Laying the Cornerstone of the Southern Iowa Normal School

At 2 o’clock, Saturday afternoon, the Odd Fellows filed out on the street, and, proceeded by the band, marched to the site of the Normal School building, to lay the corner stone of that edifice, as they had been requested by the Board of Regents. The members of the Order presented a fine appearance, as they were adorned with their best Sunday-go-to-meeting-store-clothes, cut after ancient pattern and trimmed odd enough for the oddest fellow in the state. Quite a crowd assembled to witness the performance, and as Dillon Payne remarked that there was quite a sprinkle of pretty ladies present, we suppose it is so, for his judgement in this respect is unquestionable.

Everything being ready, the principal workman John W Campbell, addressed the Master of Ceremonies, J B Glenn, as follows: “Most Noble Sir, being desirous that the foundation stone of this building should be laid with appropriate ceremonies by your honorable Order I have therefore solicited your attendance upon the present occasion, and hope that it may now be your pleasure to proceed in the performance of that service: necessary preparations are all made and we await your directions.” The master of ceremonies responded: “In compliance with your request, so politely tendered, I now proceed to discharge the duties desired, hoping that the building which will arise upon this foundation may reflect credit upon your skill, and be completed to the satisfaction of the public and profit to the workmen.” After an address by J B Glenn to his brothers in Oddfellowship, the Grand Chaplain, Rev A Axline, invoked the Divine Blessing, Grand Treasurer, N S Johnson, read the list of articles to be deposited in the crypt of the corner stone, which is as follows: Names of the President of the U S, and Cabinet officers of the State of Iowa, and town officers, Board of Regents of Normal School, Superintendent and teachers of Davis County and Professors of the State University, copy of Iowa School Journal, copy of GRANGERS ADVOCATE, copy of Democrat, copy of Republican, cards of the banks of Bloomfield, constitution of Hesperian Society, officers of Grand Lodge of US., I.O.O.F., officers of Grand Encampment of Iowa, officers and members of Bloomfield Lodge No. 23  I.O.O.F., officers and member of Rebecca Degree Lodge No. 1 of Bloomfield, officers and members of Bloomfield Encampment No. 14, copy of Laws and regulations of Protective association, I.O.O.F. – The master of ceremonies, after placing the box containing the articles in the stone, sprinkled water on the stone in the name of Friendship; scattered flowers over the stone as a symbol of Love; strewed wheat over the stone, which was emblematic of Truth; then striking the stone three times with his gavil, layed the foundation in Benevolence and Charity; placing mortar on the stone as a token of brotherly affection. The deputy Grand master, Hathaway, then pronounced the corner stone duly layed according to regular and ancient forms. After prayer by the Chaplain, the master of ceremonies said: “Fellow citizens the duties assigned us have been performed. We have begun a good work, which it remains for you to finish. Having entered upon so important an enterprise, fail not in carrying it forward to success, which I am confident you will achieve. I trust you will here erect a house worthy to be dedicated to the great cause of education, and which will reflect credit upon your zeal in its behalf.”

Hon, M H Jones being called out delivery a very good speech, of which we give briefly a synopses of the historical part as follows:

At the last Teachers Institute, held at Bloomfield, December 30^th, 1873, our worthy County Superintendent had on the programme for discussion, this proposition, in substance “A better system of Education for Bloomfield and Davis County. Shall we have a High School?”

A discussion of this question showed that such an institution was an absolute necessity to both town and county, and the persons in attendance there enthusiasticly determined that such an institution should be at once established.

At a meeting of the citizens of Bloomfield, held the 17^th of January, articles of incorporation for the Southern Iowa Normal and Scientific Institute were adopted, and a Board of Regents appointed to serve till 1^st Monday of January 1875, consisting of J B Glenn, Treasurer; W J Law, Secretary; S W McAtee, J W Ellis, Wm Hill, J B Weaver, D J Johnson, H H Trimble.

Steps were taken to secure funds to erect a building. The shares were fixed at $25 each. The people of Bloomfield and vicinity responded liberally and promptly, and in two weeks $6,000 was raised in donations of money and real estate, and a contract was closed between the Board of Regents and Prof. A Axline, to begin a school in the spring of 1874; with an agreement that Miss Gageby should be a teacher of the primary department.

On the 7^th of March a contract for the erection of the building was closed with Messrs. Campbell and Palmer to complete the building by Sept. 1^st.

On the second Monday of April, Prof. Axline opened with about 70 scholars, since increased to over 80, under a course of study established by the Board of Regents, embracing a thoroughly practical scientific and classical collegiate course, and the success of the institution has been all that its most sanquine friends anticipated.

This school has been established not simply for Bloomfield, nor for Davis County, but for all the surrounding country in this and adjoining states. We have a healthy and a central location; a moral, intelligent and liberal people, a town free from the vices common to too many western towns; free from liquor saloons and kindred vices; and the young men and women who come to this school may expect to meet with friends whose society will ten to elevate them morally as well as mentally.

It may be that the public will be called on yet to contribute more money as the Board of Regents are determined that the workmen shall be paid before the fall term opens. But I must not let this opportunity pass without returning you, the liberal citizens of Bloomfield, the thanks of the Board of Regents for the prompt and liberal donations already given.

