The Washington times., 1901-09-27
THE CORNERSTONE LAID.
MasOns Conduct the Ceremonies at
the Rupert Home.
The knights TempInr and German
Societies Unite in the Excrcises-
The Address of Simon Wolf, Pres
ident of the Board of Directors.

With the highly impressive and beauti-
full ceremonies of the Masonic order, II
the presence of d large number OF mem
bers of the participating delegations and
friends of the Home, and favored pS
bright skies and sunshine, the cornerstone
of the Christian and Eleanora Rupper'
Home. on Good Hope Hill, Anacostla'
was laid yesterday afternoon at o CLOCK
The ceremonies had been arranged by
the Grand Lodge, +. A. A. M, OF the
| District, and were participated in by the
DeMolay Commandery, No. 4. knights
Templar; the Deutscher Central Verein,
| Columbia Lodge, No. l, Orden der Herr
mann's Soehne, and the Washington Saeh-
! gerbund The members of the Masonic
| Grand Lodge assembled at the Masonic
Temple at o'clock and. accompanied by
the mounted DeMolay Commandery, they
drove in carriages to the place of the cor
| nerstone laying.
Simon Wolf, President of the board OF
directors of the home, called the assem-
bly, to order at the stated hour, and in
troduced the Rev. DR.. Gustave Facius,
| who offered the following prayer in Ger
| man:
Eternal and Almighty God and Father,
| who art the giver of all good and perfect
|
before thee upon sacred and hallowed
ground, to lay. in this hour, the corner
stone for a home for the old and infirm
Not far from here stands our German
| Orphan Asylum. There live the dear Or
phans who, In early youth, lost their best
| and dearest friends and were thrown on
| the world lonesome and forsaken. Father
and mother have left them; but the Lord
has taken them in his loving charge.
And here is to be founded another asy
lum, which is for those whose hair is grey.
whose back is bent, whU have faced the,
storms and vicissituGes of this world and
fought its battles and now long for peace
and rest. Lord, We thank thee that thou
still Greatest men who are filled with
spirit to accomplish what is most wor-
thy-a desire to benefit humanity and to
do deeds Of love and charity.
Before grey hair we must arise, and
Old age we must revere. They also pray
in their old age, %, Lord. do not forsake
me in my age We pray thee that thou
let them finish this noble monument Be
thou in their midst when they consult
about their plans and work. Protect them
from all dangers and troubles. Grant, o
Lord, that this house be soon finished
as a monument to noble hearts.
day and night, and bestow upon US your
divine love and blessing"
At the conclusion of the prayer the
Saengerbund, under the direction of its
leader Henry Xander. rendered Haydn's
solemn Die Himmel ruehmen des Ewigen
Ehre.'
Simon Wolf read the following letter
from Commissioner Ross, who was pre-
vented from being present at the cere-
monies:
"On my return to the city this morning
my attention has been called to an an
nouncement in the papers of the laying
of the cornerstone of the Rupert Home
this afternoon, at o'clock, and state
ment that ! will deliver address on that
occasion.
II greatly regret that my engagements
will not permit me to avail myself of the
pleasure of being present on this inter- |
esting accession. 1t certainly as an event |
worthy of all the preparation which has
been made for 1t. The establishment of |
a charitable institution for the benefit of |
aged persons of all denominations is in |
keeping with the spirit of the age. and |
is highly creditable to the honored and |
donor. who was one of our best |
known and worthiest citizens. For many |
years to come the worthy poor of Wash |
ington will have occasion to bless his |
II congratulate the trustees upon the |
beautiful and appropriate site selected for
this institution 1 know that every citi-
zen of Washington will revere the mem
ory of Christian Rupert. and will have a /
just pride in the establishment of this
worthy charity.
'slrisbinp tho Ocpa sion ne Urea tact
success, and regretting exceedingly my in
ability TO be present, am, with high re-
gard" etc.
After the reading of the letter, Mr..
Wolf delivered the address of the day. |
He said:
THE Declaration of Independence was
he laying of the cornerstone of Ameri- |
IAN liberty and independence. The Con-
;titutior framed hereunder was the cul-
nination and highest exposition of human
genius So the laying of the cornerstone
oday of the Christian and Eleanora Rup-
pert Home is the commencement of a
charity broad and liberal, which will cul-
innate in a few months hence in the
and which will in due time
shelter the infirm and INDECENT of our
District irresl ective of faith or nation
llity
|
'lify on what prompted and inspired Mr..
RUPERT to do this worthy ana noble deed.
That time will be when the home shall
,e thrown open for the uses for which
was created. l therefore briefly state
hat Mr.. Rupert, in his last will. made
n 1891, devised that after certain Iegacies
hould have been paid to relatives and
,thers, and after having left generous
lift to the church IL which he wor-
hipped. and the German Orphan Asylum
n which he was profoundly Interested
levised that the balance of his estate |
hould be used for the purpose of erect
ng home for aged and INDECENT resi-
ients of the District of Columbia, and
hat an endowment fund should be created |
o care for it's inmates. tbs generous
wish of his would be amply fulfilled had |
here been no legal contest by his own
,ith and kim who were justified by law
n plrsuing the course they did, and |
which prevented for nine years the ac-
of his ardent desire and
wish.
Naturally this litigation involved not
'nly heavy expenses. but it also led to a |
deterioration of the real estate entrusted |
o the executors and trustees under his |
asst will So that, mildly speaking, at |
east 100000 has been lost to the es-
ate in consequence of this unfortunate
condition of things. and while there is | ;
mple means to erect and furnish the | '
lone and have a monthly income. vet |
his monthly income will be Inadequate
o the needs and requirements of the |
lome.
''I therefore in this informa, WAY asl, |