The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-15
New Office Building for House
 Dedicated in Washington
BRILLIANT THRONG PRESENT
President Talks on the Muck Rake Brigade" Paying His Respects to Modern Sensational Writers
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Washington. April 14.-The laying of the corner stone of the office building for the House of Representatives with solemn Masonic ceremonies this after noon, was made notable by the speech of President Roosevelt in the presence of many of his cabinet, the supreme court, representatives of foreign govern ments representatives and a large propor- tion of Washington's population.
 The day was ideal for such an im- portant ceremony and without so much as even trifiing delay the immense stone which occupied the northwest cor nes of the building, was placed in po- sition.
 The rich dress of hundreds of Knights Templar with their waving plumes, the subdued costumes of the Masons with their lambskin aprons and white gloves, the scarlet uniforms of the Marine band, and the blue of the United States Engi- neers band, enlivened the picture.
 President Roosevelt, escorted by the office building commission. Speaker Cam non, Representative Hepburn of Iowa, and ex-Representative Richardson of Ten nessee. arrived comparatively early. A roar of kindly welcome greeted him. Immediately afterward the Senate. with Vice President Fairbanks in the lead, en- tered the stand reserved for Congress, followed by q large membership of the House of Representative.
 Upon the arrival of the grand lodge of Masons, of the District of Columbia, with Walter A. Brown, grandmaster, at their head, the ceremony of laying the corner stone began. The grand chaplain prayed for the American people and it's chief executive.
 Box Contains Many Articles.
 A dramatically sealed copper box. con taining an inside copper box, with glass top, was then placed in position so that the stone would completely en- velope it. The box contained the follow ing articles:
 The Holy Bible, copy of the declaration of independence. copy of the constitution of the United States; imprint of the seal of the United States; American flag; copy of the Congressional Record, show ing origin of project; copy of proceedings of commissioners In selection of site; copy
 
 graph of members of the United States Senate April IA, 1906; statement of ap- propriation 1S73-1906; copy of l. Enfants original map of the city of Washfngton; print of Jthe old capitol; prints or the White House. 1914 and 1906; an engraving and autograph of President Roosevelt; engraving and autograph of Vice Presl- dent Fairbanks; pictures and autographs of the commission In charge of the build ing, and a large number of other doc uments and articles connected with the event
 As the stone was lowered into it's foun- dation the Marine band played the in- termezzo from Cavaliera Rusticana. Corn, wine and oil were then poured upon the stone by the grandmaster according to ancient custom, an octette of male voices chanting an accompaniment.
 Building Will Be Classic.
 The building dedicated today will be classic in design. It suggests in it's gen. eral division of parts the Grade Reuble on the Place De La Concorde. Paris, while the pavilions are modelled on those of the colonnade Du Louvre. Architect urally the front is divided into two parts, the lower corresponding to the first story of the building constituting 'rustica- ted" base on which extending through the second and third stories is the colon ade surmounted by its entablature and ba1ustrade
 Some idea of it's size is given by the following frontages.
 On B. street 476 feet, on New Jersey avenue, 470 feet. on First street. 452 fees and on c street 34s feet. making a total frontage of 1740 feet, or approximately one-third of a mile. The building will contain 40 rooms for members together with multiplicity of caucus rooms, edi- flee rooms; post office restaurant and other features of modern office building
 Crandmaster Brown Speaks.
 Following these rites Grand Master Brown delivered the address Grand Mas ter Brown said:
 Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren-Be 1t known to you that we be lawful Ma sons, true and faithful to the laws of our country and engaged by solemn obli- gations to aid in the erection of public buildings by laying in position the chief corner stone whenever called upon to do so by those having charge of the same.
 These ceremonies which you have wit