Hardeman County, TNGenWeb

The ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new Court House of Hardeman county, on last Wednesday, 26th inst., as performed by the Masonic fraternity, was quite interesting and imposing. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather a large crowd of persons, many of whom were ladies, assembled to witness the proceedings, while many masons of neighboring lodges were present to assist the officers of Clinton Lodge in their interesting and pleasant duties. At eleven o’clock the procession moved from the Lodge room to the Square, where the new building is being erected. Upon arriving at the place a hollow square was formed around the northeast corner of the foundation of the proposed building. While the officers of the Lodge took their places on the platform erected around and about the stone. After an eloquent and impressive prayer by Rev. W. C. WILKERSON, D.G. chaplain, the W.M., L. B. ADAMS, with the assistance of D.G.M., T. B. MCDOWELL, S.W., J. C. FLEMING, J.W., W. C. GRAY, and Chief Architect, WILLIS, proceeded to the adjustment of the new corner stone and pronounced it “square, level and plumb.” This stone is about two feet square and is of marble, and was prepared in Memphis under the direction of Mr. WILLIS, at the request of the Clinton Lodge, expressly for the occasion. After the stone had been properly adjusted, the W.M. proceeded to deposit in the receptacle prepared for such, a solid silver plate, on which was beautifully engraved the following inscription.

THIS CORNER STONE WAS LAID BY CLINTON LODGE, NO. 54, F.A.M.,
Nov. 26th, A.D., 1867, A. L.5867
OFFICERS:
L. B. ADAMS, W.M. – J. C. FLEMING, S.W. – W. C. GRAY, J.W.
Building Committee:
E. P. MCNEAL, Chairman
J. H. BILLS – P. T. JONES – E. G. COLEMAN
Architects and Builders:
WILLIS, SLOAN AND TRIGG
D. I. WELLS, Eng.

Next was a glass jar, hermetically sealed, containing a copy of the Bolivar Bulletin, of the 23d, inst., National Intelligencer, 20th inst., Knoxville Free Press, 20th inst., McLane’s Almanac for 1867, By Laws of Clinton Lodge No. 54, a short history of Clinton Lodge from its organization to the present day, with a list of its officers from year to year. A memorandum or history of the town of Bolivar, showing when it was founded, the date of its incorporation, the number of inhabitants, churches, schools, lawyers, doctors, merchants, blacksmiths, etc.; also giving an account of the destruction of the old Court House by Gen. STURGIS, of the Federal army in 1864. Also a number of coins bearing date of this year. The deposits having been made, wine, corn and oil were there poured upon the Stone and it was sealed, after which Rev. W. C. GRAY A.M., of this place was introduced to the audience and delivered a most beautiful, eloquent and appropriate address (which we publish today) at the close of the address the ceremonies were concluded with the Benediction and the procession returned to the Lodge Room while the citizens dispersed seemingly well pleased with what they had seen and heard.

The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.), 30 Nov. 1867, Page 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.