The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-05-06

lHS tue trOWel anu the ulllOr DedCO
the gavel, then stepped to the stone
spread some cement upon 1t and struc
it three times with the gavel. Th
public grand honors were then given
and the ceremony concluded with 1
proclamation by the Grand Marsha
that the cornerstone had been fount
square, level and plumb, and had beer
laid In ample and ancient form b,
Fletcher Z. Turrell, Grand Master O.
the Grand Lodge Of Michigan, f. ant
A. NJ, according to the customs of tn,
ancient craft.
ADDRESS BY HON. HUGH MCCURDY
Last week, at the request Of thu
committee, l called upon Judge
Josiah Turner, of Owosso, and re
quested him to be present to-day as
the guest of honor OF the county OF
Shiawassee. 1 found the venerable
jurist in good health for a man of 81
years, and his intellect clear and witty
as Of yore.
He informed me that he thought he
would not be able to be present at the
laying Of the cornerstone, much as
he desired to be, however, he enter
tanned n lively hope that he would be
able to be present at the dedication
Of the new Court House. He also de-
sired me to tender the citizens of
Shiawassee County his congratulations
for the good work in which they were
engaged. and to thank them most sin
cerely for electing him to the judge
ship Of this county for twenty five
years-just one-half of the lifetime of
the old court house. However, he
hardly expected to preside upon it's
bench for that long period.
Mr.. Chairman, Most Worshipful
Grand Master, Brethren, Sir knights
and Neighbors Of the County Of Shia-
wassee:
''The stone which the builders re-
fused is become the head stone in the
corner"
1t is good to celebrate events that
conspicuously mark human progress.
The records Of the race are full Of
precedents for the spirit that calls us
together now. That Bible ever open
upon our affairs, which we all vener.
ate, and which plays so significant a
part in the symbolism of Our Ancient
and Accepted Order, furnishes many
instances Of the festival spirit, but
none more sharply engages our inter-
est in the laying of corner-stones than
we find recorded in the Bible, and
the dedication of temples of which the
old Testament gives so glowing an
account. 1t would be presumptuous
In me to enlarge upon an event with
which = every Bible scholar here is
familiar-and l take it that all good
Free Masons are Bible scholars.
Just now we are concerned in a
twentieth century event, but there is
solemn majesty in the thought that
our traditions directly connect us
with that remote Old Testament
which attaches to the laying of corner
stones. In the book of Job, believed
TO be the oldest literary production
eXtant, the Great Architect and Build
er of the Universe is thus reported
to have addressed the Patriarch:
"Where vast thou when I laid the
foundations of the earth? Who hath
laid the measures thereof, if thou
knowest? or who hath stretched the
line upon it? Whereupon are the foun-
dations fastened? or who laid the cor
nerstone thereof? The Importance Of
the cornerstone is further acknowl-
edged by the figurative and symbollcal
use for which it is often employed.
1t Is recorded in the book Of Isaiah,
therefore thus saith the Lord God
behold lay in Zion for a foundation,
stone, a tried stone, precious cor
nerstone, sure foundation"
The custom of laying the corner
stone with public demonstrations of
great pomp and ceremony is of very
early origin. The cornerstone of
Westminster Abbey was laid on the
24th day of June, 1902, by a Lodge of
Master Masons, at which King Henry
VII. presided in person as Grand
Master. In 1907 the cornerstone of
the Palace of Whitehall was laid by
King James l. in the presence Of
Grand Master Jones and his wardens.
who were attended by many, breth-
ern, clothed in form, and other emin-
cnt persons, who had been invited on
the occasion. The ceremony was con-
Quoted with great show and splendor.
In 1913 the cornerstone of st. Paurs
London. was laid in sol
emn form by King George l., attend
cd by Grand Master Rivers, his Arch
itects and Craftsmen, in the presence
of the nobility and gentry the lord