The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-06
Who Expiated Upon the Beauties of
- TlasOnry-Rev. nr. Snedegar, the
~ Pastor, Who Is Recovering from
Injuries, Was Present.

4l4OllJ IItftttt tic lOllON dCCOuhl
of the laying of the cornerstone of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Bloom
ington, is taken:
The cornerstone laying of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Bloom
ington. Garrett county, Nd, which
We mentioned last week would be
laid on the Sunday following by the
Masonic fraternity, came off last Sun
day afternoon, Sept. %, and proved
quite an attraction for the hOme-like
village just to the west of us. The
ceremony was in the immediate
charge of Hiram lOdgeof Westernport,
but was participated in by members
of Mt. Carbon lodge, of Piedmont, as
well, and had the support of many
OF the members of other lodges, but
who sojourn among us. The frater-
nifty met in the lodge room across the
river in Westernport at 1:30 p. III. and
at two O'Clock left in procession
according to Masonic form, taking up
the line of march through Western
port, Piedmont, and Luke, thence
across the railroad bridge to the West
Virginia side OF the river, and on to
Bloomington by the way of Savage.
There were some sixty MasOns in line
led by Mr.. John 7. Iais as Tyler and
under the marshalship of Mr.. Elmer
j. Rowe. In the procession were car
ried the Great Light of Missionary, the
Bible, the Candlesticks, the Silver
vessels containing corn, wine, and oil.
Arriving at the place in Bloomington
where the building is being erected,
the lodge took its place in front of
the foundation, the officers forming
the inside rank of a hollow square,
and the members ranged on an outer
line with these. Before the ceremOn-
les proper began, the Rev. W. w.
Davis of Piedmont officiated for the
pastor at Bloomington in holding a
short religious service aud superin-
tending the collection. The pastor
Rev. Mr.. Snedegaa, who was serious
lY injured a few weeks ago, and who
since the amputation of part of his
ser, was present and occupied an
honored seat on the platform, to the
qualification of his many friends pres
ent. The Masonic ceremony was
performed by the officers of Hiram
lodge of Westernport, according to
the ritualistic features of that work,
Mr.. VIM. B. Ownes the worshipful
master of it's lodge presiding and con-
Quoting the forms. Everything SEEM
ed to move very smoothly, the officers
receiving congratulations of their
friends and acquaintance. and the
people of Bloomington expressing
themselves as very much pleased with
the service. At the conclusion of the
work two addresses were delivered,
one by Mr.. o. H. Bruce, who spoke
on Masonry and one by Rev. w.
w. Davis, who spoke from the stand
point of the Church. A selected
choir of young people rendered sever
al selections of music.
The number present to view the
service was quite large, a council of
the Junior Order of American Mechan-
les occupying a prominent place in
the audience, and many of the lady
members of the Order of Eastern Star
accompanying tile Masonic fraternity
to the scene.
ADDRESSE BY o. H. BRUCE.
WorShipful Master, Brethren Of the
Craft, and Ladies and Gentlemen:
The scene and its occasion are very
suggestive, and very inspiring. Here,
amid the shadows of the mountains
Gods of the mountains Gods great
est sentinels in the whole realm of his
creation. and as we'll the objects of
mans constant wonder and perpetual
admiration-the Oldest fraternal Or
ganization among men comes to as
sist in the erection of an edifice to be
dedicated to the PRONUNCIATION of the
essentials of the most estimable pos
session of man, viz: the elements of
revealed religion. And it should not
be considered in any sense out of
place that this cooperation should
exist. Divine as the organized church
may be, and treasured and nurtured
as it undoubtedly is by the Fathers
care, it nevertheless has no greater
prominence in maintaining the
great principles of 1.-The fatherhood
of God and the brotherhood of man, -
than has this ancient and honorable
fraternity we call Freemasonry.
The cooperation therefore of two
such bodies in publicly and persis-
tently declaring, the one for the need
of such an edifice, and the other for
its willingness and readiness to assist
in supplying that need, is both time
ly and opportune. From time imme-
mortal this has been the custom of
our society; and so long as it remains