Evening star., 1947-04-27
By John CIusett Proctor

Baltimore Band, a great compli-
ment, truly.
THE column moved down Four
and-a-half street to Pennsylvania
avenue, then up the Avenue tc
Seventh street, up Seventh to E
up E to Eleventh, up Eleventh to
F, and thence on F to the presi-
dental mansion, where the Presi-
dent. heads of departments, diplo-
matte corps. ETC., were received into
the line. The entire column then
moved to Pennsylvania avenue and
Twelfth street to the site of the
Smithsonian Institution.
! Saluted the President.
The military was then formed
in line on the south side Of the
site and the President, heads of de-
partments, diplomatic corps, re-
gents, Mayor and corporation ol
Washington, etc. passed in front
receiving their salute, and repaired
TO an elevated platform erected for
the occasion, near the cornerstone
and beautifully arched and deco
rated with festoons and wreaths OF
flowers and evergreens."
The column then opened to the
right and left, and the Masonic
bodies, preceded by the grand mas
ter Of the District of Columbia
passed up the line to the corner
stone.
The Masonic ceremonies were
then performed as follows:
Proclamation for silence having
been made by the grand marshal
"B. B. French, Esq, the grand
master, accompanied by James Page
Esq, the grand master of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and
Charles Gilman, Esq, the grand
master of the Grand Lodge oi
Maryland, took his stand at the
cornerstone, and, having announced
the object of the meeting, called
upon the grand chaplain of the
Grand Lodge of Maryland, Brothe:
McJilton, to address the throne
of grace"
Cornerstone Location in Doubt.
| Of course, they had to deposit a
number of things in the corner
stone then, Just as they do today
and these included:
The gold and silver coins of the
! United States. report of the Com
lmittee on Organization, Constitu-
i ton of the United States, the New
I Testament, Declaration of Inde-
Ependence, Congressional Directory
for 1847, bulletins of the Nationa.
/ Institute, report of the first Ma
tional Fair at Washington, report OF
the United States agent appointed
to receive the legacy of James
Smithson, medal portrait Of James
Smithson, reports of the commits
sioner of patents, journal of the
proceedings of the Board of Regents
1846, and engraved plate, with an
inscription.
With all this ceremony, however
no one today can tell just where the
cornerstone of the building is To-
Acated. But, since the east end o1
the building was completed first, il
may be assumed to be in that part
of the structure, and since the cor
nerstone was laid under Masonic
auspices it is quite likely they laio
| it in the northeast corner, as is the
present custom of the craft.
Plans Follow Church Style.
But in this respect a doubt is
introduced, for, as is well known
the cornerstone of the north wing
of the Capitol Building, laid under
similar auspices, was placed in the
southeast corner, and so, actually
it may be in the northeast corner
and it may be in the southeast cor
ner, so far as any one knows, and
search of the public buildings here
would quite likely disclose the same
lack OF information as to the exact
location of their respective corner
stones. Evidently it was not a very
elaborate affair, for its cost is put
down at only SO.
| In the selection of the stone for