New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
PRESIDENT TO MASONS.
HELPS Lay CORNERSTONE
Spcobs Of Special Obligations Rest
inE on The Froternitu.

- 80 Attlt HtID.
Washington, June S.--Presilent Roosevelt
vho Is member of the Blue Lodge of the Ma
sonic fraternity took part in the work and
made an address this afternoon at tine laving
of the cornerstone OF the new Masonic Tar,n1a
which is 10 be erected at 18th street and New
Yerk avenue. large crowd was present in
1luding prominent Masons from other turlsdic
tons. The Eavel and trowel EMPLOYED in the GER
emonies were used by President washington in
laying the cornerstone OF the Capitol on Sep
teInber IS. 1,&:', and the Bible was used by
fredericksburg Lo5ge No. 1, of Virginia when
President Washington became a member OF the
fraternity. President Roosevelt spread some ce-
ment under fhe cornerstone with the trowel
afterwaTd shaking the hands of the mechanics
experimenting the work. Later the gaveI and
the Bible were handed to him He examined tho
hook closely as he turned its pages The Presi-
dent ana Secretary Loeb. also a Mason 5onred
lambsktH aprons as soon as they arrived at the
site o. the building. In his address tba I7rasi
dent urged Masons 10 remember that peculiar
obligations 10 show themselves good citizens
r. every respect rested or them. and pointed out
that it Is not Well to wait for crises before ev-
hioiting those qualities Steel portraits of Pres
'denis washington and Roosevelt copies OF the
Declaration OF Independence and the ConstItu-
ton Of the United States Jamestoyy, exnosi
account ~ he
death O, President Garfield We're deposited IN the
stone.
J. Il. small. ir. president of the Masonic
Temple Association made the irtro6,,ctor,, ad
dress Francis J. Woodmau Grand Master Of
the Grand Lodge. had charge OF The ceremony
of lay-as the cornerstone. and remarks were
made by Matthew Trimbe and Henry L. West.
one Of tie district commissioners Music was
furnished by the Marine Band
President Roosevelt spoke as follows:
Mos Wo5shipful Grand Master Brethren and
i Is . privilege and pleasure to take part to-
day n Che dedication of the new temple l am
sure al or US must appreciate the courtesy Of
these brethren Of other lodges which has rem
dered Il possible to use on this occasion the
Bible upon which the great first citizen Of this
Republic, Washington, took the oath when he
was made a Mason, and the implements which
he used as Mason in laying the cornerstone Of
the Capitol in this capital city of the nation.
in5n. Where there should be as fine 4 Masonic
temple as here IN Washington, for it is in a
sense a national temple where Masons from
every jurisdiction gather
have but word 10 say to you. and that
word must always be appropriate in any Ma
sonic meeting where the name Of Washington
is mentioned. l ask OF each Mason, Of each
member. OF each brother. that ne shall remember
ever that there IS upon him a peculiar Obligation
n show himself in every respect a good citizen;
for after all, the way in which he can best 10
his duty by the ancient order to --hich he be-
longs Is by rejecting credit upon that order by
the way IN which he performs his duty citi-
zen Of the United States.
Let me also point out that it IS well not TO
wait for times Of unusual crisis before you be-
come good citizen. We are all Of US aware
of the temptation to think what a splendid and
heroic part we would play if the times de-
rlanded It; while at the same time ii is not al
ways easy to do the workaday. humdrum duties
cf the moment.
I remember down in the village where live
there was a very decent but rather dreamy
young fellow a little bit apt TO spend his
time thinking Of how exceedingly well he could
have led his life under other conditions. HIS
mother was a very hard working woman, and
one day he was reading in the paper an account
Of a FIRE In New York and the heroic deed OF a
fireman In rescuing certain people from that
burning building. His mother was very busy
about the room Pretty soon he put down tne
paper and said with sigh: 'Oh. how would
Ike TO rescue somebody from burning DullGI
ingr' His mother answered: We'll. III ten
you. This building amt on fire. but II you VIII !.
get in the kindling wood III be oDlged 10 you
I think that there is a very good moral lesson
for all of in that. The way 70 De goou
cirizen is to be a good neighbor- ana nrst OF an
q good neigf1bor 10 the people in your own house
fold q good neighbOr 10 your wife ana cIlluIehi
then IN sct toward your fellows so that you be-
come the kind Of man whom they are glad 10
have work for them for whom they are gao
10 work. or whom they are glad TO have hve he%t
them or do business with ara then TO 90 eecl
his duty faithfully and decenty 10 the SIZE SIZE
and to the nation. And in making any aGdreHS
IN public 1t does seem to me that me lsSS6t! on
above all other lessons 10 ne lhCulcaCSo -.
every Mason in addressing his brother Masohs
is that the way TO reflect credit upon the ancient
and honorable body 10 which we belong Is 10
ma ke that body. so far in us lies, an lnstru-
ment for the upbulding the uplifting, the en-
robling OF the great nation 70 which we All
belong.
For long time the Masons Of Washington
have been looking forward 10 the construction
n 2 new temple the first steps having been
taken ten years ago. The classic style of archi-
lecture is 10 be employed in the construction OF
the building which is TO be Of Indiana lime
stone throughout. with the exception OF the en-
tablature. The site is near the centre OF me
h,Isireee mari of the citv and the building when
COMPLETED vviIl he six stories high with the first
story about thirty feet in the main auditorium