The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-05-06
THE CORNER STONE LAID.
Impressive Ceremony Witnessed by
Thousands.


One of the events to which the citi
Nens of the county can look with pride
for years to come was the laying of the
corner stone of the new court house at
Corunna on Wednesday. The event was
witnessed by vast concourse of people
from all parts of the county and from
neighboring localities. Every detail OF
the program as arranged was carried
out and nothing was left undone to
make pleasant the stay of every person.
THE PARADE.
The parade assembled at o'clock at
McCurdy park, and was organized by
Marshal of the Day Ross In the toi'
lowing order:
First diyision-Genesee Valley Com
mandery No. Is, X. T., Ithaca Com
mandery No. 40, X. T., Lansing Com
mandery No. % st. Johns Command
cry No. "a, X. r., Fenton Command
cry No. IA, X. IT,, Port Huron Com.
mandery No. z, X. T., Corunna Com
mandery No. Fl, X. T., Blue Lodges OF
the county, F. and A. NJ, Grand Lodge
of Michigan. f. and A. NJ, speakers
. and supervisors in carriages.
Second division-Co. III, M. n. G.,
Co. No. As, u. r. X. P, Odd Fellows,
Cantons and subordinate lodges, other
lodges and organized bodies.
The parade marched south on Nor.
ton street to State, east to Woodwork,
south to Mcneil, east to Shiawassee
avenue, thence north to the court
house square.
LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE.
The parade having escorted the
Grand Lodge to the site of the new
building, Judge Matthew Bush, acting
as chairman, announced the program.
After invocation by Rev. Carlos III.
Hanks, Hon. Fletcher e. Turrell,
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Of
Michigan, f. and A. NJ, and the rep
resentatives of the Grand Lodge took
their respective stations for the laying
of the stone. Supervisor Clark ID.
Smith, chairman of the building COM
mittee in behalf Of those engaged in
the erection of the building, formally
requested the Grand Master to lay the
cornerstone according to the forms and
ceremonies "of our ancient and hon
orable fraternity" The Grand Master
responded that in accordance with the
custom Of the craft 1--WE accept your
invitation so graciously given" Grand
Master Turrell then ordered Grand
Marshal Hume to direct the craftsmen
to furnish the cement and prepare to
lower the stone. Supported by the
Senior and Junior Grand Deacons he
stepped to the stone and laying his
hands on it offered brief prayer, af-
ter which the cement was spread and
.the stone lowered about one-third the
distance and stopped, while the craft
gave the public grand honors. The
stone was then lowered to its perma-
nent place, and the grand honors were
given three times.
The box containing the articles to be
deposited in the cavity in the stone,
together with the list thereof, were
presented, and the list read, after
which the Grand Master delivered the |
box to the Grand Treasurer, who as
sisted by the Grand Deacons, deposit
ed it in the cavity in the stone. At |
the order OF the Grand Master, the |
Grand Architect presented his work
ing tools, which were delivered to the
Grand Marshal who presented them to
the proper officers. The Square was
applied to the stone by the Deputy
Grand Master, who reported the stone
to be square. The Level was applied
by the Senior Grand Warden, who re-
ported the stone to be level, and the
plumb was then applied by the Junior
Grand Warden, who reported the stone
to be plumb. The Grand Master then
declared the stone to be we'll formed,
square, level and plumb, and correctly
laid.
He directed that the elements Of
conservation be presented, and the
Deputy Grand Master came forward
with a vessel of corn, scattering it on
the stone as an emblem of plenty. |
The Senior Grand Warden poured
wine on the stone as an emblem of joy
and gladness, and the Junior Grand
Warden poured oil on the stone as an
emblem of peace. The Grand Master
then pronounced an invocation. call
ing upon the All-Bountiful Author Of
Nature to "bless the inhabitants OF
this, place with dn abundance of the
necessities. conveniences and comforts
Of life; assist in the erection and COM
pletion of this building; protect the
workmen against every accident; long
preserve the structure from decay,
and grant to us all plentiful supply
of the Corn Of Nourishment, the Wine |