The Washington times., 1904-04-19
A COLONIAL STRUCTURE.


de patriots who achieved American
Independence
The Masonic Ritual.
The Masonic ritual was employed in
laying the cornerstone. James A. Wet
more grand master Of the Grand Lodge
OF the District Of Columbia, presiding
The gavel used was the one with which
George Washington laid the cornerstone
u the National Capitol. on September
y l79s. II was presented by Washing
ton % the Potomac Lodge of Masons.
and mas been rehgiously guarded BY the
organization ever since.
Masonry Eulogized.
Grand Master Wetmore said in part:
Ladies, gentlemen, and brethren;
Be it known unto you that we be law
ful Masons. true and faithful TO the
laws of our country. an6 engaged by
solemn obligations 10 aid in the cree
ron Of public buildings by placing in
position TIE chfzf cornerstone wlIens
ever called upon to DO 50 by those haF-
ing charge Of the same.
The ceremonies which you have just
witnessed have come down TO as from
time irnmemorial. and are in them
selves invaluable TO ug as purely sym
bolic Of that spiri -ual building which
each one OF us ~ engaged in erecting
during our natural lives.
ut is stated on good authority that
all but three. I believe. OF the signers
of the Declaration Of Independence
were Hasons. as vas the immortal
Washington, who indicated his attach
ment to the fraternity on many public
occasions; bat on none, perhaps, more
{ -4-flr inc rrrka M the ttfh
Of April 1859, Ia the city Of New York.
the oath Of Office as President of the
/ United States was administered 70 him
by Robert r Livingston. chancellor OF
/ the State Of New York and grand mas
ter Of MasOns and sOlemnly attestec
when he pressed his lips 10 the Holy
Bible, brought for the purpose from
the altar Of St Johns Lodge-the old
7 est in the State.
Symbols of Patriotism.
we feel that patriotism and Mason
! ry-symbolized by the sword and the
trowel-were so closely associated with
the lives OF the persons whose history
7 IS to be preserved by the Society OF the
Daughters of the American Revolution
/ that we may take an interest in the
work you are doing, and in what this
edifce shall stand for.
This gavel which It has been my
. IAAkl4tEF 10 eAlAlfANg al AAAhfN NNA hAAAAA4Af7
was made expressly for use in the lay
ing Of the cornerstone Of the United
: States Capitol, and was employed fOl
that purpose by President Washington
acting as grand master OF Masons OF
that occasion. II was by him present
1 ed 10 Potomac Lodge OF this city, by
I whose courtesy ] am permitted to use
I IL today
The Dedicatory Prayer.
Mrs. Teunis s Hamlin. chaplain gen
eraI Of the congress. delivered the dedi
catory prayer. An address OF unusua
4 interest which followed was that o.
4 Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth, one o
the original founders Of the society
who spoke as follows:
Mrs. Walworth's Address.
Twenty-three years ago In New Yorl
city in April. 1881, / stood in the librar!
OF the New York Historical Societ1
building on Second Avenue, when join
A. Stevens said 10 me. II intend TO or
ganize a Society OF Sons Of the Revolu
tion and I wish your brother. Genera
Hardin, TO be a member"
Very wen" I replied but we shal
also have society of the Daughte
OF the Revolution
That is a capital idea" he answer
IL 4AA &c AeLA , AaAAfAt 1904 Alt ADutAtitf
the Sons Of the Revolution In New Yorl
city.
Nine years later. 1890, we, Mis-
Washington, Miss Desha and I, founde
the Daughters OF the American Revolu
ton. on August 8. in Washington city
Two months later. October II. scor
and more OF patriotic women. includin
the officers and managers we had az
pointed on August 9. met with US I
strengthen and perfect the organization
Already Ia August the constitution wa
prepared; the application blanks wer
printed and many of them distribute
; and notice t. those eligible wa
3 printed IN the Washington new.
papers. on August 9 your three found
ers had also appointed Mrs Harriso:
wife Of he President Of the Unite
States. as head of the society. and in
mediately wrote To her for her consen
The names are on record Of other oi
hccrs and managers. Among them
, the name Of AIRS. Flora Adams Darlln,
VINO was thus. two months before ii
public meeting OF October II, appointe
manager by the authority Of yol
? three founders. When notified Of ths
Continued on Second Page.)