The National tribune., 1901-08-08
NATIONAL MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY.
A Great Celebration of the Laying of the
Corner Stone.

Great Celebration of the Laying of the
Corner Stone.
The corner stone of the great National
Memorial University, TO be erected by the
Sons of Veterans to the memory of the
veterans of the war of the rebellion, was
laid at Mason City, Iowa, June q. A
special to the Minneapolis Times says OF
the affair:
The Sons of Veterans Of the Twin
Cities chartered a special train and when
they reached this city their number had
been augmented so that they numbered
held in q big tent where formerly the
Ringling Brothers disported their white
elephants and barebacked riders. 1t held
5000 people and then was too small.
The orators Of the day were Judge
Mathews, of Dubuque, representing the
S. "; Judge Torrance, Of Minneapolis
and President Beardshear, of Ames, the
G. A. r., and Mrs. McClelland, of
Chicago, President of the Illinois Relief
Corps, representing that organization; the
President Of the day, j. Il. +. Markle,
with the Chaplain, Rev. Father Nagle,
Col. George Metzger, Commander of the
Iowa G. A. r.; Col. Harry Greene, Com
mander of the Iowa S. v; Col. Clifford
Ham, Iowa Commander Of the Spanish
American War Veterans, and others of
note.
Judge Torrance was the principal
orator Of the day and the lion of the hour.
He is the probable candidate for Com
mander-in-Chief of the Grand Army, and
if the G. A. Il. here can have their way
after hearing this speech today they will
make the election unanimous. His ora
ton was punctured with generous bursts
of applause, and at the close he was ten
dered an ovation. He said in part:
Scarcely a week has elapsed since we
commemorated the 10th anniversary of
the battle of Bunker Hill. When that
historic battle was fought we constituted
mere fringe of separate and feeble col
onios, stretched along the Atlantic coast,
without flag or constitution, or badge of
sovereignty. Today We reach from sea to
sea-S0,O6O, 600 Of free men-supreme
among the nations, every citizen SOW
ereign, and together working out a glor-
ious destiny under protection of the old
est written Constitution known to civil
cation.
ITO me has, on this occasion, been as
signed the special honor of speaking for
the Grand Army of the Republic and the
patriotic men and women of the civil war
period, to whose memory it is intended
this University shall be q beautiful and
lasting memorial.
And first permit me TO speak of the
sons whose wisdom conceived, whose zeal
has FASTENED and whose faith and devo-
ton will make sure the completion of this
institution of patriotism. In no other Way
could the Sons of Veterans have more ap-
propriately manifested their intelligent
appreciation of the sacrifices and heroism
Of those whose memory they seek to
honor; In no other way could they so
surely and honorably win a foremost
place among all the patriotic organizations
OF this country; In no other way could
they better establish their right to
w0TThtly Al
unfinished work of the Grand Army: In
no other way could their fitness TO be in
trusted with the ark of the covenant and
It's sacred oracles and to be trusted senti-
nels OF their countrys liberties be more
clearly established. All honor through ali
time will be their just desert, and, In be-
half of my comrades, present and absent.
living and dead and in behalf of the pa
trlotlc women whose devotion to the cause
of freedom and tho right has been
them"