Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America.
our contest . He had great self-control . Unlike other revolutions , ours advanced not one step beyond the point proposed . Having reached that , it subsided as easily , as gracefully , ancl as quietly as though the voice of Omnipotence itself hacl spoken to the great deep of our society , saying , ' Peace , be still . ' Could he have lived iii ancient days the strains of immortal verse would have told his deeds , and fond adherents would have numbered him among the gods . Those clays are past , but we have yet hearts to admireand to recordaucl tongues to praise his
, pens , private virtues and his public worth . And when century after century shall have rolled by , bearing its fruits into the bosom of the past , even when men shall look back to this time through the haze and mist of n , remote and far-off antiquity , if this shall still be a land of freemen , this day shall still be fondly cherished as the anniversary of the birth of AVashington , increased reverence shall attend his character , aud thickening honours shall cluster around his name . U pon this repi'esentatii'e ancl similitude of the
great and honoured dead , ivhich we this clay put forth before tho world , the ivinds shall blow , the rains shall fall , and the storms shall beat , but it shall stand unhurt amid them all . So shall it be with the fame of him ivhose imago it is . The breath of unfriendly criticism may bloiv upon it , the storms that betoken moral or social change may break upon it , but it shall stand firml y fixed in the hearts and memories of every true , and honest , and liberty loving man ivho inhabits lau
our d or cherishes our institutions . The inhabitants of this city , as they behold this statue clay after day , will look upon it as the palladium of their privileges aucl the silent guardian of their prosperity . And the thousands and tens of thousands that from every nation , kingdom , and tongue yearly go forth to gaze upon aud admire the wonders of the earth , when they shall come up to this "Mecca cf the mind , " shall pause with reverential awe as thevgazo upon this similitude of tho ht
migy Washington . Year after year shall that dumb image tell its eloquent story of patriotism , devotion , and self-sacrifice ; year after year shall ifc teach its hol y lesson of duty and of faith ; with generation after generation shall it plead for institutions founded in wisdom and a country bought with blood . To the clouds and storms that gather over aucl break upon it , it will tell of the great clouds and storms through ivhich its great antitype did iu his devoted course earthand
pass on ; when the luminary of the heavens , descending with his golden shower of beams like imperial Jove , shall wrap it in its warm embrace , it shall tell the sun that Ho who gave him his beams and bade him shine has decreed , that one clay the darkness of eternal night shall settle on his lace , but then the spirit of tho mightv AVashington , basking in au eternal sunlight above , shall still
' A darkening universe defy To quench his immortality , Or shake his trust in God . ' " Air . Uocock AVUS greeted Avith general and repented cheers , and throughout his address ivas frequently interrupted by applause , and particularly afc the close the approbation of his auditors was wild and enthusiastic . THE 1 IASOHIC CKBE . AIOS 1 ES .
Bro . George C . AVhitiug , Grand Alaster of the Grand Lodge of the District of Colombia , then preceded to conduct the Masonic ceremonies . In addressing the Right AA orshipfuI Senior Grand AA ' arden , he said—In compliance ivith the request of the Committee of Arrangements , ancl iu obedience to the order ol tho Alost AVorshipful Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia , it is my will and pleasure that we now perform our humble part in the dedi
- cation of this statue of AVashington , which the Congress of the United States have caused to be erected . It is tho duty and has been the custom of Freemasons to honour and reverence the memory of distinguished patriots and benefactors of the human race , but among them the name of AVashington is peculiarly cherished , for to the world ' s admiration of his character and his countrymen ' s gratitude for his great services , ifc is our privilege to add the love aucl affection of his brethren of the
mystic tic ; therefore , in order that our ancient rites may be duly performed , you will enjoin upon the brethren and all others the order aucl decorum benefiting this august presence and occasion . The square was then applied to the foundation stone of the pedestal , and the Deputy Grand Alaster reported : — " Tho craftsmen have clone their duty . " The level aucl plumb were next applied , and a similar report was made .
