Evening star., 1922-09-02
WASHINGTON GAVEL
is USED BY MASONS
Historic Instrument Brought
Out for Laying of Cor
ner Stone Here.
RITES ARE IMPRESSIVE
Grand Master Coombs 0ficiates at
Ceremony-Armstrong Tells
Plans for Temple.

The gaveI used by George Washing
4ton in laying the corner stone of the
Capitol of the United States was used
to tap in place the corner stone Tor
the new temple of the East Gate
Lodge, No. "a. +. A. a. NJ, amid other
impressive cerem9nies on the site OF
the building at Rhode Island and
Mills avenues northeast yesterday
afternoon. The stone was laid by
Grand Master Charles Cyrus Coombs.
who conducted the rites which nave
been handed down since the birth OF
Freemasonry.
Mr.. Coombs called upon A. W:
Johnston. secretary of the Grand
Lodge, to place in the stone such ar
ticles as had been deemed appropri-
ate. Among these articles were the
Masonic Code of the District of Colum- :
bia, proceedings of the Grand Lodge
of 1921, Masonic calendar l922, pS
laws of the East Gate Lodge, No; "a.
and a copy of the charter OF the lodge
a copy of the NeiShborhood News
copy of the program for the laying
of the stone, and extract of The Even
ing Star of August 81, 1922; photo
gravure picture of the Masters AS
ISOLATION a copy of the Washington
Herald of September /. 1922, and a
Chapter, No. u, of the Eastern Star.
Masters Test Stone.
When the stone was in place Grand
Master Coombs scattered corn anu
poured wine and oil over the top OF IT,
which is emblematic OF the refresh
ments to be received for the per-
formance of duty.
Three members OF the Grand Lodge
tested the stone to see if it was
square, level and plumb and 1t was
found to meet these qualifications.
Kenneth P Armstrong, master of
the East Gate Lodge, told of the hard
work and sacrifice by the members
of the lodge in order to get the TEN .
pie started and said that section OF
Washington. was one of the main en-
frances that guard the capital ana
that the temple should be erected 10
guard the marking point.
Representative B. G. Lowry of MIS-
sissippi gave an address. choosing as
his subject Unity and Community
in which he mentioned love and tne
spirit of unity and community, the
three things which go to make ii,e
worth while, saying, Imagine What
this world would be if all of us could
come here fully matured and i've
lives to ourselves without feeling the
spirit of community and that of unity
and love for our fellow man.
Omcers of Lodge.
Prayer and benediction were deiiv-
cred by Rev. John c. Palmer, grand
chaplain.
The Scottish Rite choir, led by wal
ter Humphrey. furnished music.
Officers of the lodge are: Kenneth
p Armstrong, master; Charles X
Allen, senior warden; La Monte X.
Johnson. Junior warden; David g.
Perry, p. NJ, secretary; T. Homer
Hall. P. NJ, treasurer; Thomas l.
Miller, senior deacon; Harry A.
Strong, junior deacon; Arthur Carson,
senior steward: Emmett l. Rudd
junior steward: Chas w. Keil, P. NJ.
master Of ceremonies: Rev. Walter F.
Eagleson, chaplain; Edward A
Krouse, tiler.
Those on the building com
mittee: Conrad NJ. CLANCY, chair
man; Charles r. Allen: William r.
Coon; Wilfred B. Putnam; Arthur S.
Henderson, P. NJ; T. Homer Hall, P.
NJ; Gordon Cameron; Henry Brewood,
secretary.
Trustees: William r. Coon, Con-
rad NJ. Chaney. Arthur s. Henderson.
Richard Gordon Deacon is arcsitect
Of the building.