The San Francisco call., 1910-07-18
1900 SEE LAYING
OF CORNERSTONE
High Officers of Knights OF Py=
tfias Take Part in the
Ceremonies
Governor Gillett Delivers Ora
ton of Day to His Fellow
L0dgemen

| iStic program, the knights of PythiaS,
in the presence of more than 1900 per-
sons, yesterday laid the cornerstone of
the Knights of Pythias castle, to be
erected at Hermann and Valencia
streets. Governor Gillett delivered the
Grafton of the day..
The ceremonies of the afternoon
| opened at the Fairmont hotel, where
Governor Gillett, a member of the or
der, was met by the delegation of grand
| officers and escorted by FIVE automo-
biles to the junction of Van Ness ave-
| nue. and Market street. -Four compa-
nies of the uniform rank of the Knights
of Pythias and a platoon of police stood
at salute. Preceded by band, they
then escorted the governor, Mayor P. H.
Mccarthy and the grand officers to the
| building site.
| The cornerstone laying was on the
Hermann street side of the partly con-
structed building. A platform draped
| in the national colers had been provided
with seats for hundreds of guests
| A. j. Bullerdieck, chancellor COM
mander opened proceedings with the
| introduction of D. J. Crowley, P. G. c..
as acting chairman, to take the place
| of Charles Milly, president of the
knights of Pythias castle association,
who was unab to be present.
| ARCHITECT QUESTIONED
In his opening speech Crowley con-
graduated the subscribers and men,
bers on the building that was shortly
to crown their efforts. The strength
of the building he compared to that of
a chain and its weakest link, and, call
ing the architect forward. he asked
about the material used, it's strength
and durability and the manner in which
the work was done. These were an
swered aloud, forming a unique feature
Of the ceremony.
Judge George e. Church of the supe-
rior court of Fresno, past grand chan
cellor, invoked blessing that the build
ing may endure long and that the
live and be honored
The three principles on which the
order is founded-benevolence, friend
ship and cha rity-were spoken of by
James r. Sloan, grand master of the
exchequer; Walter d. Wagner, acting
grand vice chancellor, and II. Schaffner,
grand keeper of records and seal.
II. Schaffner then read a list of the
articles to go into the cornerstone,
which included copies of documents of
the lodges of the city, duplicates of
membership rolls, list of past and pres
ent oflcerS, copies OF the daily press
and coins and stamps.
America" was sung by the assem-
bled people and then Rev. William c.
Bailey pronounced the Invocation. He
said In part:
May this building stand through
ages, monument to the great love
between men, where brave knights may
ever gather for the defense of their
country and the uplifting of their fell
low man..
OFFICERS OFFICIATE
Chairman Crowley officially laid the
cornerstone. assisted by the officers of
the grand lodge, who gathered on the
platform These were: B. r. Bledsoe,
G. V. c.; j. A. Driff1ll, G. p; Herman
Schaffner, G. K. r. S.; James r. Sloan,
G. NJ. E.; NJ. j. Knox, G. NJ A; Cor
nelius Verma son, G. L. G.; J. II. John
ston, G. O. c.; Herman c. Fry, H. w.
Braughton, j. J. Maggie, Robert +.
Burns, Charles f. McGlashan, Brad V.
Sargent.
When the present day mementos
had been placed in the receptacle and
this closed. J. C. Lahmeyer spread the
mortar with a silver trowel, put a
spray of myrtle in the cavity and
poured wine and oil upon the whole.
Acting Grand Chancellor Crowley
then advanced and said:
Now, by virtue of the power and
nae d II me c6ary and IN ahd hd
bcnevolence, l declare this corner
stone we'll and truly laid, in con-
formity with the rites and usageS
of the order of knights of Pythias.
May this structure be as strong
and enduring as the principles upon
which our order is founded; may
ea beat in in va vain against its battle
nents; may its portals be ever open
to the worthy and may Gods bless
ing abide with the brotherhood to
whose use it is now dedicated.
Paying a glowing tribute to his abil-
ity as a public speaker. Chairman
Crowley introduced Governor Gillett
Prolonged applause greeted the gov
ernor. He said in part:
On this site a,building will stand
of which this city may well be
ruau: true c:itiIenship. tG This it'e great order @
that teaches patriotism and prac
= tees charity was born during the
struggle that threatened to rive
asunder our great country, 1t was
conceived with a view to maintain
ing the government, upholding the
constitution and instiling that
to be in the breast of every man
that lives in republic like ours
The great friendship bond that
that is demonstrated in a thousand
different and happy. ways is too
great to be described; it spans and
links the country, yet 1T can not be
told for it can not be understood
We know what 1t means, for we
feel 1t.
Mayor p H. Mccarthy, representing
the city, spoke briefly and in terms of
praise of the work the order had done
to help make the conditions in San
Francisco better after the fire. He said
that no other order had worked harder
in the interest of the city.
The officers of the uniform rank
present were: Colonel T. A. Nerney
Colonel Dan Saylor. Major F. L. Peab-
bIes, Lieutenant E. Ulman. The COM
panies were: Phoenix No. 2, San Mateo
No. II, Mckinley No. 3, San Francisco
No. Sc.
The building committee is: Fred
Eggers chairman, Charles Mill Milly
E. M Coffey, K. Winters, NJ. A. Nathan,
d. W. Saylor, Leo Heringhi.
Walter C. Graves was master of GER
emonies Officers of the board of di-