394 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



affairs of the fraternity for the remainder of his life, fill- 

 ing the high ofBice of Grand Master of the Massachusetts 

 Grand Lodge in 1795, 1796, and 1797. One of the most 

 picturesque ceremonials of his career, and indeed of the 

 early years of the constitutional history of Massachusetts, 

 occurred during the first term of his grand mastership : 

 the laying of the corner-stone of the new State House — 

 the ' Bullfinch front ' as it was called in later years — on 

 Beacon Hill. The authorities having requested the 

 Masonic Order to participate in the dedication exercises, 

 the various lodges assembled in the Representatives' Hall 

 of the Old State House on State Street, and, with the 

 state ofiEicials, marched to the Old South Meeting House, 

 where an oration appropriate to the occasion was deliv- 

 ered by George Blake. These exercises over, the proces- 

 sion re-formed and marched to Beacon Hill. Arriving 

 at the site of the new capitol, the stone, being duly 

 squared, levelled, and plumbed. Governor Samuel Adams 

 made a brief address, to which Grand Master Revere for 

 the Masons responded : 



" ' Worshipf uU Brethren. I congratulate you on this auspicious day ; 

 — when the Arts and Sciences are establishing themselves in our happy 

 country, a Country distinguished from the rest of the World, by being 

 a Government of Laws, where Liberty has found a safe and secure 

 abode, and where her sons are determined to support and protect her. 

 Brethren, we are called this day by our honourable & patriotic Gov- 

 ernor, his Excellency Samuel Adams, to assist in laying the corner- 

 stone of a building to be erected for the use of the Legislative and 

 Executive branches of Government of this Commonwealth. May we, 

 my Brethren, so square our actions thro life as to show to the World 

 of Mankind, that we mean to live within the compass of Good Citi- 

 zens, that we wish to stand upon a level with them, that when we 

 part we may be admitted into the Temple where Reigns Silence and 

 Peace.' " 



'' It is utterly impossible," commented the unenterpris- 

 ing Columbian Centinel, " to do justice to the scene which 

 presented itself on this brilliant occasion." 



When Washington retired to private life the Grand 



