Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-20
TENlEYTOWN'S MASONIC HALL
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF
THE NEW BUILDING,
Ceremony Performed by the Officers
of the Grand Lodge of the Dis
trict Yesterday Afternoon.

The corner stone of the new Masonic
Hall now In course of erection by Will
liam r. Singleton Lodge. No. So F. A. A.
M. In Tenleytown, was laid yesterday aft
ernoon by Grand Master Augustus B.
Coolidge, assisted by the other officers of
the Grand Lodge of Masons of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The Grand Lodge was formally opened
in the present hall of William R. Single
ton Lodge, after which the procession
moved to the foundation of the new hall
on Wisconsin avenue between Grant road
and Chesapeake street.
The first story of the building had been
erected and seats were provided on the
temporary floor for the Grand Lodge Of
fcers and the spectators.
The Ceremonies
The corner stone at the northeast end of
the building was suspended over it's des-
tined resting place and the numerous ar
ticles to be deposited in 1t were brought
forward and put in place by the proper
officers, after which was performed the
ceremony of amounting the stone with
corn, wine and oil. The stone was then
lowered into it's place and the mortar was
spread by Grand Master Coolidge, as
sisted by Curtis Smith. master Of Will
liam r. Singleton Lodge.
The opening prayer was delivered by
Rev. George c. F. Bratenahl. Mr.. Smith,
the master of the lodge, made brief adj
dress, In which he recounted the efforts
made by the lodge to obtain a permanent
home, eliminating in the ceremony which
they were there then to perform.
Grand Chaplain ]. Russell Verbrycke.
- fI0 49,
blessing of heaven and the great master
builder on the undertaking. Grand Mas
ter Coolidge made an address praising
William r. Singleton Lodge for it's work
in laying the foundation Of the temple.
saying that the whole Masonic fraternity
was interested in the work of a lodge
bearing the name of a man whom Ma
sonry could not too highly honor.
The address Of the day was delivered by
Rev. E. H. Smith Of Baltimore. He was
introduced by Master Curtis Smith as a
Mason who had travelled in many lands
and who had brought back to this country
stones from the quarries that furnished
the rock for King Solomons temple. The
speaker extolled the principles of Masonry
and read an extract from a letter of
George Washington. dated 1870, in which
he Endorsed Masonry as making for better
public and private life, for purity and for
virtue.
Music was furnished by a quartet COM
posed OF y. waiter humphrey, j.. Henry
Kaiser. George v. Blackeney and Alexan-
der Mosher They sang several selec-
lions during the ceremonies, closing with
abide With Me-
1t is expected that the new Masonic hall
will be completed in February. 1t will be
of red brick. stone trimmed, and will cost
about $4,000.
Officiating Officers.
The officers Of the Grand Lodge who
conducted the ceremony were Augustus B.
Coolidge, grand master; Henry X. Simp-
son, deputy grand master; George C. ODER,
senior grand warden; Frank b. Curtis,
acting junior. grand warden; A. w. John
ston, grand secretary: James A. Sample,
grand treasurer: William ]. Acker acting
grand lecturer: Rev. ]. Russell Verbrycke,
jr., grand chaplain; Charles T. Lindsey,
acting grand marshal; Theodore Friebus,
acting senior grand deacon; T. John New
ton, junior grand deacon; George w.
Smith, acting grand swordbearer; John F.
Collins, acting grand pursuivant; Edison
Phillips, acting senior grand steward;
Lem Towers, junior grand steward, and
Warren c. Bickford. grand tiler.
The officers of VIM. r. Singleton Lodge
No. 80, are:
Master. c. M. Smith; senior warden. ].
H. Robey; junior warden, F. w. Parks;
secretary, r. o. McKnew: treasurer, Eli
Riley: senior deacon, c. B. Tully; junior
deacon, j. H. Larribee; senior steward, E.
N. Riley; junior steward, George Walker.