The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-08-17
MASONIC TEMPLE
CORNER STONE
SERVICES
Impressive Exercises BY Grand
Lodge OF Vermont.
MANY MASONS PRESENT
Presentation Address Delivered BY
the Grand Master, II. L. Ballou
of Chester

The new Masonic temple on Main
street was formally dedicated to Free
masonry yesterday afternoon, when,
with the impressive service of the in
'titution, the cornerstone was laid
by the Grand Lodge of Vermont. The
ceremony was performed in the pres
ence of about 300 brother Masons and
A large gathering of local people and
many visitors. Before the dedicatory
exercises in the afternoon a recep-
ton was rendered to Gov. John A.
Mead and his staff in the old Mason.
lie ball on Main street.
The following officers of the Grand
Lodge were present: Grand Master,
Henry l.. Ballou. of Chester; Deputy
Grand Master, Il. S. Weston. of New
Haven; Grand Senior Warden. c. H..
Darling of Burlington; Grand Junior
Warden, III. j, Stannard, of Barton
Grand Treasurer, c. W. Whitcomb of
Proctorsville; Grand Secretary, II. II.
Ross, of Rutland, Grand Lecturer, D.
A. Elliott of White River Junction /;
Grand Junior Deacon. f. Q. Wood
worth, OF Arlington; Grand Chaplain,
Rev. A. J. Hough, of Proctorsyille;
Assistant Grand Chaplain, Rev. w. j.
Ballou of Ludlow; Grand Marshal, j
Il. Piddock Of Saxtons River; Grand
Senior Steward, Albert Killam of Bur.
lington; Grand Tyler, Henry Bryant
OF St Adams.
The presence of Deputy Grand Mas
ter of the United States, who was ex
pected. was prevented because of the
pressure of business.
After the opening exercises in the
lodge rooms, the Grand Lodge, es
corted by the Taft Commandery, the
st. Paul Commandery OF North AID
ans, the Mount Anthony lodge and a
number of visiting Masons, accompan
led by the Bennington City band and
Foggs band OF North Adams, proceed
ed to the new temple. In the process
sion the great lights of Masonry were
borne by Past Grand Master, II. l.
Stillson OF Bennington.
Upon arriving at the new temple
the Grand Lodge mounted the flag
draped platform to the corner stone
In addition to the Grand Lodge, Col
Olln Scott, who contributed the funds
for the building and John Norton. the
donor OF its site, were present, as wal
also II. l.. Stillson and +. +. Battles.
When prayer had been offered by
Grand Chaplain Rev. A. J. Hough, the
impressive service took place. After
using the square, the compass anC
the level to determine II the stone
was true and its annointment will
grain, wine and water II was dedicat
ed to Free Masonry. A list OF the
articles contained in the stone was
then read. The compass, square anC
level were then presented to Col. Olir
Scott who occupied the position o.
grand architect. After the presentat
ion the address Of the day was made
by Grand Master. II. l.. Ballou. Be
side the grand master the other Off
GERS who took part in the ceremony
were: Deputy Grand Master. E. A
Weston; Grand Senior Warden, c. II
Darling; Grand Junior Warden, II.
Stannard; Grand Chaplain. Rev. A.
Hough and Grand Marshal, ]. Il. Pid
dock.
The articles placed in the hermet
ically sealed copper box were:
/. Grand Lodge of Vermont, Pro
ceedings, 1911 with entire roll of Off
cers-membership
2. Grand Royal Arch Chapter, pro
/ Continued on last page)