El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-18

Stewards: Grand Chaplain and other
Clergy; Grand Deacons with black rods
on line seven feet apart: Grand Mas.
ter: Grad Sword Bearer.
The procession having arrived at the
designs ated place, 1t halted and topen-
ed to the right and left, facing inward,
and the Grand Master and his officers
passed through and took their proper
places on theplatform prepared for the
occasion.
The following Masonic ode was then
sung.
TUNE-AULD LANG sYNE.
Almighty Ruler Of the skies,
To Thee we humbly bow.
And crave Thy guidance ever wise.
That We meet this stone TO lay,
| This granite corner stone,
Our every voice may gladly say.
| The work has been well DONE"
On this. our goodIy common wealth,
| Our City" and our home.
| May peace prosp Gritty and health.
And when this building IS complete,
| Coz grant people free
| Who praise and honor Thee.
| The grand master then commanded
silence, and the ceremonies proceeded
as follows, viz:
The grand master said: Fright
| worthy senior grand warden: The
Grand Lodge of Texas having been in
u
edifice. and having assembled for that
| purpose, 1 now order that this, the
representation of the Grand Lodge of
Texas, do now assist me In the per-
formance of this work. This my will
and pleasure, you will, therefore, pro-
claim to the junior grand warden, that
the brethren and others present may
have due notice thereof"
The senior grand warden said:
Brother junior grand warden: It is
the order of the most worshipful
grand master that the corner stone be
now laid with Masonic honors. This
you will proc claim to all present, that
the occasion may be observed with
due order and solemnity."
The junior grand warden then said:
Brethren and all persons present will
take notice that the most worshipful
grand master will nov proceed to lay :
this cornerstone in due Masonic form.
You will, therefore. observe the order
and decorum becoming the important
and solemn ceremonies in which we
are about to engage"
The grand master then said: Specu-
lative Masonry is founded upon oper-
alive Masonry. and from it borrows
tools and iustrum ments which, within
the lodge, are used sym holicaliy to lay
the foundation upon which Is erected
the character of the perfect man.
By operative Masonry we are taught
the APPLICATION of the useful rules of ar
chltecture, whence q structure Will de-
rive figure, strength, and beauty, and
whence will result due proportion
and a just correspondence in all its
parts. 1t furnishes us with dwellings
and convenient shelters from the vicis-
situdes and inclemencies of the seasons,
and while it displays the effects OF
human wisdom, as well in the CT dice
txIt hat ta
materials of which ap .edifice is COM
posed, it demonstrates that o fund Of
science and industry is implanted in
10 an for the best, most sanitary and
most benefcent purposes.
By speculative Masonry we learn to
subdue the passions, act upon the
square, keep tongue OF good report,
main tain secrecy. and practice C arity.
1t is so far interviewer with religion as
TO lay US under obligations to pay that
rational homage to the Deity which at
once constitutes our duty aud our ,p-
piness. 1t leads the contemplstive TO
view with reverence and admiration
the glorious works of creation, and in
spires him with the most exalted ideas
| of the perfection of his divine Creator.
"As the security Of this structure,
about to be here erected, depends upon
| its foundation being laid deep and firm,
and true to the square, levi and
plumb, so must the foundation of the
perfect character be laid deep aud firm
| in virtue. And as the materials of
which this building is composed are
the operative Mason, so should
all good men and true
be united in their laudab BILE undertak-
4 ings by the cement of brOtherly love.
| Masonry owes its origin to the as
sociation of craftsmen by whom was
erected that noblest of ancient build
ings, upon which, during its entire
| construction, was not heard the sound
| OF axe, hammer, or other metallic tool.
AS an acknowledgment of our in
debtedness to the operative Mason, we
| this day, clothed in the regalia of our
order, assume our part in the erection
of this building, by placing properly
the foundation stone upon which the
superstructure is to rise.
| ''Right wOrshipful grand treasurer: [
now order you to deposit the corn,
medals, and papers in the place pre-
| pared for their reception
The principal architect then present
| ed the working tools of the grand mas
ter, who directed the grand marshal
| to present them to the deputy grand
master and senior and junior grand
l wArdeuS.
The grand master. deputy grand
master, and grand wardeus then des-
cended from the platform; the grand
master with the trowel, the deputy
grand master with the square, the Sc
niOr grand warden with the plumb
the grand master standing at the east
of the stone, his deputy on his right the
senior grand warden at The
west, and the Junior graud warden At
| the south side of the stone. The grand
master then spread the cement, and,
| when that was done, directed the grand
| marshal to order the craftsmen To low
er the stone by three motions.