Martinsburg Gazette

INTERESTING CEREMONY.

The interesting ceremony of laying the Corner-Stone of a new Episcopal Church in Charlestown, according to the ritual of the Masonic Fraternity, was performed on Saturday last in the presence of a large and highly respectable assemblage. The Procession which marched through the principal streets of the Town to the place appointed for the ceremony, was an imposing one: first came the "Sons of Temperance" with the appropriate badges of their order, followed by the members of the "Independent Order of Odd Fellows" decked in the splendid regalia of that fraternity, whilst the ancient and honourable society of "Free and Accepted Masons" brought up the rear. Each of these orders were conducted by a Marshall selected from their own members. Col. James S. Brown, of Berkeley, (a member of Equality Lodge,) at the request of the Committees of Arrangements, acting as Chief Marshall; arrived at the site of the new building, the procession was halted and the fraternities formed in their respective places, when the Corner Stone was laid in ancient form by Wor. Alex'k. Newcomek, District Deputy Grand Master of this District. Col. Edmund P. Hunter then ascended the stand and delivered one of the most beautiful and appropriate addresses to which we ever listened. Although the audience as well as the orator, were subjected to the grievous annoyance of an exposure to a July sun at midday, few of the assembled throng (a large proportion of which was composed of ladies) left their places until the address was concluded,--a fact which of itself speaks volumes in favor of its entertaining character.

It was truly a masterly exposition of the principles of the Masonic Fraternity, in which the claims of the order to the confidence of all good men, were successfully vindicated, and its eminent capacities to meliorate the condition of mankind clearly established. The orator in the course of his remarks alluded to the duties and obligations of the members of the fraternity, and addressed a feeling exhortation to his brethren who were present, which we trust will not be soon forgotten or lightly remembered. After the oration was concluded the procession repaired to the old Church where the services appropriate to the day were read by the Rev. Templeman Brown, and a deeply interesting address delivered by the Rev. Alexander Jones, D. D., the rector of the Church. The exercises were closed with an ode of exceeding beauty, composed by the Rev. Mr. Brown for the occasion, and sung by the choir. We secured a copy of this hymn as a souvenir of a delightful day and shall lay it before our readers next week.