The Washington times., 1923-06-05
Capitol Itself Has Had Two
Cornerstone Layings, and
Ritual Was Used i'm Each
Instance, Record Shows

FALL, at Pennsylvania avenue and
Fourth street southeast, was laid.
It was scheduled for the 23rd,
but was postponed because of in
clement weather. Naval Lodge Is
one of the older lodges in this
Jurisdiction, and tradition tells US
that during that time when the
anti-Masonic party was predomi-
nant the members of the lodge
met in secrecy in the home of
the commandant of the Navy
Yard. 1t was also this lodge which
assembled at 10 o'clock one mid
winters night, the earth covered
with snow, to pay their last re-
spects to a brother who had died
of smallpox, and whose body, &C
cording to the sanitary regulations
of that time, must be disposed
of Immediately. This Is the build
in which that lodge still meets.
NEW TEMPLE BUILT.
On June 8, 1907, the corner
stone Of the New Masonic Temple
at Thirteenth street and New
York avenue was laid. There
were many out-of-town lodges as
sembled in Washington for the
occasion. The Marine Band was
in attendance, and President
Roosevelt, a member Of the fra
ternity, addressed the audience.
His speech was very forceful, as
his generally were, and his moral
was that service should be first
given nearby before we go else
where to render 1t.
To illustrate this, he told the
: story of the son Of the widow,
who sat in front Of the CRATE,
bemoaning the fact that there
was no large conflagration so
that he might rescue many peo-
pie. His mother, overhearing
him, told him that no buildings
were on fire, but that he should
go out and bring in some fire
wood for her If he wanted to help.
SCOTTISH RITE TEMPLE.
In 1911, two Masonic meeting
places were started with corner
stone Iayings. The first, on June
10, was for hall for King David
Lodge, at Twelfth and Monroe
streets northeast, and the other
for the Scottish Rite Temple, at
Sixteenth and S streets north
west. This was attended by the
largest number of Freemasons
ever congregated in the District
Of Columbia. It was worthy of
this attention, for the architect,
John Russell Pope, designed a
building worthy Of the craft.
It's classic interior and Egyptian
exterior blend into perfect
whole, which truly makes US be-
lieve that architecture is, in the
words of the poet, frozen
poetry"
Vice President Marshall, a MEM
Der of the order, was present at
the laying of the cornerstone Of
the hall for Myron III Parker
Lodge. on Eighth street north
east, between e and F streets.
The last Masonic temple to be
erected in the District is that of
East Gate Lodge. This was laid
September 1. 1922, at Rhode
Island and Mills avenues north
east.
Places of Worship
? THERE are many churches, of
all denominations, in Wash
ington, and the greater number
OF the Protestant assembly houses,
as well as some Of the syna-
gogues, were erected on Masonic
ally laid cornerstones.
The first church in the District
to be thus honored was st. Johns
Episcopal Church, which still
stands, though much altered, at
Sixteenth and H streets north
west. In the proceedings Of the
grand lodge for the year 1915 It
is described as "a new church
for the Episcopal Society,"" its
location being given as lying
north Of the house assigned for
the President Of the United
States''-nothing more or less
than the dignified Executive Man.
sion, lovingly called the White
House.
Many prominent persons have
been attendants at this church.