The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-01
CORNER STONE IS LAID
BEGINNING OF SCHOOL BUILD
 ING IN oPELIKA.
Dr. R. M. Cunningham Delivers an Eloquent Address on the occa- sion--Dr. T. L. Cobb Dies
 of His Injuries.

Opelika, Oct. 31.-(SpeciaL)-Today was a gala day in Opslika.
 After many years of effort, a school building commensurate with the city's needs is going up. The structure will be magnificent onc and will cost go, 900 The occasion today was the laying of the cornerstone. with appropriate Masonic ceremonies.
 A large crowd had gathered at noon
 under the shade of the lovely oaks to
 watch the exercises and hear the address by pr. R. M Cunningham, nominee of the Democratic party for Lieutenant-
 Governor. The Methodist Sunday school orchestra furnished music for the oca- sion. and America" and other familiar strains were heard. Then came Dixie" and with it the yell that shows that through all these fateful years the song has been reve:ed beyond all others in the Southern heart.
 Many prominent citizens and visitors were on the stand and participated in the exercises. which. while simple, were beau- tful. The day was perfect & cloudless sky and bracing atmosphere thrilling the assemblage with the poetry of existence. After prayer by Rev. W. C. Bledsoe Grand Chaplain of the Masonic fraternity | of Alabama, the deposits were made in | the cornerstone. Quite a number of in teresting objects were contributed. Af ter music. the corner stone was laid by Dr. Cunningham, the official head of the | Masons of this State. After an introduc- | tion by Mayor Palmer, Dr. Cunningham addressed the audience.
 pr. Cunningham was at his best. He spoke for an hour and facts, logic, humor, | learning, eloquence. fire. pathos and wis., dom met and mingled. The speaker dealt with universal life. He began in the morning of time and led them to high
 noon as typifed by the twentieth century. He showed that education was the door by which all entered into advancement of any kind; that. education made all better able to comprehend the things of life; and the higher things on which the soul could rest its hopes; that it was the lever with which to move the world that 1t made broader and better all the walks of life; that 1t gave to the humblest in the land power that even death could never tame; that 1t taught reverence of the manifold blessings of God and made high and lovely all the walks of life.
 He showed the benefits derived from learning and said that in the affairs of the work-a-day world. one was handi- capped badly without learning. He show ed how the man at the furnace takes the inanimate mass of ore, lime and other materials, and knowing how to treat them, makes the iron ard steel which forms the backbone of the commerce of the world and how therefore he received most excellent salaries; how the farmers by being educated could know 50 much about the hidden intricacies of the curi- ous life of the vegetable world; that he could turn nany things to his advant- age and improve his condition. He said education would bring refinement and content and give strength to see and know better. r.
 The speaker said he was glad to see the magnificent building being reared It meant progress, enlightenment and edu- cation beyond the utmost words of a prophet. It was an augury of light, window in the clouds of darkness, a bow above the storm, a star above the sea, an oasis in the desert. He paid high tribute to all who study and who learn, all of these who help. and to all of those who. in time of peace, who wear no medals, fight the good fight and keep the faith and wear the invisible crown of laurels on their brow
 pr. Cunningham caused many smiles and cheers for his remarks. He said he was in favor of taxing bachelors to help the schools, for the bachelors had no one to send.