General Weaver’s speech was off-hand, and, as is usual with his impromptu productions, was very flowery.

C M Green, Editor of the Iowa School Journal, published at Des Moines, was introduced. His speech was well worded, flattering, and, of course, pleased the audience.

Col. Trimble- well its not necessary to say anything about his speech; our readers who know him, and those who don’t are few, know that his speech was better than a sermon and a circus combined.

After an address by Rev Axline, the audience filed back to town, feeling that the afternoon had been well spent, and that the people of Davis County had reason to congratulate themselves on the noble work so auspiciously begun.

Prof. A Axline’s Speech

Few events could be of greater importance to Bloomfield and Davis County than the one which has brought us together this afternoon. All human interests are bound up in the work of education. Knowledge is Power. Physical, mental, and moral development is true progress. Nations are great and prosperous in direct ratio to the number and efficiency of their schools and colleges. Hence every educational enterprise must exert a considerable influence in the community by which it is surrounded. Railroads and factories may add to our material wealth and help to supply our temporal wants, but the school carries its influence into our homes and does much towards forming the character and habits of our children. If properly conducted it improves their physical powers by imparting useful knowledge respecting the various organs of the body and the laws which govern them. It develops their social nature by bringing them into the society of others under circumstances most favorable for their improvement. It strengthens their intellectual faculties by the constant exercise to which they are subjected. It improves their moral natures by the silent but constant influence which its regulations and duties almost necessarily exert. Thus the school reaches and influences the whole character of every pupil and leaves impressions for the time and eternity. Hence its importance cannot be over estimated. With what interest then should we engage in the ceremonies of this occasion. Here we propose to lay the foundation of an institution whose influence, we trust, will ultimately reach all parts of this great state. He we design to erect a building whose walls shall be consecrated to the noblest interests of humanity. This corner stone is a fit emblem of  the nature and character of that instruction which ought to be encouraged by the liberal founders of this institution. Its strength and solidity fairly represent the thoroughness which should characterize every course of study. Whatever is worth doing at all deserves careful and thorough preparation. The pupil wants a firm and substantial foundation upon which to erect the super-structure of life. Mere theory amounts to nothing, however, beautiful and plausible it may seem. We want no hobbies and eccentricities in the education of our children, but only that which is solid and reliable.

This corner stone is also a beautiful type of the utility of all true education. As it occupies a position in this edifice which is essential to its very existence, so education lies at the very basis of all that is essential to human happiness and human interests. It adorns the individual, it elevates society, it strengthens the state, it develops material wealth, and it gives influence to the church. Everywhere its power is felt and its utility is apparent.

This corner stone likewise indicates unity. It represents the entire building which it underlies. So the true spirit of education has a tendency to bind individuals, communities and nations together. It secures knowledge without pedantry, it encourages progress without fanaticism, it promotes piety without superstition, it strengthens faith without presumption, it supports religion without bigotry and recognizes the universal brotherhood of mankind. In its light and under its benign influence, charity takes the place of persecution and direful war is exchanged for peaceful arbitration. When the great work of education is considered from this stand-point it seems altogether appropriate that this corner stone should be laid by the great order and brotherhood into whose charge the ceremonies of this occasion have been committed.

Durability is another characteristic of the corner stone, which aptly illustrates the nature of true education. The training of the school-room will exercise an influence upon the whole existence of the pupil. It will do very much towards molding his character and forming his habits for life. Property may be destroyed or taken away, but knowledge endures forever. The polluting breath of slander may injure and even destroy a fair reputation, but it cannot obscure the enduring brilliancy of a mind thoroughly polished by the influence of proper intellectual and moral training. Friendship may prove false and fleeting as the wind, but a character formed under the guidance of correct mental training will rely upon its own resources and be able to stand alone should circumstances so require.

Beauty and symetry are also neatly expressed by the careful preparation of this corner stone. As it has been carefully finished and polished in that order that it may be suitable for the position which it is intended to occupy in the building about to be erected, so a correct education adorns the character of those who are brought under its influence. It developes the taste, refines the manners, cultivates the dispositions and improves the habits of its votaries. Thus it prepares them for society and the business life. True mental culture, like true plety, will manifest itself under the roughest exterior and the most unfavorable circumstances.

We trust that such an education as this corner stone so appropriately represents will ever be realized by the founders and patrons of this institution. If such be the case, it will never cease to be a glorious monument to their wisdom and liberality. That this community needs such an institution there can be no doubt. It cannot interfere with the interests and work of the public schools because its very purpose is to aid and assist them by affording means for the proper qualification of teachers. It cannot come in conflict with similar institutions elsewhere, because such institutions are not yet sufficiently numerous to supply the constantly increasing demand. It affords facilities for many young ladies and young men to secure an education who have not the means or the inclination to go elsewhere. Hence all should heartily rejoice to-day in the prospect of having such an institution in our midst. All should unite in their efforts to make it efficient and entirely successful. May the blessing of God ever rest upon the Southern Iowa Normal and Scientific Institute, and may it ever be a power for good in this community and throughout the state.

GRANGERS ADVOCATE 1874 Volume 1 No 20