MABostonCityHall1862
BOSTON CITY HALL DEDICATION, 1862
From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXII, No. 3, January 1863, Page 75:
THE NEW CITY HALL.
The Corner-Stone of the new City Hall, in this city, was laid with Masonic and civic ceremonies on Monday, the 22d December, being the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620. The Grand Lodge assembled at 11 o'clock, in a room provided for them by the Mayor in the City Hall, and soon after joined the city government and invited guests and proceeded to the platform erected at the east end of the proposed building. Alter music by the Brigade Band, the Chairman of the Building Committee, Mr. Alderman F. Richards, briefly addressed the Mayor and requested that the Corner-Stone might be laid with such ceremonies as he should deem proper for the occasion. The address of the Mayor followed. It was given in full in the secular papers of the following day, and though a paper of great ability, and of peculiar local and historical interest, it would not probably be so to the great majority of our readers. At the conclusion of his address, His Honor the Mayor addressed the M. W. Grand Master Coolidge as follows :—
Most Worshipful Grand Master — I herewith present to you a metallic box containing an engraved plate, historical documents and other appropriate articles, to be deposited by you in this corner-stone, according to the usages of your ancient Order.
The Masonic ceremonies were then proceeded with in the usual form, the G. Master giving the necessary preliminary directions, and the proper Grand Officers applying the working-tools and pouring out the consecration elements.
- The R. W. Deputy Grand Master, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, poured corn upon the stone from a golden cornucopia, saying, "May the health of the workmen employed in this undertaking be preserved to them, and may the Supreme Grand Architect bless and prosper their labors."
- Senior Grand Warden Dr. Winslow Lewis next poured wine from a silver vase upon the stone saying, "May plenty be showered down upon this people, and may the blessing of the bounteous Giver of all good rest upon this place."
- The Junior Grand Warden Peter C. Jones followed by pouring oil upon the stone with a similar benediction.
The Grand Master then said: "May corn, wine and oil and all the necessaries of life abound among this people, and may the blessing of Almighty God be upon this undertaking, and may the structure here to be erected be preserved to the latest ages, and may it promote the object for which it is designed."
The audience than joined in singing Old Hundred, after which the Grand Master addressed the Mayor and City Government as follows :—
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen of the City Council— In compliance with your invitation, and in conformity to ancient Masonic usage, we have now laid the corner-atone of this new City Hall, and I have pronounced the foundation stone well laid, true and trusty. Under your special care, and that of your successors, let this edifice arise in all its magnificent proportions to be an ornament to the city and a convenience to the members of its government, and the pride and honor of her citizens.
On the 22d day of December our minds naturally go back to the time when our fore-fathers landed at Plymouth. This beautiful structure is an evidence of the improvement in art, science and refinement since that day Let it rise as an evidence of the consummate skill and ability of our architects and builders. Let it rise in its architectural beauty to be in the sight of this people a joy forever.
The Mayor then said —
Most Worshipful Grand Master— I thank you and the M. W. officers of the Grand Lodge of Masons, for the valuable and interesting services you have performed on this occasion. The invitation you so kindly accepted was tendered from a profound respect for your ancient and honored institution and 1 trust that hereafter when this building shall be completed and become the pride of our city, your participation in the laying of this corner-stone will be regarded by you with pleasure and satisfaction.
We have omitted to state, in its proper place, that the Consecrating prayer was made by the Grand Chaplain, the Rev. T. J. Greenwood, of Maiden, and it is but faint praise to say that is was one of the most eloquent and appropriate prayers we have ever heard on any similar occasion.
The ceremonies passed off, we believe, to the satisfaction of all parties. The new building is to be one of imposing architectural dimensions and beauty, and will probably cost about two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, when completed and furnished. The location is not favorable, and the regret will probably hereafter be that a mere sitely, airy and convenient spot had not been chosen.