The Grand Alaster declared the pedestal that supports the statue : — " AVell formed , true and trusty ; " and continued , " Alay the Supreme Architect of the universe strengthen and support all those who shall continue the work which our AVashington began . " Senior Grand AVarden— ' - ' Wine : " Alay the Giver of every good and perfect gift bless and prosper all our patriotic undertakings , and inspire this generation with wisdom and virtue to transmit to the latest posterity their
priceless heritage . . Grand Alaster— «¦ ' Oil : " Alay health plenty aucl peace , symbolized by corn , wino and oil , plenteously abound throughout the length and breath of our land , aucl may the Great Ruler of the universe preserve in eternal bonds of love and friendship tho union of these sovereign states . fa
The Grand Alaster , addressing the President of the United States , Ktud— ° ' w " i ' - ' gave * " was raa ^ ° expressly for the purpose , and was used by W ashmgton as President of the United States and as Grand Master of
America.
1 reemasons , jjro tempore , in laying the comer stone of the Capitol , on the ISth day of September , 1793 , and I now have the honour of requesting , in the name of the fraternity , that you , his successor , will now likewise employ it in the crowning act of the dedication of this statue . The President , Bro . BUCHANAN , received the gavel , and , coming forward , ivas greeted with general ancl prolonged applause . He spoke in a distinct and animated tone , as follows : —
" Felloiv Citizens—I accept the auspicious omen uoiv presented to us in this calm sunset almost without a . cloud . The early part of the day was boisterous . Many accidents also occurred to delay the 2 'rogress and the completion of these ceremonies . But these occurrences have terminated , as , thank God , always has been the case in the history of our country . If storms and tempests beset us in the morning , the end of the day is still clear , bright and animating . Such , I trust , will ever be tho issue of the loom ancl darkness that for a season
g appear to envelop us . ( Applause . ) The honourable and important duty has been assigned to me of dedicating this statue of AVashington which is a noble production of native American genius . This ivelcome and grateful task I now proceed to perforin , standing here on this beautiful and commanding position , surrounded by the senators and representatives of all the states of the confederacy , ancl by a vast assemblage of our felloiv citizens , civil and military , ancl in full view of the noble Potomac , Avhich AVashington loved so ivell , aud of the shores of the
ancient Commonwealth which gave him birth , I now solemnly dedicate this statue to the immortal memory of the Father of his Country . ( Applause ) . I perform this act of pious devotion , not in the name of the people of the north , or the south , the east , or the ivest ; not in the name
ol those who dwell on the waters of the Atlantic or of the Pacific , but in the name of the whole American peo'ile of the United States , one and indivisible , now and for ever . ( Loud applause , and cries of "Hurrah for Olcl Buck" ) . Alay the Gocl of our fathers preserve the constitution and the Union for ages yet to come . Alay they stand like the everlasting hills , agaiust which the tempests from every quarter of the heavens shall beat in vain . In a word , may they endure so long as the name of AVashington shall be honoured aud cherished the children
among of men . ( Renewed aucl prolonged applause ) . Alay AA ashingtou city , which he founded , continue throughout many generations to be the seat of government of a great , powerful , and united confederacy . Should it ever become a ruin by a dissolution ofthe Union , it will not , like the ruins of Balbeck and Palmyra , be merely a monument of the vanity of human greatness ; but it will teach the lesson to all the dwellers upon earth , that our grand political experiment has failed , and
that man is incapable of self government . Alay such a direful disaster to the human race be averted , and in the language of Solomon at the dedication of the Jewish temple , " ' Alay the Lord our God be ivith us , as He was with our fathers . Let Him not leave us or forsake us . ' ( Applause ) . Alay this be the prayer of all present , and may each one return to his home iu heart more ardently patriotic and more determined to do his ivholc duty to Gocl and his country than when we assembled here to-day . "
The distinguished brother took his seat amid general and mosfc enthu siastic applause . The artist then advanced , and with his assistants unveiled the statue , amidst loud applause , when , being called upon , he briefly addressed the company .
