Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-09

CONTINUED from fHSt fdSej
Woodman delivering address. and the
Masonic choir and Marine Band rendering
with fine effect several selections.
District Commissioner Henry l.. west, be-
ing presented to the asSemblage, said:
mo higher honor could crown this inter-
esting occasion than has just been accorded
by the presence end by the thoughtful and
characteristic address of the President OF
the United States By his participation
the event has been lifted above the plane
of local interest and the influence anu
work of the Masonic fraternity in TINS ]urls-
diction has been given national significance
and recognition. 1t is also BETTING, how
ever that the government of the District
Of Columbia should be officially represented.
The ceremony which we nave just VII
messed Is the beginning of the end Inc
years Of untirinG and unselfsh labor, OF
generous contribution. and or steau1ast
hope are at last to bring their generous
harvest of substantial achievement. On
behalf of the government of the District OF
Columbia therefore, it is my privilege ana
honor to extend to you the heartlest
Fluctuations upon the happy consummation
of your splendid work
Recalls Another Corner Stone.
1T is not inappropriate at this time to
recall another historic corner stone laying
in witch the President of the United States
participated. On the 18th day of Septem-
Der, 1893. with President George Washlng
ton-himself a member of the Masonic
neutrality-suspicious. the corner stone
of the National Capitol was placed IN posi-
ton with Masonic rites. On that eVentful
day. more than century ago. mucn was
said as to the future greatness or the
United States and of the capital; and yet
even the widest Imagination did not ana
could not then have prophesied the conoi-
lions which surround US today during the
stretch of years between Washington and
Roosevelt a nation has been nodded. Sur
yiving the stress of internecine strife and
successfully contending against foreign IN
vasion, it has grown into "orla po"el'
whose flag waves triumphant on every sea.
Never before were We SO proud OF our
American citizenship AS we are today, ana
we add to our national pride the conscious
ness that we are citizens of the national
capital Washington, the heart of the ma
ton has shared in the republics marvellous
progress, but it is matter OF peculiar
pride that our advancement has been es-
pecially marked along lines which concern
the betterment of social conditions and the
appreciation of all that is beautiful ana ar
tistic in the development OF city. here
indeed those higher ideals which are IN
culcated in Masonic teaching are conunu-
ally before us, nor is 1t too much to say
that the reputation which Washington has
achieved as a city wherein respect LOT law
and order is manifested in its highest de-
gree and wherein every good work is up
held by public sentiment is due in appre-
cable degree to the impress or your OF
ganization during the many years. rms
influence is the leaven which has leaVened
the whole lump. This city stands today
as a typical municipality among all others
for its charity and humanity.
Providing for the Poor.
I'm season and out of season the au-
thorities and the public strive to improve
the lot of their fellow-men, expanding large
sums in providing for the poor and the un-
is the cardinal
creed of your organization, so we find re-
fiected in official action and in private be-
neyolence your sympathetic and upnftlng
spirit Surely it is no exaggeratlon to say
that the prevalence of this feeling is IN
large measure due to the fact that Masonic
citizenship Is 80 universally represented in
our population. If we add that the city
owes to you debt for thus stimulating the
sentiment of genuine humanity we are SIM
ply rendering 10 you the trfbute winch you
have SO richly earned.
But there is another point OF view Whlch
can properly be emphasized on this occa-
sion Within the past few years great I'M
dertakings have been inaugurated In WASH
ington We are Witnessing even now the
erection of massive buildings to accommo-
date increased railroad traffic, to typify the
growth and glory of the nation, 10 keep
pace with the development of our financial
institutions Greater than any of these,
however will be the editce of which the
corner stone is laid today. 1t will be great
er than the martS OF the money changers'
greater than the sculptured walls OF mar
BILE which picture the story OF natlonai
progress, greater than any structure when
commerce may claim for its own, because
IL will stand forever as a monument to the
brotherhood of man. With this appreciation
of it's high and lofty purpose and in rever-
ent gratitude for the fact that love of hui
mainly is still genuine and vital force,
notwithstanding the materialistc tendency
of the age, we invest with every character
istic of dignity and regard the impressive
ceremony of today.
History of the Temple.
Souvenir booklets were presented to those
on the grandstands and to many of those
who were massed about New York avenue
and 18th street, at the site of the new
temple.
The pamphlet prepared under authority
OF President Small, concerning the history
of the temple, which was deposited in
the corner stone gave the following account
of the work of temple-building and the
temple itself:
The initiatory step looking to the build
| ing OF a new Masonic Temple was taken
in Columbia Commandery, No 2, X. T., of
| this Jurisdiction on February 8. 1897, when,
4 for February IL following, for the purpose
| Of considering the proposition to build a
new temple. The result of this conclave
was the unanimous adoption of a reso-
| luton to the effect that a committee OF
| five be appointed by the eminent COM
| mander to consider the question. and to this
| end invite the cooperation of other Masonic
| bodies Of this Jurisdiction through such