The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Masonic Lodge ancient
Rites Mark Occasion
Continued from page u

since early summer making arrange
ments for the event.
Two Hour Ceremony
The parade moved a few minutes
after 2:30 o'clock and the entire
ceremony scheduled for two hours
was concluded at AIS when with
the National Guardsmen standing
rigidly at attention the assembled
audience stood and sang The Star
Spangled Banner with fervor that
formed fitting conclusion of a
memorable occasion.
Site of the postoffice building was
ablaze with the national colors. The
place which twenty-four hours pre-
viously had presented the usual
spectacle of a building under con-
struction was transformed for the
afternoon with flags and bunting.
Concrete poured several days be-
fore for the first floor, formed the
speakers stand with those partici-
pating in the program and officers
of the Bluffton lodge seated in the
foreground near the cornerstone.
| Back of them was erected bank
of bleacher seats for members OF the
lodge fanked on either side by the
Bluffton high school band directed by
Prof. Sidney Hauenstein and the
Findlay Masonic chorus directed by
Russell Barnhill.
Program
| Bluffton's civic interests were rep
resented in the opening of the pro-
gram with the invocation by Rev.
J. A. Weed president of the Bluffton
Ministerial association following
which was the address of welcome
by Mayor w. A. Howe. The re-
sponse was given by the presiding
officer Forrest L. Steinman, chair
man of the Masonic general COM
mittee on arrangements and past
commander of the Findlay Knights
Templar.
C. G. Coburn, acting Grand Mar
shall, opened the ritualistic cere-
monies on the program announcing
the invocation by Rev. w. L. Har-
mony of Findlay, pastor of Bluffton
Lutheran church, representing the
Right Worshipful Grand Chaplain.
Presentation of the trowel was
made by G. r. Bogart, acting master
of the Bluffton lodge, to Charles
Wilson of Ada, deputy grand master,
representing Dillon Crist of ALI
ance, Grand Master of the Ohio
Masonic order who was unable to
be present.
Deputy Master Lays Stone
Ralph Stearns, representing the
Grand Treasurer, announced the con-
tents of the copper box to be de-
posted within the cornerstone fol-
lowing which the stone was laid ir
place by Deputy Grand Master
Wilson.
Ceremony of the conservation Of
| the stone with corn, wine and oil, to.
gether with the testing of the stone
by the traditional tools of operative
masons was in charge of Deputy
Wilson representing Grand Master
Crist, together with DR.. B. r. Herr
ing, Chas. Alderman and Stanley
Basinger representing state dignitar-
les.
The ritualistic service was closed
with the invocation of conservation
| by Deputy Wilson.
Postoffice Department Speaker
Attorney Francis Durbin of Lima
Bluffton city solicitor, opened the
final part of the program with the
introduction of John E. Lamiell, di-
rector of the division of Information.
al Postal eervice at Washington who
in an address presented compre.
oensive review of the growth anC
development of the postal service
thruout the nation and Bluffton ir
particular. The speaker congratu.
lated the town on the new federal
building and brought with him the
well wishes of the postoffice depart.
ment.
| Ed r. Reichenbach, Bluffton post.
master, speaking in behalf of the
local postotfice personnel thanked al
who had assisted in making the
occasion the success that it was anc
acknowledged the widespread public
interest manifested on the construc
tion of the new building.
The program was brought to {
close with the benediction by Rev
H. T. Unruh, representing Blufftor
college.
Musical selections were interspers
ed thruout the program by the Bluff
ton high school band and the Findla,
Masonic chorus.