Evening star., 1947-04-27


stood for century in the
- Mall and which was a IA
miliar sight even to the fathers anc
grandfathers of the present genera.
ton, was laid on May /, 1847. with
considerable pomp and ceremony
The old National Intelligencer Of
that period gave it much space
saying in part: ~
Early in the morning the BAN
ners in front of the City Hall anc
at other public places gave indica-
ton of holy day and a day oi
public rejoicing. At 9 o'clock the
volunteer companies, under the
command of Capt. Tucker anc
Lieut.. Tate, were formed at theil
respective parade grounds, near the
City Hall. At about the same houl
the cars arrived from Baltimore
bringing hither large delegation
of the Free Masons of Baltimore
and Philadelphia to unite with
their honored brethren in the Dis.
trict in the grand and interesting
ceremonies Of laying the founda-
ton of an institution whose object
is the increase and diffusion o1
knowledge among men,
Masonic Delegation Large.
"At 10 o'clock the members of the
various lodges of Free and Accepted
Masons of the District united with
the delegations from Maryland ane
Pennsylvania and took the station
assigned them in the order Of the
procession by the marshal in chief
Beverly Randolph, Esq, who ap-
peared, as most of the assistant
marshals. in appropriate badges
The Masonic part of the procession
was unusually grand. We never
witnessed SO numerous a turnout
in this city of that ancient and
respectable fraternity, who embrace
in their body, persons OF every con-
dition of life and of all countries
The Philadelphia delegation, headed
by Col. James Page, grand master
of Pennsylvania: the Baltimore
delegation, headed by Charles Gill
man, Esq, Crane master of Mary
land; and the Washington, George
town and Alexandria delegation
headed by B. B. French. ESQ, the
popular grand master of the District
of Columbia all these functionaries
and several other officials whose
names we do not know, with the
long line Of members in full regalia
with their splendid banners and
emblems, presented a very inter-
esting and imposing spectacle.
Not less so the very numerous
and respectable body of the indie
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, COM
prising many of the lodges OF
this district. The Odd Fellows, by
their number, splendid regalia, BAN
ners, emblems, excellent music and
rich costume, added greatly to the
imposing appearance Of the inter-
esting pageant. DR.. w. B. Ma
gruder, splendidly decorated. acted
as grand marshal of the Odd Fell
lows, whose chief officers are DR..
Joseph Borrows, grand master, and
DR.. Flodoardo Howard, deputy
grand master, who appeared in their
proper places, supported by other
prominent officers and members of
the order.
Three Bands in Procession.
THE procession formed agree
ably to the program of the day.
moved from the City Hall to the
Presidents House about II o'clock
The marshal in chief and his aides
were all on horseback and wore
white scarfs and blue rosettes. Three
bands of music accompanied the
procession, which was more than
mile in length. OF the music we
cannot avoid saying that it was
excellent. The Marine Band is
uniformly so. The National Brass
Band, recently formed under Mr..
Massoletti, played admirably. Gar
cia's Band, from Alexandria, at
tracted particular attention by its
excellent performances. This band,
being uniformed, was taken by sew
eral persons for Deems celebrated