Till' STATUE . The pedestal is of marble , twenty-five feet iu height , divided into three storeys , illustrating the three great epochs in the history of the country . The figures are in bronze . The first story represents the country as it appeared on its first discovery , when inhabited hy the Indians . The second story represents its general aspect under the changes ivrought by the still advancing hand of civilization . The third aud last story represents the great revolutionary struggle , and is
surmounted by a colossal statue of AVashington In the first story the Indians are represented in low relief engaged in their favourite sports , capturing the buffalo , pursuing the moose and deer ancl cultivating corn and tobacco . The first panel of the second story is in high relief . The white man appears cutting his way into the dense forest , with hope ancl cheerfulness beaming on his countenance . In a corner of this panel the Indian is seen retiring , looking wistfully backhis features expressive of the pain aud regret he feels at being
, compelled to abandon his happy hunting grounds , aucl to fly before the face of the ivhite man and the advance of civilization . Iu the second panel the white man has made a clearing in the forest , erected his log cabin , and is seen cultivating his ground—symbolical of Avhich are seen his oxen , plough , & c . The dangers encountered by the early pioneers are suggested by the appearance of Indians shooting them down from behind trees with the very rifles which the white men had first taught them to use . This leads to a Avar betAveen the red warriors and the pale faces . The next
panel , therefore , represents a battle with the Indians—man to man and arm to arm—the white man , however , gaining the ascendancy over his rude foes . The next panel represents the symbols of the white man ' s progress in agriculture , in commerce , and in the arts , and his growing power ancl independence . At this stage of his history occur the difficulties with tho mother country , and the artist introduces neiv scenes . On the succeeding panel are exhibited throe ships lying in Boston Harbour . These are the famous tea ships ; colonists , dressed as Indians , aro throiving the tea overboard . Then follows tho signing of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America.
our contest . He had great self-control . Unlike other revolutions , ours advanced not one step beyond the point proposed . Having reached that , it subsided as easily , as gracefully , ancl as quietly as though the voice of Omnipotence itself hacl spoken to the great deep of our society , saying , ' Peace , be still . ' Could he have lived iii ancient days the strains of immortal verse would have told his deeds , and fond adherents would have numbered him among the gods . Those clays are past , but we have yet hearts to admireand to recordaucl tongues to praise his
, pens , private virtues and his public worth . And when century after century shall have rolled by , bearing its fruits into the bosom of the past , even when men shall look back to this time through the haze and mist of n , remote and far-off antiquity , if this shall still be a land of freemen , this day shall still be fondly cherished as the anniversary of the birth of AVashington , increased reverence shall attend his character , aud thickening honours shall cluster around his name . U pon this repi'esentatii'e ancl similitude of the
great and honoured dead , ivhich we this clay put forth before tho world , the ivinds shall blow , the rains shall fall , and the storms shall beat , but it shall stand unhurt amid them all . So shall it be with the fame of him ivhose imago it is . The breath of unfriendly criticism may bloiv upon it , the storms that betoken moral or social change may break upon it , but it shall stand firml y fixed in the hearts and memories of every true , and honest , and liberty loving man ivho inhabits lau
our d or cherishes our institutions . The inhabitants of this city , as they behold this statue clay after day , will look upon it as the palladium of their privileges aucl the silent guardian of their prosperity . And the thousands and tens of thousands that from every nation , kingdom , and tongue yearly go forth to gaze upon aud admire the wonders of the earth , when they shall come up to this "Mecca cf the mind , " shall pause with reverential awe as thevgazo upon this similitude of tho ht
migy Washington . Year after year shall that dumb image tell its eloquent story of patriotism , devotion , and self-sacrifice ; year after year shall ifc teach its hol y lesson of duty and of faith ; with generation after generation shall it plead for institutions founded in wisdom and a country bought with blood . To the clouds and storms that gather over aucl break upon it , it will tell of the great clouds and storms through ivhich its great antitype did iu his devoted course earthand
pass on ; when the luminary of the heavens , descending with his golden shower of beams like imperial Jove , shall wrap it in its warm embrace , it shall tell the sun that Ho who gave him his beams and bade him shine has decreed , that one clay the darkness of eternal night shall settle on his lace , but then the spirit of tho mightv AVashington , basking in au eternal sunlight above , shall still
' A darkening universe defy To quench his immortality , Or shake his trust in God . ' " Air . Uocock AVUS greeted Avith general and repented cheers , and throughout his address ivas frequently interrupted by applause , and particularly afc the close the approbation of his auditors was wild and enthusiastic . THE 1 IASOHIC CKBE . AIOS 1 ES .
