The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-20

Prayer offered by the Grand
Chaplain, Who Invoked a Bless
ing on the Structure, While Ma
sons Stood With Barred Heads.
With the impressive ritual of the Ma
sonic fraternity the cornerstone of the
new temple being erected by Summit
Lodge No. 163, A. F. and A. M, at Laurel
avenue and Mackubin street, was laid
yesterday afternoon by Grand Master A.
T. Stebbins. The ceremony was conduct
ed by the Grand Lodge Of Minnesota and
witnessed by hundreds of Masons, rep
rcsenting every lodge in the city.
The members of each lodge met at their
respective lodge rooms and proceeded to
the present lodge rooms of Summit Lodge,
at Dayton and Western avenues, where
a preliminary meeting Of the grand lodge
officers. was held. The procession formed
at 4:30 o'clock, with the grand lodge Off
GERS, escorted by Damascus Commandery,
No. l, K. T., and headed by a band. Full
ly 500 members of the order were in
line despite the threatening appearance
Of the weather. The line of march was
on Dayton to Virginia, thence to Laurel,
to the site of the new temple
Upon arriving at the site the grand
lodge officers filed on platform that had
been arranged, escorted by the comma nd
cry through long lines Of blue lodge Ma
sons Everything was in readiness. The
cornerstone. a massive block of brown
stone, was poised at the northeast corner
of the partially completed structure, the
whole front of which was decorated with
flags and bunting
The ceremony opened with the reading
of the invitation to the grand lodge by
Grand Secretary Thomas Montgomery,
after which prayer was offered by the
grand chaplain, who invoked a blessing
on the structure, while the hundreds of
listening Masons STOOD with barred heads.
The grand treasurer then read the follow
ing list of articles to be placed under the
stone:
a history of the early formation of the
lodge; list Of the signers of the dis
pensation for the lodge; roll of the pres
ent membership of Summit Lodge, A F.
and A. M; copies of the bylaws and
CHARTER; copies of the constitution of the
grand lodge, chapter and grand COM
mandery; annual reports of the grand
lodge and grand chapter for 1895: copies
of the Globe, Pioneer Press, Dispatch
and West St. Paul Times.
These, enclosed In an iron box, were
deposited in the cavity under the stone
by Grand Master A. r. Stebbins, who laid
the cornerstone with the ceremonies pecu-
liar to the order.
The Masonic ode was sung and then
M. L. Countryman past master of Sum-
al W. iT1fr JC1ir Il
an eloquent address on the subject of
Masonry, which he declared to be designed
to make men better, wiser and conse-
quently happier No person unless of
good moral standing was allowed to be-
come a member, he said Consequently.
Masonry tended to elevate the standard
OF citizenship. In the order all social, re-
Heious and political differences are swept
away and all Masons in all parts of the
world meet on the broad plane of COM
mon brotherhood. In 1t Jew and Gentle
md common ground for mutual better
ment and intellectual Improvement Ma
sorry, declared the speaker, references
religion, and the true Mason looks to God
for strength and guidance. Following the
ceremony the grand officers were ban
quoted at the Albion by the officers of
Summit Lodge
The new temple is a handsomely de-
81 uCtuIe VI pressed brick and
stone. When completed 1t will be two
stories in height, 100 feet long and 40
feet wide and have ample lodge room
accommodations. The present officers of
summit Lodge are: w. M, A A. Dooltt-
tie; S. w, E. S. Rurment; J. w, John w
Lane; secretary, R. B. Ware; treasurer,
w. A. Frost.
summit lodge entertained the grand
lodge officers at the Albion hotel at
banquet last night Covers were laid for
thirty, and all the leading dignitaries who
attended the afternoon ceremonies were
present.