The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-09
Thousands of Mas0ns Take
Part in Cornerstone
Ceremony Here.
HIGH STATE OFFICIALS
Grand Master Frank Johnson
of the Grand Lodge of
the State Officiates.

Another Kenosha dream started to
come true on Saturday afternoon when
the various Masonic organizations, of
Kenosha, aided by thousands of visit
ing Masons from all parts of south
eastern Wisconsin and northeastern
Illinois, laid, with the customary Mas
onic ceremony, the cornerstone OF the
100000 Masonic temple which is be-
ing erected at the southwest corner
of Deming and Chicago streets, over
looking Library park. The ceremony
brought to Kenosha one of the larg-
est gathering of Masons in the history
of the city, listed in the group being
many of the leaders of the fraternity
in Wisconsin and Illinois.
In charge of the ceremonies was
Grandmaster John L. Johnson OF BLACK
River Falls, Wis, and other Grand
lodge officers of the state, assisted by
Worshipful Master H. A. Yonk of the
Kenosha lodge and other officers OF
the local Masonic organizations.
Monster Parade Precedes Ceremony.
Preceding the ceremony was par
ade starting from Eichelman park and
proceeding through the Main street bus
mess district by a circuitous route to
the site of the new temple. In line
were delegations from many cities;
large delegations of Knights Templar
from Englewood and other Chicago
consistories, Milwaukee, Racine, Wau-
kegan, GAINESVILLE and other cities
marched in full uniform with the Ke-
nosha Knights Templar at the head OF
the procession. A feature of this sec
ton of the parade was the Knights
Templar band from Englewood.
Behind these came hundreds and
hundreds of Masons from Kenosha
first and also large delegations from
other cities. 1t is estimated that not
less than three thousand took part
in the parade and gathered at the tenn
pie site for the cornerstone laying
ceremonies.
An Impressive Ceremony.
Grand lodge officers carried on the
ceremonies which proved, prepared and
laid the Cornerstone, using the custom
airy Masonic ritualistic service for this.
The grand lodge officers for the occas-
ion were: Grand Master, Frank john
son, Black River Falls; Deputy Grand
Master, Charles F. Lamb, Madison; De-
putty Senior Warden, M. G. Gauss, Ke-
nosha; Deputy Junior Warden, Fred L.
Wright: Deputy Grand Treasurer, John
H. Corscott; Deputy Grand Secretary,
F. J. Clarke, Kenosha; Deputy Senior
Steward, Fred Cain, Kenosha; Deputy
Junior Steward, Oscar Johnson; De-
putty Senior Deacon, L. L. Vergil, Ke-
nosha; Deputy Junior Deacon, w. A.
Matzke, Kenosha; Grand Tiler, w. e.
Rotsch; Deputy Grand Chaplain, Rev
I. w. Corey, Kenosha; Grand Lecturer,
F. A. Marx, Kenosha.
In closing the ceremony, Grand Mas
ter johnson said:
eve, as lawful Masons, are engaged
in a great undertaking. We have sec
rets that cannot be divulged but are
lawful and honorable and not con-
trary to any of the laws of the land
Had they not been noble, there would
not have been SO many illustrious
names in the order. We are here to lay
the cornerstone of house which we
pray God will prosper until time shall
be no more"
Place Records in Cornerstone.
In a sealed copper box inside the
cornerstone were placed certain me-
mentoes and records. This included
copies of the constitution and bylaws
of the Kenosha Lodge No. At, Free and
Accepted Masons, and of the various
other Masonic bodies in the city to-
gether with membership rolls of each
of these orders. There were also coins
of the day, a copy of the program for
the day, copy of "The Kenosha Eve
ming News" and other documents.
Music during the ceremony and fol-
lowing it and the program was pleas
ingly rendered by the Wisconsin Gate
way Quartet and by the Knight Tenn
plar band of Engelwood.
Day Marks an Epoch.
"This day marks an epoch in the
history of Free Masonry in Kenosha
and in southern Wisconsin," said H.
A. Yonk, worshipful master of the Ke-
nosha lodge. at marks the culmina-
tion of hopes and desires of Masons
in this section of Wisconsin, and it
causes our hearts to swell with pride
and joy to behold the tribute of this
vast audience to the oldest and grand
est of all fraternities. Organized and
perpetuated through the necessities of
mankind, Masonry has grown hoary
with age but, founded upon the prin-
cipIes of truth, Eternal years of Gods
are hers and perennial youth is her
heritage and everlasting treasure. She
is the creator Of fraternalism and the
mother of organized benevolence and
charity.
"This great brotherhood has seen
the birth, growth and decay of king
doms, empires and dynasties and al
though for untold ages persecution,
intolerance, SANDER and misrepresen-
tation have followed the ancient craft,
it has survived and spread its doctrine
of liberty, equality and fraternity
throughout the civilized world.
Time for Rededication.
"Freemasonry believes in peace" he
continued, "believes in the divine prin-
ciples of love among men, and has
never made war upon any creed, church
or relip.on 1t has at all times stood
strictly on the defensive when attack
ed, and has maintained through all
time the right of men to think in
freedom, to speak in freedom and to
act in freedom. To these divine prin-
ciples it's devotees have devoted their
lives and as token Of such dedlca-
ton today the grand officers Of the
worshipful grand lodge have placed
the cornerstone of this mighty struc-
t1,ad