The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09
PRESIDENT SPEAKS
 AT MASONIC TEMPLE
Participates in Laying Corner
 Stone of Blue Lodge
TROWEL WASHINGTON USED
Secretary Loeb and the President Put on Lanbskin Aprons and Take
 Part In the Work of the Occasion.

Washington, June S.-President Roose- velt member of the Blue lodge of the | Masonic fraternity, participated in the work and made an address at the laying of the cornerstone this afternoon of the new Masonic temple which is to be erect ! ed in this city. Interesting facts in con nection with the occasion were that the gavel and trowel used were the same as those used by President Washington in 1 laying the cornerstone of the United States capitol building. September IS, 179S, and the Bible was used by Frderlck S. Burg, lodge No. of Virginia, when President Washington became member :. of the fraternity.
 1 The President spdear some cement 9un- der the cornerstone with the trowel, after ward shaking the hands of the mechanics | experimenting the work, and later was handed the gavel and also the Bible, which he examined closely as he turned the pages of the sacred book. The Pres ident was accompanied by Secretary Loeb, and as soon as they arrived at the site the President and MT. Loeb who also is a Mason, were handed aprons of lamb skin, which they fastened around their waists In his address the President asked each Mason to always remember that there is upon him a peculiar obliga- tion to show himself in every respect a good citizen and pointed out that it is well not to wait for times of unusual crises before they become such.
 Deposited in the corn erstone were steel portraits of Presidents Washington and Roosevelt, facsimile copies of the Deelara- ton of Independence and the constitution of the United States, Jamestown exposl- ton medals and accounts of the death of President Garfield. Francis J. Woodman. grandmatser of the grand lodge, had charge of the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone.
 President Roosevelt spoke as follows; Most Worshipfu Grand Master, Breth-
 ren and Friends.
 'It is a privilege and a pleasure to take part today in the dedication of the new temple. l am sure all of us must appre- ciate the courtesy of these brethren of other lodges. which has rendered 1t pos sible to use on this occasion the Bible upon which the great first citizen of this --Washington-took the oath when he was made a Mason and the implement which he used as a Mason In laying the cornerstone of the capitol In the Capital City of the nation. Surely there is no place, no other city in the United States where should be such a fine Masonic tenn pie as here in Washington, for 1t is in a sense a national temple where Masons from every Jurisdiction gather.
 q have but word to say to you, and that word must always be appropriate in any Masonic meeting, where the name of | Washington is mentioned. I ask of each Mason or each member or each brother ] that he shall remember ever that there is l upon him a peculiar obligation to show ] himself in every respect good citizen for after all. the way in which he can best do his duty by the ancient order to which he belongs Is by rehecting credit upon that order by the way In which he performs his duty as citizen of the Uni ted States.
 "'rhe lesson above all lessons to be in- cucated by every Mason in addressing his brother Mason is that the way to re- fleet credit upon the ancient and honor able body to which he belongs is to make | that body so far as In us lies an instru- ment for tfe urhuildng, the uplifting, the ennobling of the great nation to which we belong"