The Washington herald., 1911-10-19


| were principals in the ritual Of the SYM
bolic order. The upper seats were taken
in turn by the visiting grand lodges,
wearing the purple and white aprons; !;
the knights of various grand command
cries. and last of all the Supreme Coun-
ell OF the Scottish Rite, wearing the
brilliant carmine aprons and badges of
the order.
Rev. William 7. Snyder, a thirty-sec-
ond degree Mason, stepped beside the
corner stone md pronounced the invo-
cation. Then. while the final response Of
Masonry, so Oe It," sounded through
the autumn stiffness, the Masonic Band
/ sounded the prelude to Bucks ''Te
Deum," and the Scottish Rite Choir rem
dered the impressive hymn.
Mr.. Richardson's Address.
The address of Sovereign Commander
Richardson was Orief. He commented
on the difference between the two great
branches Of Masonry. the Scottish and
the symbolic, and referred to the fact
that in this country the two have prac-
tically become one in sentiment. He
then sketched a history of Scottish Rite
Masonry from the time the first collec-
ton of degrees vas made in 1852, down
to the present time when twenty-seven
supreme councils are found throughout
the entire civilized world.
Two years ago." hc concluded, the
Supreme Council decided that this temple
should be built. We have begun the
work and within year and half this
magnificent building Will rear its head in
a part Of the city already beautiful. l
hope I will live to see the day when the
'Appan Way Of America'-our Avenue of
Presidents-will be beautif1ed by the
structure that is forever to be the home
of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite
Masonry
Grand Master KEEPER.
Grand Master KEEPER, holding aloft a
small golden trowel. announced that it
was the one with which the corner stone
of the National Capitol was laid more
than 100 years ago. This trowel. he ex-
planned, was the property of Potomac
Lodge, No. 8. Of this city, which had
loaned il for the occasion. Next he raised
aloft the gavel which George Washington
had used when he was master of Masons
in Alexandra.
The plumb. square, and level, imple-
ments required by Masonry in the laying
of a corner stone, were presented to Mr..
KEEPER by John Russell Pope, who de-
signed the plans for the new temple.
Lodge stepped forward. the ritual OF SYM
bolic Masonry was performed. At the
conclusion the Masons on the platform
arose and. with arms upraised, gave the
sign of grand honors."
As the ceremony closed the entire as
sembly, led by the choir. sang the hymn,
The Corner Stone" composed by ]. NJ.
Neale, for the occasion.
Rabbi Simon Speaks.
Rev Abram Simon. who was introduced
as the speaker Of the afternoon. said, in
part:
Masonry is entering on its architec-
tural stage. America is dotted with
handsome monuments Of the builders
art and our crafts symbolism. Here
Masonry will have its most eloquent
tongue Here the Orient and the Occt-
dent will look into eacn others eyes and
find the soul Of fraternity reflected
therein. Here the Parthenon OF Masonry
will stand securely on the Acropolis OF
democracy.
Here our new temple will maintain
a cordial fellowship with the nation s
Capitol and the Congressional Library. |
harmonizing with them in beauty of |
outline in the passion OF patriotism, |
and in the power of education. This !
building will be indebted to the world .
of culture. To JUdea. Greece, and As
syria, to Egypt, India and Europe, l
hear il calling Give me your treas
ures Of religion. and art, your towers of
beauty and testaments OF holiness. your
pyramids of mystery and prophecies
n revelation, your romance, and your
ra ationansm, and I will work them in
fair colors and build them into grace
full unity on this Plymouth Rock OF
equality"
The March Of Our Nation sung by
the choir. preceded the address of the |
Rev. Earle Wlfey. pastor of Vermont
Avenue Christian Church, who con- /
graduated Masons upon the success
which had attended their plan to erect
a national temple. He referred to the
helping hand" of the order, and con-
,luded with a picture of the time when
Gentle and Jew, Christian and pagan"
should be brought together, with all diff
'erences forgotten. II
The benediction was pronounced by
Rev. Richard P. Williams. II