Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
SITE OF NEW MASONIC TEMPLE.

street to H street; along H to New York
avenue to 7th street; down Massachusetts
avenue to 4th street; down 4th street to
Indiana avenue; thence to 9Th street, along
9Th to F, and thence to 9th and F streets,
the place for the ceremonies.
The President occupied seat upon the
platform with Grand Master Benjamin
Brown French.
AS scrap of history for the informa-
ton of those who are still connected with
the lodges in the District a few words ex-
planatory: Music was first introduced in
the ceremonies of the degrees, as conferred
in the District Of Columbia, in Dawson
Lodge, No. 49,
AS member of Columbia Commandery,
No. 2, Knights Templar. returning from
a pilgrimage to Boston on the occasion of
the dedication of the Masonic Temple in
that city in June. 1867, the writer brought
with him four copies of the -1Isonic Choir,
published by j. w. Dadman. eminent COM
mander of De Moiay Commandery, Knights
sung In Dawson Lodge, No. 49, by George
L. Sheriff, David l.. Bennett, Robert Ball
and John B. Dawson.
The choir was instrumental in bringing
together the singers in the fraternity,
which resulted in the formation of what
afterward became we'll and favorably
known as 1.-The Masonic choir
On a stage to the right of the platform
the day the cornerstone was laid was the
choir of Dawson Lodge, No. 10. composed
of the following gentlemen eight add1-
| tional persons having been secured for the
occason) First tenors, George l.. Sheriff.,
D. J.. Burnett Sam V. Noyes and Joseph
Hodgson; second tenors. G. R. Thompson
E. w. w. Griftine, A. B. Wrall and Q. c.
Brown; first basses. George A. Dalton,
Robert Bale, Henry Bradley and Nat b
Fugitt: second BASES, John B. Dawson,
Charles w. Hancock, John A. Stewart and
VIII. Hyers'.
Those marked c) members of Dawson
i Lodge, No 16
four are known as living today-one of
each voice part-Burnett, Griffin, Fugitt
and Hancock. The choir was under the
leadership and direction of Bro. John B.
Dawson.
The music rendered was an anthem.
Make a Joyful Noise" etc; original
hymn, words by John Edwin Mason and
sung to tune Of America and an ode
upon the depositing of the box in the cav
ity of the stone.
Representative Bromwel the Orator.
The orator of the day was H. P. H
| Bromwell, representative from Illinois
! The Grafton was instructive and replete
| with information to the craft and adapted
| to the right living Of all present.
The box of copper set into the cavity
contains many articles which were then OF
great worth. but today far above rubies in
value. Not one of the donors of these ar
| the earth, but all may be interested in the
occasion of laying of the cornerstone OF
| a temple of grander proportions in 1907
| than the one in which they were active
participants in 1865
| A few of the closing sentences of the ad-
dress by Mr.. Bromwell, suggestive of the
years that have passed since 1868, are
given, as follows:
| LAS to us who are here today we shall
| go never all to meet in one place again on
| earth. Even now we miss familiar faces
| long loved but now lost, and we know that
| the evergreens are growing above the
| forms of some who were lately a part OF
our every assembly.
Where our diverging paths may lead
us upon earth we know not; but not long
nor far until we reach the outer veil which
opens but on the undiscovered country and
the hidden life. One by one. two by two
our brethren are entering and soon all must
pass.
The first great light alone shines through
the inner well the center court, and
with the seven seals unclasped, let each