Bro . George C . AVhitiug , Grand Alaster of the Grand Lodge of the District of Colombia , then preceded to conduct the Masonic ceremonies . In addressing the Right AA orshipfuI Senior Grand AA ' arden , he said—In compliance ivith the request of the Committee of Arrangements , ancl iu obedience to the order ol tho Alost AVorshipful Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia , it is my will and pleasure that we now perform our humble part in the dedi
- cation of this statue of AVashington , which the Congress of the United States have caused to be erected . It is tho duty and has been the custom of Freemasons to honour and reverence the memory of distinguished patriots and benefactors of the human race , but among them the name of AVashington is peculiarly cherished , for to the world ' s admiration of his character and his countrymen ' s gratitude for his great services , ifc is our privilege to add the love aucl affection of his brethren of the
mystic tic ; therefore , in order that our ancient rites may be duly performed , you will enjoin upon the brethren and all others the order aucl decorum benefiting this august presence and occasion . The square was then applied to the foundation stone of the pedestal , and the Deputy Grand Alaster reported : — " Tho craftsmen have clone their duty . " The level aucl plumb were next applied , and a similar report was made .
The Grand Alaster declared the pedestal that supports the statue : — " AVell formed , true and trusty ; " and continued , " Alay the Supreme Architect of the universe strengthen and support all those who shall continue the work which our AVashington began . " Senior Grand AVarden— ' - ' Wine : " Alay the Giver of every good and perfect gift bless and prosper all our patriotic undertakings , and inspire this generation with wisdom and virtue to transmit to the latest posterity their
priceless heritage . . Grand Alaster— «¦ ' Oil : " Alay health plenty aucl peace , symbolized by corn , wino and oil , plenteously abound throughout the length and breath of our land , aucl may the Great Ruler of the universe preserve in eternal bonds of love and friendship tho union of these sovereign states . fa
The Grand Alaster , addressing the President of the United States , Ktud— ° ' w " i ' - ' gave * " was raa ^ ° expressly for the purpose , and was used by W ashmgton as President of the United States and as Grand Master of
America.
