The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
THE HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING.
IT'S CORNERSTONE LAID IN WASH
INGTON YESTERDAY.
Imposing Masonic Ceremonies-The PreSl-
dent, Vce-President, Members Of III
Senate and House, the Supreme Court
justices and Many Diplomats Present.

uVhts NtCG"ETboiutlJ MGtuUtEb VI NhD
Senate and House, the Supreme Court
Justices and Many Diplomats Present.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-The cornerstone
OF the imposing structure which is to be
used as an Office building for the House Of
Representatives was laid this afternoon
in the presence Of an assemblage OF dis
tinguiahed persons, including the President
OF the United States, the Vice-President,
members of the House and Senate, the
supreme Court, a large contingent OF the
diplomatic Corps INC the members of the
Grand Lodge of Masons Of Washington.
President Roosevelt was the orator OF the
day and he delivered his much talked of
speech, which he has entitled THE Man
With the Muck Rake" When he concluded
there was applause as the President took
his seat and the ceremonies came abruptly
to an end The speech will be found in
another column of The SUN.
In order to attend the ceremonies the
House and Senate I'D journed at 2:15 this
afternoon and marched in separate bodies,
headed by Speaker Cannon and Vice-Presi-
dent Fairbanks, from the Capitol TO the
scene of the event. TIL programme was
begun by the entrance OF the Grand Lodge
OF Masons of the District, headed by Grand
Master Walter A. Brown, who officiated
The United States Marine Band was present
and rendered patriotic airs at intervals dur
ing the ceremony.
Immediately upon the arrival Of the
President and his party, Grand Master
Brown took his position beside the huge
block Of marble, which was suspended from
a giant derrick, and formally announced
the purpose for which the Masons had as
sembled. In the Presidents party were
Mrs. Roosevelt, the Presidents son-in-
law, Representative Nicholas Longworth,
and the members Of the Cabinet and their
wives.
The Masonic ceremonies consisted in
following out the prescribed ritual for such
proceedings, including the explanations
Of the use Of the trowel, the cement, the
square. the level and the plumb, and the
spreading upon the stone Of corn, wine
and oil, and the statement Of their various
symbolic purposes. In performing these
functions the Grand Master WAS assisted
by his several subordinates. Grand
Master Brown exclaimed that the trowel
used in spreading the mortar was one
which had been presented to the fraternity
for the occasion by the Sons Of the Ameri-
can Revolution. He also told the history
of the gold mounted gavel with which he
presided. 1t was one made of the marble
used in the construction OF the present
Capitol building in 1893, when the corner
stone OF that structure was laid. That
ceremony was performed with full Masonic
rites, with George Washington presiding
as Grand Master. Upon the completion
of that ceremony the gavel was presented
to President Washington by Valentine
Reintzell, then Master of Potomac Lodge
of Washington, which lodge has ever since
protected and guarded with Jealous care
the historic relic.
Before the stone was set in place, a large
bronze box, made from bronze of the Cap
itol, was brought in and lodged in the re-
ceptacle In the stone. 1t contained among
other things, 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, the Ameri-
can flag, presented by boys Of the junior
republic, copy of the Congressional Record,
showing origin of project, copy of the pro-
ceedings of the commissioners in selecting
the site; copy Of a volume ofthe History of
the CAPITOL" autographs of members of
the United States Senate, April IA, 1905;
copy of L'Enfant's original map of the city
Of Washington, print of the old Capitol
and of the present Capitol, prints of the
White House, 1914 and 1905; an engraving
and autograph of President Roosevelt,
engraving and autograph of Vice-President
Fairbanks, pictures and autographs of the
commission in charge Of Office buildings,
Mr. Cannon, Mr.. Hepburn and Mr.. Rich
ardson of TENNESSEE, pictures Of Clerk and
James Courts and Supt. Elliot Woods and
L. White Busby, secretary to the Speaker.
Photographs and autographs of members
of the Cabinet. Set of coins of the United
States, 1905 issue. Set of postage stamps
Of 1908. List Of members of Senate and
House, 1905. List of member of Supreme
Court of the United States, 1908. and the
Congressional Directory.
Then slowly the big block of marble was
lowered into its place, and when trued and
plumbed, was pronounced properly set.
This concluded the Masonic ceremonies,
and the masonic implements, the trowel,
level and plumb with which the work had
been done, were placed in charge of Arch
itect Elliott Woods by Grand Master Brown.
Speaker Cannon then, as chairman of the
building commission. consisting Of him
self, Representative Hepburn Of Iowa and
Ex-Representative Richardson of Ten
nessee. stepped to the platform and said;
Fellow citizens. it is my privilege at this
time to introduce to you one who needs no
introduction, Theodore Roose welt, Presi-
dent of the United States"
The President was greeted with applause,
, and tn en- delivered his address:
The new building is being erected imme-
diately southeast of the Capitol on 1.-THE square
. bounded by b street, New Jersey avenue,
. First street and c street. 1t has a total
| fronta &c on these four streets of I.747 feet,
, or nearly one-third of a mile. The present
limit Of cost Of the structure is IS, 100 90.
The building is planned in the form Of a
hollo " square the open part in the centre
being a court nearly 800 feet in diameter.
In conformity with the Capitol building,
the principal (B street, front Of the House
office building will show three stories above
ground, but the grade falls way 80 rapidly
on Rev Jersey avenue and First street
that the rear u street, front will
be five stories above ground, the lowest
1905, lo;p1 tho ub-baaament IN a laval