Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22

stewards with wands
"Masons of the third degree.
"Wardens with truncheons.
Secretaries with tools of ONCE.
"Past masters with their regalia. -, ..
''TreaSurers with their jewels
"Band of music.
"Lodge No. % of Virginia, disposed in their
own order
Corn, wine and OIL
Grand Master p T. George Washington,
w. M No %, Virginia.
Grand sword bearer.
"The procession marched two abreast in the
greatest solemn dignity, with music playing
drums beating. coors flying and spectators re-
joicing from the Presidents square to the Cap
itol in the City Of Washington where the grand
marshal ordered halt and directed each file
in the procession to include two steps, one to
the right and one to the left, and faced each
other, which formed an hollow obong square,
through which the grand sword bearer led the
van, followed by the grand master P. T. on
the left, the President of the United States in
the center and the worshipful master of No.
%. Virginia, on the right. All the other orders
that composed the procession advanced in the
reverse of their order of march from the Presi-
dents square to the southeast corner of the
Capitol, and the Artillery filed off to a destined
ground to display their maneuvers and dis
charge their cannon, the President of the
United States the grand master p T. and wor-
shipful master of No. 90 taking their stand to
the east of hugh stone and all the craft
forming a circle westward stood short time in
awful order.
"The Artillery discharged volley
1.-THE grand marshal delivered the Commits
sioners large silver plate with an inscription
thereon. which the Commissioners ordered to
be read and was as follows:
"'ThiS southeast cornerstone of the Capitol
Of the United States of America, in the City
of Washington, was laid on the 18th day of
September 1888, in the thirteenth year Of
American independence, in the first year Of the
second term of the Presidency of George WASH
ington, whose virtues in the civil administra-
ton of his country have been so conspicuous
and beneficial as his military valor and pru-
dence have been useful in establishing her lib
critics. and in the year Of Masonry 5793. by the
President Of the United States, in concert with
the Grand Lodge of Maryland, several lodges
under its jurisdiction and Lodge No. % from
Alexandria, Va.
THOMAS JOHNSON,
DAVID STUART,
DANIEL CARROLL
Commissioners
JOSEPH CLARK,
"R w. G. NJ,
JAMES HOBAN.
STEPHEN HALLATE,
Architects.
COLLIN WILLIAMSON,
M Mason.
"Thc crtillery discharged q volley.
"Thc plate was then delivered to the PreSi-
dent. Who attended by the grand master p r.
and three most worshipful masters, descended
to the cavazion trench and deposed the plate
and laid it en- the cornerstone of the Capitol
OF the United States Of America, on which was
deposited corn. wine and OIL when the whole
congregation joined in reverential prayer, which
was succeeded by Masonic chanting honors
and volley from the Artillery.
"The President Of the United States and his
attendant brethren assembled from the cavazion
to the east of the cornerstone, and there the
grand master p. T., elevated on a triple rostrum,
delivered an Grafton fitting the occasion, which
was received with brotherly love and commen-
dation"
A 8 will be seen from this account; the actual
= part played by President Washington in
the laying Of the corner stone was of a ritual
tstic character in which he took part to the
fullest extent. Collin Williamson, q master
stonemason and a member of Federal Lodge
No. l. of this city, personally superintendent
the setting of the stone, and no doubt later
became persona non grata, for we find he was
dismissed for "ineficiency' on June 3, two
years later.
That Washington corporally placed the silver
plate upon the corner stone there can be no
question, for the record tells US: 1.-THE
Artillery discharged another .volley when the
plate was delivered to the President, who, at
tended by the grand master, pro tenn, and
three worshipful masters, deposited the plate
on the corner stone.
Just wilether this plate was riveted to the
stone or imbedded in cement or mortar is
q question the writer cannot answer though
one would assume that the latter course was
pursued The stone IS not visible today, and
1t is not likely that Architect David Lynn would
recommend to Congress the removal of q wall
tu,o tn GratifE thu calEiaSa&sx a.