Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-10-24
CORNERSTONE FOR
new COURT HOUSE
Masonic Fraternity in Charge Of
Ceremonies Saturday = Ex-Cov.
Montague Delivers Address.

In accordance with ancient
custom. and with the consent of
the grand lodge of Masons in
Virginia, the Masonic fraternity
of TaZewell county, lead by the
Tazewell Lodeg No. 62 formally
laid the cornerstone for the new
court house last Saturday morn
ing with imposing ceremonies.
The event, advertised for
several weeks, was attended by
a large gathering of Masons,
their wives and children, and
has cf the towns-people, and
people from adjacent communi-
ties. The Masons assembled in
the Lodge room at II O'Clock,
ard formed in line as prescribed
by the ritual, supported by the
Knights Templar of Clinch
Valley Commandery, No. 20.
They marched in regular order
to the court house across the
street, where a platform had
been erected, upon which the
ceremonies of laying the corner
stone occurred. Mr.. John S.
Bottimore acted as grand master,
and was in charge of the cere-
monies. Other officers of the
lodge performed the duties pre-
scribed to their different offices.
Or. w. S. Bullard, pastor of the
Christina church, offered pray
er at the conclusion of the cere-
monies, in which the blessings
of the Deity were invoked upon
all present, upon the builders of
the court house, upon those who
are to occupy it, and praying
especially that the house be de-
dicated to the services of the
Grand Master of all; that justice
and righteousness might prevail
therein.
Seated upon the platform were
the officers of the lodge; mem
bers of the building committee,
Board of Supervisors, super
intendent and bookkeeper of the
Falls City Construction Company
builders of the court house;
judge of the circuit court, Hon.
A. j. Montague, the speaker for
the occasion, and others. The
forms and ceremonies of laying
the stone were gone through
without incident to MARI the
solemnity of the occasion.
Deposited in the copper box,
which contained the articles
within the stone were the follow
ing:
Holy Bible, List of Officers
and Members of Tazewell Lodge
No. 62, List of Pastmasters of
Tazewell Lodge No. 62 from
January Fl, 1852 to present time,
List of Workmen Employed in
Erection of Building, Brief His
tory of Tazewell County Court
House, Brief History of Public
Schools of Tazewell County, two
Post Cards of Main Street, Taze-
well, Virginia, Post card view
of Court House before Remodel
ing, Post card view of Tazewell
High School Building, copies of
Clinch Valley News and Taze-
well Republican, one Confeder-
ate Flag, one United States Flag,
1913 penny, nickel, dime, 25c
piece, SOC piece, and one 1918
dollar, latest statements, Bank
of Clinch Valley and Tazewell
National Bank, list of County
Officers and Members of Bar,
list of Officers and Members of
Tazewell Chapter No. 43, o. E.
S., list of voters of Tazewell
County.
! After the ceremonies of laying
the cornerstone the lodge re-
formed in line and marched to
the high school chapel, where
the addresses were delivered.
The chapel was well filed.
Ex-Governor Montague, now
representing the Richmond dis
trict in Congress was introduced
by Hon. Fulton Kegley, Judge
of the Circuit Court of Tazewel]
county. Judge Kegley, who is
responsible in large measure
for the building of the court
house, spoke briefly, confirming
his remarks mainly to the .ad-
vantages enjoyed in this country
by the operations of the law.
Ex-Governor Montague, re-
membered in Tazewell as one OF
the States foremost citizens and
orators, spoke for about 4F
minutes, and held the rapt at.
tention of the audience. His
address embraced many of the