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Captain Tucker and Lieutenant Tate, were formed at their respective 

 parade grounds, near the City Hall. At about the same hour the cars 

 arrived from Baltimore, bringing hither a large delegation of the Free Ma- 

 sons of Baltimore and Philadelphia, to unite with their honored brethren 

 in this District in the grand and interesting ceremonies of laying the 

 foundation of an institution whose object is the ' increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men.' 



" At ten o'clock the members of the various lodges of Free and Ac- 

 cepted Masons of the District united with the delegations from Maryland 

 and Pennsylvania, and took the station assigned them in the order of the 

 procession by the raarshal-in-chief Beverly Randolph, esq., who appeared, 

 as most of the assistant marshals, in appropriate badges. The masonic 

 part of the procession was unusually grand. We never witnessed so im- 

 merons a turn out in this city of that ancient and respectable fraternity, 

 who embrace in their body, persons of every condition in life and 

 of all countries. The Philadelphia delegation, headed by Colonel James 

 Page, Grand Master of Pennsylvania; the Biltimore delegation, headed by 

 Charles Gilman, esq., Grand Master of Maryland ; and the Washington, 

 Georgetown, and Alexandria delegations, headed by B. B. F^'rench, esq., 

 the popular Grand Master of the District of Columbia; all these function- 

 aries, and several other officials whose names we do not know, with the 

 long line of members in full regalia, with their splendid banners and em- 

 blems, presented a very interesting and imposing spectacle. 



" Not less so the very numerous and respectable body of the Indepen- 

 dent Order of Odd Fellows, comprehending many of the lodges of this Dis- 

 trict. The Odd F^'ellows, by their number, splendid regalia, banners, em- 

 blems, excellent mtisic, and rich costume, added greatly to the imposing 

 appearance of tlie interesting pageant. Dr. VV. B. Magruder, splendidly 

 decorated, acted as grand marshal of the Odd Fellows, whose chief officers 

 are Dr. Joseph Borrows, Grand Master, and Dr. Flodoardo Howard, Dep- 

 uty Grand Master, who appeared in their proper places, supported by other 

 prominent officers and members of the Order. 



" ^I'he procession (formed agreeably to the programme of the day) moved 

 from the City Hall to the President's House about 11 o'clock. The mar- 

 shal-in-chief and his aids were all on horseback, and wore white scarfs 

 and blue rosettes. Three bands of music accompanied the procession, 

 which was more than a 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 ad- 

 mirably. Garcia's band, from Alexandria, attracted particular attention by 

 its excellent performances. Tliis band, being uniformed, was taken by 

 several persons for Deera's celebrated Baltimore band ; a great compli- 

 ment, truly. 



" The column moved down 4^ street to Pennsylvania avenue, then up 

 the avenue to 7th street, up 7fh to E, up E to llth,up llth to F, and 

 thence on F to the presidential mansion, where the President, heads of 

 departments, diplomatic corps, etc., were received into the line. The en- 

 tire column then moved by Pennsylvania avenue and 12th street to the 

 site of the Smithsonian Institution. 



" The military was then formed in line on the south side of the site, 

 and the President, heads of departments, diplomatic corps. Regents, 

 tnavor and corporation of Washington, (fcc, passed ni front, receiving 



