The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-08

OF Richmond, Deputy Grand Secretary
j. Aston Cabell, of Richmond. Grand
Senior Deacon; Henry X. Field, OF
Alexandria, Grand Junior Deacon; II. b.
Lee, Charlottesville, Grand Chaplain
j. S. Woods, acting Grand Marshal;
II. T. Smith, Richmond, Grand Tyler.
Tansilps band rendered fine service,
and the large chorus choir, under the
direction Of Mr.. W. J. Phillips, ably
assisted by Mr.. II. X. Sweetzer, can
not be too highly praised. The odes
set to splendid old hymns were sung in
the most inspiring and impressive man
ner.
Below will be found a synopsis Of the
various speeches, which will be read
with interest.
Speech OF Prof. lowering.
Prof. A. b. Bowering, represent
ing the city. spoke as follows:
Mr. President. Ladies' and Gentle
men:
IL becomes my duty as well as
pleasure to welcome you to our city
TO asure you as best | may of the
sincerity OF that welcome on the
part OF the president OF the school,
the mayor OF the city. and all In au-
thority; indeed we desire you to
feel this day, and for this occasion
you are guests of the old city
OF Fredericksburg, but not a day
older than her reputation for hos
pitality, a heritage from the old
mother. the Old Dominion. Mr.
President. to blot out Freder-
icksburg with her glorious history
and forget or minimize her his
loric. immortal characters, Virginia
would suffer a greater loss by such
separation than treble the loss
sustained In the compulsory sew
erance OF her material possessions OF
the ~ w. border in lSG1-5.
Mr. President, by your invitation,
We have In our midst and In our
presence tho Grand Lodge OF Ma
sons OF the State OF Virginia The
occasion OF this visit is the laying
OF the cornerstone OF the AdminLstra
ton Building OF the State Normal
and Industrial School for Women.
This is a great honor to the State,
to the city and to you, Mr.. Pres
dent. We are informed that such a
service by the Grand Lodge Is In
frequent, though we have witnessed
the grand body. with solemn tread
and mourning habiliments conveying
their honored dead to the 81
lent tomb. In that instance II was
a burial-today. Most Worshipful
Grand Master, IL Is the celebration
OF birth, the inauguration OF a
life. To our city, and to this i'm
portant ritualistic office, we wei
come you. Indeed, we feel honored
0y your presence and desire to say
to Most Worshipful Grand Master
and officers OF the Grand Lodge OF
Virginia, welcome, thrice welcome
to and within tn Sc historic grounds
Mr.. President, We are told that
the stars in their courses fought
against Sisera," and we believe
that malevolent influence did pre-
vail on that occasion. But we be-
lieve in the friendly stars. | have
loved TO dwell on the thought that
the heavenly luminaries In past ages
looked down upon this particular
spot benignly. Fancy Canopus. the
fiery monster star in our southern
heavens, who is charged with inyad-
ing the Pleiades group OF beauti-
full Capella I'm the northern polar
heavens looking down upon us with
friendly interest. Coming down up
on us on the stream Of time, We be
hold the ship Argo sailing through
,nfnnfHnnf with
the sailing OF the three ships OF
that immortal discoverer. Christie
pher Columbus, thus announcing the
birth of a New World
And then there appeared In the
fullness of time a star, wonderful
star; its appearance marked the
advent OF the year Ammo Domini, di-
rectlng the Magi In their search
came and stood over where the
young child lay.
Then, do not consider the thought
axtravagant. nor the desire to look
upon the host Of luminaries in the
blue space above and consider them
ioss than friendly. for the "Heav-
ems declare the glory OF God and the
armament showtth his handiwork.
But time, like star, unhasting
unresting moves on. and we briefly
take up the terrestrial field. Freder
Ilcksburg and the adjacent section
above. we are told possess a deeper
historical and Legendary interes
than any locality In the State or pei
haps in the United States with the
single exception, 1t may be, OF VIII
liamsburg or jamestown.
Much OF interest could be said o
this old town. worthy historical
characters, incidents in their lives o.
decided interest, but We must b'
brief as possible.
For fifty years, including the yea
1850, Fredericksburg was the princi
pal depot OF trade for the five coun
ties, Orange. .Culpeper. Fauquier. Rap
pahannOck and Madison, and eyel
across the Blue Ridge And dur
ing this period on to the war be
tween the States, Fredericksburg
stood high in her educational facili
ties. AS the history of Fredericks
burg gives us details of several hun
dred years ago. 1t may not be amisi
to say that quite number now liy
ing remember with loving kindness
their former teachers just prior L
the war-Moncure, Buckners. Tchudl
Henry Temple, Rheinhart and Others
These were noble men. made their In
press upon the youth soon to be
come soldiers In the defence o.
their State.
We are standing here today, mod
esty suggests the above. Can
truthfully say, We? Yes, for here
In our presence Is the honored Gov
ernor OF the State,who was not on
ly a contemporary OF those days
but comrade in arms. ant
there sits Lit. st. Geo. Fitzhugh, ant
where is Col. Cole? | know he II
present, but Just now Invisible
Therefore, | can say we are stand
ing In the presence of objects anC
surroundings suggestive OF the grea
battle of 1862; the inhabitants o
this town surrendered their homes
and property to destruction rather
than yield them to the enemy. Blu
an Appomattox was reached and arr
were stacked and flags furled.
The youth OF the land now returns
to his home. What mighty changes
he behoIds. desolation everywher'
confronts him; all gone, but tha
indomitable spirit which made hin
the enduring soldier and is now Il
make him the successful and pros
porous citizen
How we'll he succeeded, lool
around and behold. Not only here