The corner stone was laid on Saturday, October 4, 1890, with the full Masonic ceremony for the laying of corner stones of public buildings, Chandler Lodge No. 138, Free and Accepted Masons, of London, having complete charge of arrangements. About one thirty o'clock on the afternoon of the above mentioned date the procession formed, marching in the following order: Barracks band, Mt. Vernon commandery, Columbus; Palestine commandery, Springfield; Leonore lodge, Sedalia; Urania lodge, Plain City; Mt. Sterling lodge, Mt. Sterling; Madison lodge, West Jefferson; Chandler lodge, London; Grand Tyler M. W. Dungan, with drawn sword; Grand Stewards J. T. Vent and W. A. Jones. with white rods; a past master, P. Speasmaker, with a golden vessel containing corn; the principal architect, J. H. Decker, with square, level and plumb; two past masters, J. C. Peck and William Chandler, with silver vessels, containing wine and oil; Grand Secretary S. J. Paullin and Grand Treasurer J. C. Bridgman; one large light, borne by Past Master George H. Rowland; the Holy Bible, square and compass, borne by Preston Adair; two large lights borne by two past masters, T. J. Stutson and William A. Athey; the grand chaplain, Rev. J. W. Dillon; grand wardens, senior. James B. Sprague, junior. Jeriah Swetland; Deputy Grand Master Levi C. Goodale; grand deacons, with black rods. H. G. Jones and O. P. Converse. and Grand Master Leander Burdick.
During the parade large crowds of people assembled at the court house and took advantage of every available point where it was possible to witness the ceremonies. A platform had been erected for the grand lodge near the northeast corner, and the stone to be laid was held suspended by block and tackle supplied with a steel cable. Above and surrounding the platform, a temporary flooring had been laid and seats provided for the band, members of the order, ex-county officials, ladies and other citizens.
At three o'clock the procession halted at the court house and the grand officers and others took their assigned places. After music by the band, Grand Marshal Crabbe, by order of the grand master, commanded silence and announced that the ceremonies would now begin. He asked undivided attention to the invocation of Right Worthy Grand Chaplain J. W. Dillon. The reverend gentleman proceeded to read in an impressive manner the beautiful prayer prescribed by the rubic, at the close the brethren responding, "Amen and amen."
After the band had rendered another stirring air, J. D. Maddux presented the trowel to Grand Master Burdick, who received it with appropriate remarks. John P. Bowers, on behalf of the commissioners of Madison county, then delivered the following address:
"Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons:
"The board of commissioners of Madison county having official charge of the structure now in the process of erection upon these premises, recognizing the importance and dignity of your ancient order, and being impressed with the propriety of your ceremony of laying corner stones of public edifices, have unanimously resolved to invoke your services in laying the corner stone of our magnificent court house.
"It is a matter of pride to us that we are honored by your distinguished presence today, and we trust that you will regard the occasion as being worthy of the sacrifice of time and effort which you have made in answer to our invitation.
"We are about to erect a temple to Justice—to Justice, the greatest of the four cardinal virtues to which the Masonic order is devoted; to Justice, the foundation of our security as citizens; to Justice, the very genius of good government.
"All preparation being now complete it is my privilege to formally communicate to you our desire, and to respectfully ask that you do now perform the ceremony of laying this corner stone."
The grand master complimented the members of Chandler lodge on the thorough manner in which the occasion had been provided for. He said that he had hoped to have the governor present, but he had been unavoidably prevented from coming by sickness. He then directed the senior grand warden, J. B. Sprague, to proclaim to the junior grand warden, J. Swetland, and he to the craft and others present that the corner stone of the structure would now be laid in due and ancient Masonic form, which proclamation was duly made. After music the grand master made inquiry of the grand treasurer if the deposit had been prepared and was in readiness Grand Treasurer Bridgman replied that all was in readiness, and by order of the grand master read the list of the contents of the casket as follows: Acts of the Legislature empowering the commissioners to build the new court house; proceedings of the building committee, specifications for the erection of the new court house, copy of bills of materials, notice to contractors, schedule of bids, advertisement of sale of bids, bids for bands, lithographic cut of the old court house, notice to tax payers of the year 1856, issued by W. A. Athey, county treasurer; copy of the Ohio statutes for the year 1899, Daniel J. Ryan, secretary of state; articles written by Samuel P. Davidson, Esq., giving names ages and nativity of Madison county pioneers who, at the time the article was written, June 1, 1888, had attained the age of seventy years, also an article by the same author giving observations on the weather from June 6, 1818, to June 18, 1888; short sketches of the history of the various church organizations and benevolent institutions of London up to that date, furnished by the pastors of the churches and secretaries of lodges; census figures of 1890 pertaining to Madison county, through the kindness of Hon. S. H. Prettyman, central supervisor of the fifth district of Ohio; copy of the London Times of October 3, 1890, copy of the Madison County Democrat of October 1, 1890, copy of the London Enterprise of October 3, 1890, copy of the London Vigilant of September 30, 1890. the Daily Nickel Plate of October 3, 1890; history of Chandler Lodge No. 138, Free and Accepted Masons; portrait of Leander Burdick, grand master; copy of the Masonic directory of London, Ohio; copy of the printed ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone of the court house of Madison county; copy of the Masonic Monitor and a photograph of the interior of the new Masonic hall at London.
The grand master then instructed the grand treasurer to deposit the casket with its contents in the cavity prepared for its reception, and added:
"May the Grand Architect of the Universe in His infinite wisdom, grant that ages upon ages shall pass away ere it again be seen by human eyes," and the brethren responded, "So mote it be."