Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-17
historic GAVEL USED
TO LAY CORNER STONE
Ceremonies ct New Evangelical
Lutheran Church Recall Days Of
George Washington.
T. John Newton, Grand Master Of
District Masons, Has Charge
Of Exercises.

The gold-mounted Masonic gavel used
by George Washington when. as a Ma
son. he laid the corner stone Of the United
States Capitol in 1898 made its public
appearance yesterday afternoon at the
ceremonies incident to the placing in po-
sftfon OF the corner stone of the new
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wisconsin
avenue and Volta place. Georgetown
This was the second appearance of
the famous gavel in connection with this
church. for a Mason laid the stone Of
the old edifice, now replaced, in 1867,
with the same gavel. Masonic bodies
have been identified with the history Of
this congregation since its inception, in
1863. when a few German Lutherans of
Georgetown. then small village. built a
log house OF worship. The corner is the
Oldest church site in Washington.
A large and interested gathering
watched the final placing and testing Of
the stone by the Grand Lodge of the
District OF Columbia, under the direction
OF Grand Master T. John Newton. The
Eathering included knights Templar.
officiating and visiting cIergymen ana
members OF the congregation of the
church.
Following a hymn by the congrega-
ton. Miss Margaret Kunkel. acting as
accompanist, kew. Charles F. Steck
pastor, of Epiphany Lutheran Church,
pronounced the Invocation and Mr.
Newton, most worshipluI grand master
OF the Grand Lodge, +. A. A. M, an
nounced the purpose of the gathering,
invoking the favor of God upon the un-
aertaklng as Supreme Grand Master of
Masons the world over. Prayer was
onered, by Rev. Paul r. Hickok, emf
nent grand plelate of the Grand Com
mandery, K. T., and grand chaplain of
the Grand Royal Arch Chaper of the
District.
Articles Placed in Stone.
As Grand Master Newton called forth
the names of the articles to be deposit
ed In the copper box in the hollow of
the stone, Arvine W. Johnston, grand
secretary, and James A. Sample, grand
treasurer, produced them. They were
then placed in the heavy metal recep-
tacie, which was afterward soldered so
tnat II was tightly Closed. These con-
sisted Of: The proceedings of the Grand
Lodge. F. A. A. NJ, for the year 1919:
the Masonic code of the District of CO.
nmoia: the Masonic Calendar of the
OF the Holy Bible: a copy of the Aues.
purg confession of Martin Luther. the
formula of government and discinline
and the constitution of the General sy-
Church in the United States; Luthers
small catechism; a copy of the history
OF the Evangelical Lutheran Church Of
georgetown; program of the days
and of various denomina tons. COMES
OF Two periodicals, the Lutheran Church
Work and the Lutheran Observer. and
COPIES OF the four Washington. daily
papers or September 16
Next, under the supervision of tho
master mason employed in the actual
construction of the building, the cor
ner stone was placed in position and
,ested. according TO the forms of the
Masonic order. and under the direction
OK the grand master, with square. with
level and with plumb, and received lis
nnal touch from Washington's payeI.
which Is now the property of Potomac
Lodge. No. 5. F. A A. NJ. and which
was lent for the occasion. The sides
were cemented to the level of the top
or the stone, the copper box was placed
IN position and covered with a slab
of stone, and finally, wine and oil were
poured and corn was sprinkled over
the top according to the age-long Gus
tom in Masonic ceremonies While
these things We're being done the
usual appropriate music was given by
the Masonic quartet, consisting of j.
Walter Humphrey, DIRECTOR: Charles
Il. Myers, Alexander Mosher and ].
Henry Kaiser.
Following short address by Grand
Master Newton. Charles T. Lindsey, r.
f., grand commander of the District
Knights Templar. voiced the greetings
of the organization represented in his
person to the Masons proper Mr.
Lindsey referred to the Masonic order
rs the mother of. the. Knights Templar
body. spoke of the pleasure their par
ticipation In the exercises afforded
them and conveyed their greetings to
Rev. Luther Hess Waring. pastor Of
the church. who acknowledged them on
behalf of his congregation.
New Page in Church History.
You are turning new page in
your church history that shall be
luminous one." said Rev. John c. Bow
ers of Gainesville. Nd. president Of
the Evangelicab Lutheran Synod of
Maryland, the principal speaker of the
day. in his address to the congrega-
tion of the church. This ceremony is
the beginning of the, realization of
your fondest hopes, and i extend to
you the Fluctuations of the synod of
Maryland on this occasion This corner
stone is witness of your faith in
Jesus Christ. Its very lettering tells
the news that here is to be built
church whose real corner stone Is the
Son of God"
The exercises closed with a hymn
by the congregation and visitors. and
the benediction by Rev William A.
Wade. pastor of st. Marks Lutheran
Church. On the platform were Revs
Waring, Steck, Bowers and Wade. and
among clergymen included in the audi
ence were Revs. J. L. KILLER of CAL
vary NJ. E. Church South, James T.
MARSHALL of the West Street Presbyte-
rian Church, Georgetown, and James
III. w. Blake. rector of Christ Episcopal
Church, Georgetown.
The committee in charge of the new
building consists of Rev. Luther Hess