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'^ Rufiis Choate, Massachusetts. 



'^'Kichard Rush, Pennsylvania. 



" Gideon Hawley, New York. 



" WilUam C. Preston, South CaroHna. 



" A. Dallas Bache, National Institute. 



" Joseph G. Totten, National Institute. 



"OJJicers. 



" George M. DallaS; Chancellor. 



" W. W. Seaton, 1 



"Joseph G. Totten, >Eiecuiive Commiltee. 



'■'■ Robert Dale Owen, ) 



"Robert Dale Owen, S 



"Joseph G. Totten, \- Building Committee. 



"William W. Seaton,) 



" Joseph Henry, Secretary. 



" C. C. Jewett, Assistant Secretary. 



"James Renwick, jr., Arcliitect. 



" Robert Mills, Assist'int Architect and Superintendent. 



" James Dixon and Gilbert Cameron, Contractors. 



" The address of the Chancellor of the institution on laying the corner- 

 stone; astronomical observations made at the National Observatory; a copy 

 of the Directory of the city; the city newspapers of the day. 



" There was also deposited in the same cavity, by the Free Masons, a 

 leaden casket containing the following articles, viz: 



"An elegant copy of the Holy Bible, presented by the Rev. Charles A. 

 Davis, on behalf of the Bible Society of Washington; a stereotype page of 

 Bancroft's History of the United States; Constitution of the Grand Lodge 

 of the District of Columbia; an impression of its seal in metal; a copy of 

 its proceedings for 1846; a silver plate, inscribed with the names of the 

 Grand and sul)ordinate lodges of the District. 



"The Grand Master then applied the square, level, and plumb, and 

 pronounced the stone properly squared, duly laid, true and trusty. 



" He then proceeded to place upon the stone the corn, wine, and oil, 

 preceding this ceremony by an appropriate explanation of their symbolic 

 meaning, conchiding his remarks by the following quotation from the 

 venerable Harris: 'Wherefore, brethren, do you carry corn, wine, and 

 oil in your procession, but to remind you that, in the pilgrimage of hu- 

 man life, you are to impart a portion of your bread to feed the hungry, to 

 send a cup of your wine to cheer the sorrowful, and pour the healing oil 

 of your consolation into the wounds which sickness hath made in the 

 bodies or affliction rent in the hearts of your fellow-travellers.' 



" Upon pouring the corn upon the stone, the Grand Master said: ' I do 

 this, expressing a hope that (\\% hearts of those who are charged with car- 

 rying into effect the intentions of the generous donor whose legacy has 

 establislied the Smithsonian Institution, may be strengthened in the per- 

 formance of all their duties.' In pouring thereon the u-me, the Grand 

 Master said: ' May the Regents of this institution, and all connected there- 

 with, be cheered on ward and rejoice in the success of all their measures 

 connected with the erection of this building and with tiie government of 



