Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-30
THE MASONIC TEMPLE.
Corner Stone Laid With all Due Signs
and Ceremonies---Largest Gathering
of Masons Ever Held in Iowa
County.


County.
Monday, Sept. y, the day set apart
for the laying of the corner stone OF
the new Masonic Temple, which is
in course of erection in this city
could not have been more perfect
From early in the forenoon until II
or O'Clock High street was scene
of activity, caused by the almost
constant procession of teams com
| ing to the city from all directions.
The noon passenger brought large
| delegations from Darlington, Platte
vile, and other places along the line,
which made IA large concourse of
people to witness about 200 masons
to participate in the laying of the
principal stone of this magnificent
building. The lodges of Mitflin,
Montfort, Dodgeville, Darlington,
Platteville, and other places We're
represented, forming an imposing
column.
The Grand Master of the State
was unable to attend, but the duties
of the chief falling upon Deputy
Grand Master, j. &. Monahan, of
Darlington, Were ably discharged.
Other acting Grand Lodge officers
We're: d. G.. NJ, J. w. Rewey, S. &.
W., Calvert Spensley; J. G. w, w.
G.. Hales; G. S. D., :. $. Allen, of
Darlington; G. j, D., John Marriott,
of Gratiot; &, Stewards, FREQ Mason,
Ridgeway, F.Thompson, Shullsburg ;
G. c., ]. Thos. Pryor, Jr., Dodgeville /;
G. NJ, :. f. Shephard G. Treasurer,
j. A. Sprarier; G. Secretary, II. II.
Wright; G. Tiler, d. +. Jacobs.
The officers of the subordinate
lodge We're as follows Master, w.
p Bliss S. W., VIM. Wilkinson, of
New Glarus; J. w, J. j, Heathcock
of Linden; ). D., Frank Ludden; j.
d., r. j. Hughes; Stewards, Chas.
Terrill and Chas. Treweek; Tiler
Sam'l Terrill.
Shortly after two o'clock the pro-
ceSsion formed at the City Hall
headed by the Mineral Point band,
and in charge of Grand Marshal,
5. +. Sheppard, moved up High
street to the location of the Temple.
Here the preparations for the cere-
monies had been made.
The assemnlage was called to or
der, and listened to music by the
band, and prayer by Grand Chap
lain, J. Thos. Pryor. Jr., when the
Grand Master and his assistants
proceeded to the laying of the corner
stone in its proper place, all prepara-
tions therefor having been made
the stone cut and fitted, and within
it set copper box, to contain the
offerings. Going through the i'm
pressive ritualiStic service, e,depositing
the corn, wine and oil, a. has been
done in the establishing of Masonic
Temples through ages extending
back so far into dim antiquity that
its origin is lost, the cavity was fl
nally sealed, probably to be re-
opened by hands yet unborn. In adj
dition to the corn, wine and OIL, there
were deposited the following arti-
cles: The last Grand Lodge reports
of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Com
mandery, and Eastern star, the re-
vised constitution, roster containing
| the names of all Masons in the state,
| the names of the charter members OF
| Mineral Point Lodge, No. |, Copies
| of the MINERAL POINT TRIBUNE
Iowa County Democrat and Ma
sonic Tidings.
After this part of the program
the Grand Master addressed the au-
dience briefly. and Rev. Kent offered
a prayer. the orator of the day, Rev
Frizzell, of Darlington. was intro
duced, who spoke about 20 minutes
| holding the wrapt attention OF MS
audience. With the kind permission
of Bro. Frizzell we herewith print
his eloquent and timely address in
| full:
"Brethren and Sisters Feiiow Citizens
Ladies' and Gentlemen:
"Masons believe in bearing one an
others burdens. They believe III shar
ing privileges and distributing honors
Nv being here to day is faint expires
sion of one or all of these principles
| am here to-day to help fill gap, tc
occupy some of the space that was tt
have been filled by such greatly grown
men as Brother jerks grown eXten
siyelyl and such men as Brother DR.
McGregor grown intensivelyl. l otfel
myself as substitute, as far as 90
offer my few plain but honestly
spoken words as substitute for theil
burning eloquence In the absence o
the lawyer and the teacher, we try tC
ill the gap with preacher.
II am glad TO be here, but sorry thai
these other men are not here. ] an
glad to have something TO do with th'
Iavinp of foundations and with the re