The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-22
WITH MASONIC RITES
CONVERSIONS or DAY NURSERY
AND HOME WAS LAID.
THE SYMBOLIC CEREMONY
IN CHARGE OF DIR. WEARING AND
OTHER LODGE OFFICERS.

Brief Address by Rev. NJ. j. EptinE,
In which He Spoke of the Charit-
able Institutions of the city and
Paid Fitting Tribute to the Work
OF the Kings Daughters--Sum-
married the History of the work
and It's Rapid Increase--NIusic by
Independent Presbyterian Church
ChOir-singihg of the Children of
the Home a Special Feature.
With the impressive and beautifully
symbolic ritualistlc service OF the Ma
sonic fraternity the cornerstone of the
new day nursery and childrens home
of the Julia Mcleod Circle of the
Kings Daughters was laid yesterday
afternoon at o'clock at Montgomery
and Thirty-first streets. The ceremonies
were in charge of DR.. T. P. Warning,
assisted by the proper officers of the
local lodge.
The ceremony opened with the read
ing of the permission to the fraternity
to lay the cornerstones of churches
and charitable institutions. This was
followed by the reading of the invita-
ton from the Julia Mcleod Circle.
The formal instruction to lay the stone
was then given through the officers,
Immediately after which the Lords
Prayer was repeated by the delegation
Of Masons who attended the service.
The delegation then stepped from the
platform, and the ceremony proper was
carried out with all It's symbolism. The
stone was placed In position, and the
square and level applied by the officers,
after which 1t was declared to be In
the proper position to insure trueness.
strength and sound foundation.
The order for placing within the
stone the Savannah papers, the New
Testament, the list of the lady mama
gers of the home and the names of
the members of the nine circles of
Kings Daughters in the city was read
by the secretary, and they were placed
In the receptacle in the stone. neatly
tied in a small box circled with a blue
ribbon--the colors of the order. The
officers then took their places at the
edge Of the platform, directly above the
stone, and with the customary words
poured into 1t corn, as d symbol OF
plenty; wine, as sf11ybol of joy and
gladness, and oil, as the symbol of
peace. A prayer was offered and the
ceremonies proper of the laying the
cornerstone were completed.
Rev. M. j. Eptins's Address.
The address of the afternoon was de-
livered by Rev. M. J. Epting, pastor
of st. Paul's Lutheran Church. The
address was short and was of nature
.l.As H. ~ - -
by calling attention to the fact that,
though there are many things in Sa-
vannah to which there might be grave
exceptions taken. and which might be
severely criticised by purists and NOR
alists, yet no one could doubt OF the
generosity of its citizens as shown In
the liberal manner in which they had
provided for the weak, the old, and the
INDECENT; for the widow and the Or
phan. It's hospitals bar none, are open
to all without regard to color or creed
and in the number of charitable insti-
tutions within its borders Il is unex-
ceeded by any city Of equal size in the
country.
He called attention to the fact that
the Institution OF which the corner
stone was now being laid was not the
least Of these, for it was here that the
little ones were taken and not only pro-
vided for but were taught to help them
selves and trained in the way which
would make them honored and respect
! ed citizens. 1t was to this Day Nursery
that the poor widowed mother could
take her child while she went forth in
the daily struggle to earn the bread
that was to feed them both, knowing
full well that while she was at her
work that the little ones were being
we'll cared for. And 1t was here also
that those little ones who had lost
both father and mother. found a kind
shelter and tender hands to minister to
them, and teach them as they grew to
more mature years.
work of the Kings Daughters.
He briefly sketched the growth Of
the work since IL had started six
years ago. At that time they had
but poor, humble, building and only
six children were committed to their
charge. In the short time that had
elapsed since then they had grown and
branched out until to-day they are in
possession of the large lot and have
made the start on the permanent
home and in their charge thirty-one
little children have been given. He
closed with an earnest appeal to those
present to give literally to the cause
which had for its object no worldly
gain, but the betterment and up lift
ing of the human race. and the shelter
ing and protecting of the homeless lit
tie ones.
The music was by a quartette COM
posed of the members of the fnde.
pendent Presbyterian Church choir.