of the program; responsive
reading of the :,3d Psalm, led by Rev Ran
dolph H. McKim, d. d.: hymn, read by Rev.
Samuel l.. Beiler. d. D.
Prayer for Wisdom.
Written for the occasion by Geo. Lansing Taylor
DID, L.H.D
Tune. Duke Streetl
wisdom, whose creating word
And ancient chaos flashed with light
With oIdered suns ard systems bright
Speak thou in us. Through mind and heart
Thy radiant beams all Iuickening dart,
Dispe our darkness. chase gloom.
The souls whole orb with truth illume.
Through all the wandcrngs of
Till through all 1iiStory's tale shall glow
iieav'ns Kingdom founded here below
Help with revcrent search to scan
The birth and growth of reasoning man;
His age long climb from savage night,
Led up by Thee to moral might.
Help us in History's course to see
Srander futures prophecy.
Through Christ our n"hlest progress here
Made endless in heav'ns brighter sphere.
So shall cur earthly studies prove
Fit themes for nobler schools above:
There may we learn Coils work. and ways.
And praiS Him through eternal days.
Prayer, Rev. Stephen NJ Newman. d. D..
Introductory address, Bishop John F. Hurst,
d. D.. address, Bishop Alpheus w Wilson
d. D.: address. Gov. Robert f. Pattison
address, Bishop Charles H. Fowler, D. D..
address, Rev. Charles II. Payne D. D. ::
address, Rev. James NJ. Buckley. D. D.. ::
address, Bishop Charles c. McCabe D. D. ::
laying of corner stone, according to ritual
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop
Thomas Bowman, D. D. Concluding ex-
e1cises by the Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted MaSons of the District of Colum-
bia, according to their impressive rites.
In the Corner Stone.
A large copper box placed in the corner
stone contained the following articles Holy
Bible American Bible Society 1896: disci-
pline of the NJ e. Church, fS9G; charter of
the American University. list of trustees
and officers, list of subscribers toward the
Of and invitations to ground breaking and
corner stone laying, outline history of the
American University. the American Uni
versity Courier to date, copies of circulars
concerning the university, fac smile of
Geo. Washngtons letter making a gift
toward founding an American University.
copy Of the Christian Advocate copies of
daily papers of Washington. catalogues of
educational institutions, Masonic calendar
of Grand Lodge of the District of Column
bia.
The Masonic Contingent.
Members of the Grand Lodge of Masons
of the District of Columbia, Geo. w. Baird.
NJ. W.. G. NJ, met at Masonic Temple at l
o'clock, and from thence proceeded in car
riages to the site. escorted by Washington
Commandery, No. /; Columbia Com
No. 4. Knights Templar; Grand Command
cry of Knights Templar and delegations
from the twenty-seven lodges in the Dis
trict. At 18th and H streets the section
of the parade on foot proceeded to George
town, where they took the Tenleytown
electric cars to the site. The rest of the
parade passed along Connecticut avenue
to the site.
Bishop Hurst's Address.
Bishop Hurst said: This hour is one to-
ward which thoughts have been direct
ed and which our faith has been cen
tered for more than five years of waiting
and of working.
This picturesque plateau on which we as
scmble today was bought, not because there
was money with which to pay for it, but
because of a firm belief that not only
the particular Protestant church with
we represent, needed this center for high
or education, but because it was Pro-
teStant need of the whole country. With
no one great benefactor either to buy the
land, or to erect the buildings, or to pro
vide the endowments. our appeal has been
to the great commonalty Of American
patriots, and the still greater oommonaIty
of Christians throughout the world. The
response has been more than cur most
ardent hopes. Our object has been to
the great demands of the century, and to
furnish facilities equal to those of the
foremost universities of the old world.
We have learned already that this tran
scendent object appeals not only to the
Judgment and the sympathies of leading
minds in church and state. but that gen.
erods hearts and open hands have given
sucn proof as only sacrifice can lay upon
the altar of our Lord. Prayer has ascend
ed from many homes and gifts have come
from many hands; and we are now here to
lay the corner stone of the first building
on these grounds already consecrated TO
the kingdom and service of our Heavenly
Father.
History.
II is highly proper that our group of
noble edifices should begin with the College
of History. This science takes the first
place, by the right of Its high functions
in the development of great educational
scheme-a modern, complete, and an
American University.
History furnishes an outlook over the
achievements Of those who have preceded
us in the struggle of our common human
life At the distance of an oceans width
from the animosities and complications of
European politics, the American is best fit
ted for unraveing the tangled skeil of
European history. Without prejudice or
partiality he is peculiarly qualified for
weighing and sitting the veXed questions of
the old wcrld, and for solving the problems
of the new. He is far enough away from
the noise and the strife of foreign lands
to make safe generalizaticns and to reach
Just conclusions.
History points out the best paths by
which future additions to the worlds treas