Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-04-26
Impressive Ceremony Participated in
by Large Number of
MasOns.
STATE GRAND OFFICERS HERE
Three to Four Hundred Masons and
Large Concourse of People Wit
ness Beautiful Ceremony
on Yesterday
Afternoon.

X%SlEN fee building in north
wv eastern Iowa was an
event of more than
ordinary Importance in Decorah YES
terday afternoon, and was partici-
pated in and witnessed by between
three and four hundred Masons of
this part of the state, Grand Mas
ter Frederick w. Craig of Des
Moines, Grand Secretary Newton r.
Parvin of Cedar Rapids, Past Grand
Master L. E. Fellows of Lansing.
Past Grand Chaplain H. H. Green
OF Decorah, and a large crowd of
citizens of Decorah and the sur
rounding territory.
1T was beautiful day, and more
people We're here than were expect
ed. Langridge Commandery of West
Union sent up large escort Of
knights Templar, who in their re-
splendent and dignified regalia form
ed fitting escort for the grand of
ticers, while from Elgin, Clermont,
Postyille, Ossian. Frankville, Cal
mar, Fort Atkinson, Cresco, Canton,
Burr Oak, Waukon. Ridgeway and
other points came scores and hun
dreds OF Master Masons, to assist in
the festivities.
AT two o'clock Grand Master Craig
opened Great Lights Lodge, No. 1S1
In emergent communication at the
Masonic Temple. The brethren then
marched to Water street, where the
escorting procession awaited them,
inefne following order:
p Decorah City Band.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Public School Children.
Decorah Fire Department.
Decorah City Council.
Escort, knights Templar.
Visiting Masons.
Great Lights Lodge, No. 1S1.
Grand Officers.
The procession moved west on
Water street to Mechanic, south to
Main, and east to the corner of Main
and Winnebago, the federal post
office site, where the Masons took
seats on the floor structure.
Grand Master Craig announced
that in conformity with the ancient
custom the Grand Lodge of Iowa
had been called in emergent COM
munication to lay this corner stone,
and. ordered that the stone be raised.
After prayer by Past Grand Chap
lain Rev. II. H. Green, male quar-
tette composed CT Messrs. d. H. Hill,
Ernest and Frank Christopher and
b. III. Adams sang an appropriate
selection. Then III. c. Hjerleid, act
ing as Grand Treasurer, presented
the copper casket to be encased in
the corner stone, and Grand Secre-
tary Newton R. Parvin of Cedar
Rapids announced it's contents,
which are: Bible, Masonic direc-
tory, program of Shrine meeting at
Dubuque, stamps, names of post
office employees, flag, coins of the
day, roster of Odd Fellows ledge,
names of fire department, w. C. t.
U. literature, names of county and
city officers, names of contractor,
superintendent. etc., copies of four
city papers, Chicago Tribune and
program of exercises. The casket
was then deposited in the stone, and
the stone lowered to its place, while
the quartette sang.
Then Past Grand Master L. E.
Fellows of Lansing applied the
square, e. r. Abbey acting as Sr.
Grand Warden the level. and VIM.
Headington as Jr. Grand Warden
the plumb, after which the stone
was declared to have been tested by
the proper implements of Masonry
and found to be well formed, true
and trusty and correctly laid. ac-
cording to the rules of the ancient
craft.
+. b. e. Bucknell, acting as Grand
Marshal, presented the elements OF
conservation, corn wine and oil
emblems of plenty. joy and peace
which were poured upon the stone
Then j. +. b. Portman, Master o.
Great Lights Lodge, covered tht
stone with large boquet or roses
after which it was consecrated D!
Grand Master Craig and the pubic
grand Ejnors given by all Mason'
in attendance. w. H. Barthell, act