The age-herald., 1901-06-30
THE CORNER STONE
 OF NEW CITY HALL
Laid With Imposing Ceremo-
 nieS Yesterday Afternoon
THE MASONIC GRAND LODGE
Had Charge of the Proeeedings-col. Sumpter Lea Delivered the Ora tion--Speeoh by Mayor Dren-
 nen--Lone Procession.

The laying of the corner stone of the new city hall took place yesterday after noon with Masonic ceremonies in the presence of many hundreds of people On account of the inability of Governor Jelks to attend, the oration was delivered | by Col Sumter Lea
 | The procession formed at the temporary city hall in Twenty-first street at 4:3O, and after vending it's way through sev- eral of the principal streets and avenues of the city. halted finally at the new build ing in course of erection on the corner of Nineteenth street and Fourth avenue.
 Tho procession was formed as follows:
 Col. U. l.. Higdon, grand marshal.
 King Solomon Lodge, No. 460 A F. & A. M.
 Carriages containing Miss Louise Aus tin, daughter of Chief of Police c. w. Austin; Miss Marion Jacobs, daughter of Ben M Jacobs, and Miss Mary George Greene. daughter of Judge D. A. Greene and Eugene Chambers, 6eas sergcaut of the police force
 | Memoli's band.
 l Local military.
 Carriages containing Mayor and Board of Aldermen, Police Commissioners, Board of Education, city officials, former May ors and prominent citizens.
 Ths exercises were opened with prayer by Dr. L. S. Handley of the Central Presbyterian church, who is the oldest minister in point of service in Birming ham. Dr. Handley asked for divine bless ing on the administration. 1 P1l lowed in an eloquent address. He spoke of | the rapid growth of Birmingham since 1871, when the city was first Incorporated He said the very spot on which the mas sive new city hall was being constructed was only a cotton field in n.
 Mir. Drennen quoted the New York World of some years since. saying that the three cities commanding the attention of the world were Cairo, Egypt; Havana, | Cuba, and Birmingham Ala.
 Letters were then read from Governor Jelks, Hon. John B. Knox and Hon. R. l M Cunningham expressing their regrets at not being able to attend the exercises, the latter two stating that their duties at the constitutional convention were such that would not permit them to be pres ent in Birmingham today. | Col. Sumpter Lea was then introduced 1 by the Mayor. Colonel Lea said that this event was one | of great importance to every citizen of | Birmingham. He spoke of the rapid prog ress made by the city and said the eyes of the world were upon us, watching with interest our rapid stride in manufactur- ing and commerce.
 Colonel Lea then paid beautiful trib- ute to Mayor Drennen He spoke of him os having been born and reared In this section, and said his father before him had taught him to be ever on the move in life. A tribute was also paid to the for mer Mayors of Birmingham, who were present.
 After selection by the band the beauti- ful Masonic rite was carried out under the leadership of Ben M. Jacobs, most worshipful grand master, assisted by the following Grand Lodge officers:
 Right Worshipful Deputy Grand master J. H. Phillips Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden Dan A. Greene. Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden A. J. Camp, Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer W. S. Scott, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary Lew Lazarus, Right Worship full Grand Chaplain M. Newfield, Right 1 Worshipful Grand Marshal J. G. Smith, Right Worshipful Senior Grand Deacon R. F. Lovelady, Right Worshipful Junior Grand Deacon J. s. White, Right Wor- shipful Senior Grand Stewart c. A. Moi fett, Right worshipful Junior Grand Stewart s. vandergrift, Right Worship full Grand Tyler Paul Calame.
 Little Misses Austin, Jacobs and Greene poured the oil, corn and wine upon the stone.
 The exercises e$to close with a benediction by pr. Handley.
 The Stone.
 The corner stone Is massive piece of Oolitic limestone from the quarries near Sheffield. Its demensions are 31ax31ax3al feet.
 On the front of the stone is inscribed:
 Erected A. D. MCCCCI,
 Building Committee: | 8 Mayor
 Walter Melville Drennen; | Aldermen
 Robert H. Kerr, Harry Jones, Henry B. Gray, John J, Altman, Walter Moore, c. T. Rainbow, J. M. Meighan, c. c. Heidt, John F. Harrington.
 | D. A. Helmich, A. Stockmar, | Architect Contractor. | On the Fourth avenue side is carved the names of the Mayor and Board of Alder men who were in office when the old city hall was erected in 1881. They were as follows: Thomas Jeffers, Mayor; c. T. Hardman, B. A. Thompson, F. D. Nabers, M. H. Jordan, J. L. Lockwood, F. l.. Wordsworth. T. Y. Cain and William Hood, aldermen.
 | The following articles were deposited l in the stone: Copies of the Birmingham daily newspapers of June 29; copy of the Daily Ledger containing description of the new city hall; scroll with the names of the present city officials; copies of the annual reports of the city of Birmingham for the year 1s9o-7soO; copy of the city charter; Confederate ten dollar note; sev- eral cards; scale of the Typographical | Union, and several coins. l