Evening journal., 1916-06-12
OUR OLD CITY HALL AND ITS WOULD-BE
MRECkERS

NREthEkS.
7 7 will be we'll for city Council and its Finance Com
mittee TO attempt to railroad the project to sell
the old City Hall and turn it to the tender
oies of the wreckor If undue haste
be displayed patriotic citizen who appreciates
the historical value Of the building may place OBJ
struction the track that will force a halt in the
proceedings.
Two excuses advanced for the Councimanic
desire to sell the old buildings and permit it to be de-
molished
One is that nothing Of historical value or interest
occurred there
The other is that the city needs the money that
will he realized from the sale
The first Of those grounds is unsound unless it also
be admitted that Wilmington itself has history that
is worth preserving.
The old City Hall built in 1898 It has been our
recognized civic centre for ia years
In It our municipal executives have been installed
and there they have exercised their official preroga-
tives.
In it our legislative bodies have met and done those
things which. in a municipal sense, have made VIII
mington what It Is today
In It countless receptions OF official nature and
countless hearings bearing upon questions involving
the citys prime interests have been held.
In distinguished visitors have been received in he
half Of the municipality, and from the front of it
countless professions have been reviewed
In short, IT, since 1908, Wilmington has had any
civic life that old City Hail. which certain of our
Councilmen esteem so lightly very heart.
It has stood through the War of 1912, the Mexican
War; the Civil War and the spanish-American War.
II has figured conspicuousy in local demonstrations
bearing upon those epooh-making struggles.
We think that IL the Councmen who are
to destroy the building will examine the records they
will discover that the real trouble is that they lack
in historical knowledge what the building possessse in
historical interest and value Wouldn't it be well for
them to read up before deciding what should he done
with a building that has been the centre Of our mu-
nicipal life for ia years?
All classes Of our citizens should resent the sug-
! eeson that the old building be destroyed. They
should support the contention that It be preserved
for posterity as independence Hall. Faneui Hail.
Carpenter Hall and many other buildings have been
preserved We imagine that in the old days there
were short-sighed persons who were more mercen-
airy than patriotic and sentimental who we're heartily
in favor Of wreckng those buildings There few
persons who would dare to suggest that they be
demolished to make for the march of trade And
so It will be with our old City Hail. II 1t be destroyed
It will lead TO immediate and future denunciauon and
regret II it he preserved 1t will lead to immediate
and future commendgton and satisfaction.
There Is one class Of citizens that should stand
as a unit against tho wrecking policy. We refer TO
the thousands Of who belong to the Masonic fra
ternity Our old City Hall the birth place and
the cradle OF the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, An
Client, Free ana Accepted MdaphS ol bedWdlt IL d0V
was the cradle Of some of the subordinate lodges and
/ figured when Masonic honors we're showered upon
! General Lafayette. his son, George Washington
Lafayette and his secretary, NJ Larasseur when they
visited this country following the Revolutionary War.
We find in tho Centennial proceedings OF the Della
ware Grand Lodge published in 1906. historical
sketch Of the Grand Lodge. 1t was written by L. II.
Jackson Past Deputy Grand Master. The period Gov
cred IS from 6, 1906, to June T. 1906 The arti
Gle is embelished with pictures of the old City Hall,
meeting place Of Grand Lodge 1906" and Of the pres
ent Masonic Temple, meeting place of Grand Lodge
1906" In that historical sketch find the follow
ing which bears vitality upon one phase Of the his
torc value of The old City Hall:
On Friday, the 6th day of June A. d. 1906 A. l.
| 5SO6 nine representatives OF a majority of these
lodges, four in number assembled by appointment al
| the Town Hall, in the Borough or wilmington, and
! opened a Grand Communication in due form, agree
ably 10 ancient usage with Worshpful Brother JESSE
| Green Past Master OF Lodge No. 81, IN the chair
| and Prother Thomas stockton. Worshpful Master Of
Lodge No a. acing as secretary Ihe names OF thes'
nine representatives of the four Lodges Nos. 81 SO
: a6 and a. were Jesse Green, Past Master of No 81
laurel Sussex county; John Grow, Worshiptul Mas
ter; Evan Thomas, Past Master, and Maxwell Bnes
Past Master all Of No 49, New Castle New Castle coun
ty; James Snow. Worshipiul Master OF NO 70 Newark
New Castle county; Thomas Stockton, Worshipful Mas
ter; John Sellers, Past Master, John Patterson fas
Master and James Tilton junior Warueh OF NO ~
! wilmington. New Castle county.
ON motion duly seconded, II was: "ResolVet
unanimously that the several Lodges Of Ancient Norl
Wasons In the state of Delaware here represented by
deputies properly authorized. consider that Tor TN
general benefit OF Masonry, they ought to form
| Grand Lodge within the said State; and do nov
| form and organize themselves into Grand Lodge
accordingly. 10 be known and distinguished by th
name and title of the Grand Lodge Of Delaware"
"On motion duly seconded Resolved, that Brothers
Crow. Thomas. Bnes. Stockton and Snow. be com
mittee 10 prepare a set Of Regulations for the govern
ment Of the Grand Lodge, and report the same to th
Grand Communication thereof
Adjourned, 20 meet at this place tomorrow morn
ing AZ nine o'clock"
The next record have is as follows
Grand Lodge OF Delaware. At a meeting Of the
members Of the Grand Lodge Of Delaware az the Tow
nan, Borough of Wilmington, June 7h. A. d. 1906. A
L. oeVo present, as yesterday. except Brother Zines
Also present Brothers Isaac Stevenson Past Master
] Edward Roche, Past Master. John Hedrick senio
warden and William Pluright. secretary Of No a.
"On motion, seconded, proceeded 10 the appoint
ment ~ Grand officers pro tempore and the follow,
ing officers were duly appointed
, Bro. Jesse Green, Norshipfu Grand Master
Evan ThnmaE. Senior Grind uara.r