1 reemasons , jjro tempore , in laying the comer stone of the Capitol , on the ISth day of September , 1793 , and I now have the honour of requesting , in the name of the fraternity , that you , his successor , will now likewise employ it in the crowning act of the dedication of this statue . The President , Bro . BUCHANAN , received the gavel , and , coming forward , ivas greeted with general ancl prolonged applause . He spoke in a distinct and animated tone , as follows : —
" Felloiv Citizens—I accept the auspicious omen uoiv presented to us in this calm sunset almost without a . cloud . The early part of the day was boisterous . Many accidents also occurred to delay the 2 'rogress and the completion of these ceremonies . But these occurrences have terminated , as , thank God , always has been the case in the history of our country . If storms and tempests beset us in the morning , the end of the day is still clear , bright and animating . Such , I trust , will ever be tho issue of the loom ancl darkness that for a season
g appear to envelop us . ( Applause . ) The honourable and important duty has been assigned to me of dedicating this statue of AVashington which is a noble production of native American genius . This ivelcome and grateful task I now proceed to perforin , standing here on this beautiful and commanding position , surrounded by the senators and representatives of all the states of the confederacy , ancl by a vast assemblage of our felloiv citizens , civil and military , ancl in full view of the noble Potomac , Avhich AVashington loved so ivell , aud of the shores of the
ancient Commonwealth which gave him birth , I now solemnly dedicate this statue to the immortal memory of the Father of his Country . ( Applause ) . I perform this act of pious devotion , not in the name of the people of the north , or the south , the east , or the ivest ; not in the name
ol those who dwell on the waters of the Atlantic or of the Pacific , but in the name of the whole American peo'ile of the United States , one and indivisible , now and for ever . ( Loud applause , and cries of "Hurrah for Olcl Buck" ) . Alay the Gocl of our fathers preserve the constitution and the Union for ages yet to come . Alay they stand like the everlasting hills , agaiust which the tempests from every quarter of the heavens shall beat in vain . In a word , may they endure so long as the name of AVashington shall be honoured aud cherished the children
among of men . ( Renewed aucl prolonged applause ) . Alay AA ashingtou city , which he founded , continue throughout many generations to be the seat of government of a great , powerful , and united confederacy . Should it ever become a ruin by a dissolution ofthe Union , it will not , like the ruins of Balbeck and Palmyra , be merely a monument of the vanity of human greatness ; but it will teach the lesson to all the dwellers upon earth , that our grand political experiment has failed , and
that man is incapable of self government . Alay such a direful disaster to the human race be averted , and in the language of Solomon at the dedication of the Jewish temple , " ' Alay the Lord our God be ivith us , as He was with our fathers . Let Him not leave us or forsake us . ' ( Applause ) . Alay this be the prayer of all present , and may each one return to his home iu heart more ardently patriotic and more determined to do his ivholc duty to Gocl and his country than when we assembled here to-day . "
The distinguished brother took his seat amid general and mosfc enthu siastic applause . The artist then advanced , and with his assistants unveiled the statue , amidst loud applause , when , being called upon , he briefly addressed the company .
Till' STATUE . The pedestal is of marble , twenty-five feet iu height , divided into three storeys , illustrating the three great epochs in the history of the country . The figures are in bronze . The first story represents the country as it appeared on its first discovery , when inhabited hy the Indians . The second story represents its general aspect under the changes ivrought by the still advancing hand of civilization . The third aud last story represents the great revolutionary struggle , and is
surmounted by a colossal statue of AVashington In the first story the Indians are represented in low relief engaged in their favourite sports , capturing the buffalo , pursuing the moose and deer ancl cultivating corn and tobacco . The first panel of the second story is in high relief . The white man appears cutting his way into the dense forest , with hope ancl cheerfulness beaming on his countenance . In a corner of this panel the Indian is seen retiring , looking wistfully backhis features expressive of the pain aud regret he feels at being
, compelled to abandon his happy hunting grounds , aucl to fly before the face of the ivhite man and the advance of civilization . Iu the second panel the white man has made a clearing in the forest , erected his log cabin , and is seen cultivating his ground—symbolical of Avhich are seen his oxen , plough , & c . The dangers encountered by the early pioneers are suggested by the appearance of Indians shooting them down from behind trees with the very rifles which the white men had first taught them to use . This leads to a Avar betAveen the red warriors and the pale faces . The next
panel , therefore , represents a battle with the Indians—man to man and arm to arm—the white man , however , gaining the ascendancy over his rude foes . The next panel represents the symbols of the white man ' s progress in agriculture , in commerce , and in the arts , and his growing power ancl independence . At this stage of his history occur the difficulties with tho mother country , and the artist introduces neiv scenes . On the succeeding panel are exhibited throe ships lying in Boston Harbour . These are the famous tea ships ; colonists , dressed as Indians , aro throiving the tea overboard . Then follows tho signing of the