Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-15
II WAS A GREAT DAY
Cornerstone OF Pythian Castle
Laid With Ceremonies.
PARADE A FINE SPECTACLE
Hon. d. G. Richardson's Great speeob.
Acting Grand Chancellor Bland Mas
tor Of Ceremonies. Uniform
Rank Officers Present.
PARADE A FINE SPECTACLE

coughtan Lodge. NO. 90, was laid yes
terday afternoon with imposing cere-
monies. The day was an ideal one for
such an occasion. and there was not a
hitch to mar the { smoothness with
which the excellent program was car
ried out
Many visiting Pyfthians were present
and the leading feature was the parade
Which took place just before the corner
stone was laid
The parade which was Formed On
King street, just in front Of the Barnes
Hlotel, was viewed by several thousand
people along the line Of march. who
thronged the streets and store doors.
Hon. d. c. Richardson, of Richmond,
Who is a very prominent member of the
order. was the orator of the day, and
his brilliant address was listened to by
fully 1000 people, who congregated
around the place where the ceremonies
were held
There were a number Of visiting
members q the Uniform Rank of
knights of Pythas present, and their
presence added much to the fine ap-
rearance of the parade as it passed
along the streets ..
Warwick Lodge. No -, of Newport,
f-'NNS, =" dS SlI tScIrleu ny ABOUT thirty
members, who arrived in Hampton at
: 2:43 They were met at the power
house by a special committee and es-
coited to the lodge room
Portsmouth, Norfolk and Berkeley
sent good delegations of the Uniform
Rank. These We're late in arriving,
and when the cars of the Newport News
and Old Point Railway and Electric
Company reached Hampton with the
visitors on board the hands of the clock
pointed to $50.
THE PARADE
Shortly after their arrival the parade
was formed. First came the Grand
Lodge officers OF the Uniform Rank.
mounted on spirited steeds, and COR
geously ROBBED in their magnificent uni
forms, bearing the insignia OF their
rank. Next came the Smy the brass
bands-uf fifteen pieces and their music
WAS enlivening and inspiring. Follow
ing the band was the First Virginia
Regiment, Uniform Rank, X. of P, I'M
der command of Commander George w.
BARLEY, and wearing the handsome
uniform Of the order. Then came the
members of Warwick Lodge No. 70 and
kecoughtan Lodge No 90, on foot in
twoS. and in charge of Captain John
Weymouth. The members wore the
colOrs of the ordered, yellow and
blue-and showed UP exceedingly we'll.
Following these came the officers of the
Grand Lodge, officers Of the Uniform
Rank, Hon. d. c. Richardson, the ora
tor. and the members of the building
committee in hacks, altogether making
4 pageant seldom seen in Hampton.
The column moved up King street to
Gust to Fulton. up Fulton to Marshal,
out Marshal to Mallory avenue, up
Mallory avenue to King street, down
King to Queen. out Queen to. Admit
stead avenue, up @Anmistead avenue to
Holt street out Holt to Jefferson down
Jefferson to Jackson, out Jackson to
Lee, down Lee to Armstead avenue,
down -Armistead avenue ITO Queen
street. and down Queen to the Pytlian
Castle.
Arriving at the castle the procession
MAS halted jus. in front of the place,
and under orders from the chief mar
shall the line was divided into two lines
facing each other and making i pas
sage way Through which the Grand
Lodge officers passed and made their
way on to the irnprovised platform
erected for the occasion.
Acting Grand Chancellor Charles T.
Bland. of Portsmouth, was ma ster OF
ceremonies. AS soon as the Grand
Lodge officers and the prominent Wis
Itors were seated, Mr.. Bland stepped
to the front of the iplatfo1'm and in
CURED of the architect whether every
thing was in readiness for the cere-
mony. Receiving an affirmative an
swer, the grand chancellor then made
known the fact to Grand Master-at-
Arms George M. Richter, who, after
inspecting the stone also announced 10
the grand chancellor that everything
was in readiness FOR the laying Of the
cornerstone
AS soon as this was done the pro-
cession moved up to the stone, and the
officers taking part in the exercises
took their places upon the platform.
Grand Chancellor Bland then spoke
as follows:
my frends, the occasion OF our as
senlIbling together on this spot is the
performance of 4 solemn and important
duty. The cornerstone which we SHAH
today lay in accordance with Pythia n
usage is the promise of a nObler super
structure whose completed form, as it
towers heavenward. shall furnish, both
to the members Of our order and to
thosei!in the community who have not
passed our portal visible evidence CT
the faith of these our brothers in the
pernanency of our institution, and q
token of their loyalty to the principles
t'augfilt them in the ritual Of our ORDER
Grand Prelate William IT. May, in
voked the divine blessing upon the as
seinblage, after which the beautiful
and impressive ceremony OF the order
was carried out.
The list of articles that were 70 be
deposited in the cornerstone was read
by Grand Keeper of Records and Seal
WaltersA. Edward, and deposited in The
receptacle in the stone by the Grand
Master at Arms The following We're