Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-08

MONUMENT TO THIS MAsOx-CITIzEx
UNVEILED YESTERDAY.
TRIBUTE FROM MASONIC HOME LADIES,
His Life and Character EuIogixed-
Remarks OF Grand Master Court
ford-fmposing Ceremonies.
negotiation by

ford-fmposing Ceremonies.
A gieat life never dies; great deeds arr
imperishable: great names immortal.
The unveling Of the monument erected
by the Masonic Home Ladies' Auxiliar,
to the memory of Captain Alexander G
Babcock In Hollywood Cemetery yes
terday afternoon was an occasion Of
years since first the city mourned fol
him, the keenness OF grief has worn
away. and in its place there lives in the
hearts Of men that hero worship which
found such emphatic vent. The tone Of
the multitude, their mode of assembling
and dispensing. their bays of laurel. and
not Of cypress, all were in keeping with
the occasion.
The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masonic
Home has paid to the memory Of Cap
tain Babcock tribute of grateful
hearts. rearing in monumental rock a
sepulchre for his ashes and temple
to his fame.
tGON A NOEl-f@ 81
a nobler theatre could not well be
found for spectacle so fine and so i'm
pressive. The monument is erected on
tho highest point in the cemetery. To
the east the noble James lies as far as
the eye can see; to the north the lofty
housetops and towering spires Of the
city stand out boldly against the sky
line, and above all was the canopy Of
L., fban
dreds assembled to sing songs OF praise
to the Maker Of men, to offer supplica-
ton. and TO listen TO the story of a life
lived for others.
A stand had been erected on the south
side Of the monument for the accom-
mOda tion of those who were to take part
in the exercises. The monument itself
was covered with canvas, and upon
either side of 1t stood the boys and girls,
benefciaries of Captain Babcocks NUM-
ficence
OPENING OF THE CEREMONIES.
The exercises commenced with the in
PRODUCTION OF Most Worshipful A. r.
Courtney, Grand Master Of Masons i'm
Virginia, by Right Worshipful J. W.
Lockwood, Jr, Master Of Dove Lodge.
He said:
The beloved brother TO whose memory
this beautiful monument has been erect
ed by the noble workers composing the
Ladies Auxiliary was an honored MEM
Der of Dove Lodge Therefore, il was
thought proper that the master Of Dove
Lodge should open these exercises and
present TO you one who needs no intro
duction to the Richmond public. especial
ly TO an audience so largely composed
of Masons.
1t gives me great pleasure to introduce
to you Most Worshipfu A. r. Courtney
Grand Master of Masons OF Virginia.
THE GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS.
Rev. J. j. Gravatt, chaplain Of Dove
Lodge, then offered prayer, after which
Major Courtney said:
Ladies and Friends: A monument is a
memorial Of a person or event placed
before the world as a record of the fact
They have been aptly styled milestones
along the track of time, TO remind the
generations as they pass of what has
gone before, or Of the good or great men
who have travelled the rough and rugged
road Of life with honor to themselves and
profit to their fellOw-beings. And we are
assembled this lovely October evening
on the banks of this historic river TO
unvel a monument of granite in memory
Of a man who by one act made himself
monument of charity. 1t Is not flight
of fancy nor an eXaggeration born of fra
rernal regard TO say that jamestown
waters now passing at our feet, does not
monument a grander event than the act
of Alexander CT. Babcock, when he brave
~ stepped forward and pledged his for-'
tune 10 the establishment of nome Tor
.He destitute widows and helpless orphans.
jamestown is a monument of the pro-
eress of self-government and religious
freedom; Babcock is a monument Of the
progress of charity and sympathy.
HE CAME TO THE RESCUE.
Time and time again was the resolution
to establish a Masonic Home offered In
the Grand Lodge, and as often either
withdrawn or voted down as impractical
BILE and visionary. But in 1873 a scheme,
10 be worked outside of the Grand Lodge.
was proposed by a big-hearted Israelitist
brother. Past-Master Abram Gunst. of
Lodge No. So now gone to the rest re-
served for the sons OF God and that
scheme was carried almost to success,
but after struggle of more than a
years duration, and the accumulation OF
a considerable amount OF money and sub
sciptions. it fell by the wayside. and was
wrecked on the rock of financial inability
On the 18th of December. 1SSS, fifteen
years afterwards, when resolution was
presented in the Grand Lodge by ID. j.
Weisiger, a past master or Manchester
,odge, No H. requesting the appointment
of n committee TO enquire into the prac-
ticability Of establishing a Masonic or
phan asylum. il was looked upon as loves
labor lost but the great principle of hui
man brotherhood that had moved the
hearts of Gunst and his colleagues In 1873
had grown and spread, and under the
blessing of God Il came to the ears of a.
g. BabcoclI thai the Weisiger resolution
had been adopted by the Grand Lodge, and
he was inspired TO stretch out his hand
10 forward the movement with gift or
Z COO and afterwards to support and !
complete il by further donations in his |
lifetime and by requests in his will, all |
he fruits Of which have not yet been |
WHAT THE LADIES DID.
When the Masonic Home movement OF |
S7s was organized our brother, Major |
James H. Capers, was made chairman OF /
he Committee OF Organization. and fif |
cen wears afterwards. when BabcOck put /
lis shoulder to the wheel and the chariot /
fearing the ark of the Masonic covenant /
,egan to lag, the Masonic wives and |
daughters and sisters came to the rescue |
md organized the Masonic Home Ladies'
Auxiliary Association. and raised by one
,aZaar the enormous sum of Sl5 900 This
ave new impetus 10 the movement and |
Is success was soon assured. and the
,erson chosen by these Masonic wives
nd daughters and sisters as their Dresi- /
lent was Mrs James H. Capers the no.
lie wife of the chivarous brother who
ell at the head of the crusade of fifteen
ears before.
This auxiliary association of ladies',
rue to their tender and appreciative ma
dice i'm the accomplishment of their noble
forts I'm the establishment of this home
or orphans and widows, and resolved to
rect a monument. a memorial TO the
nan whose benefaction called their asso-
iation into existence, and this evening