LAYING OF THE CORNER-STONE. AT an early hour in the day appointed for the ceremonies, a procession was formed in Harvard Square, in the following order, and marched to the Common: Chief Marshal, GEN. S. E. CHAMBERLAIN. Cambridge Brass Band. Grand Army Battalion, consisting of Post 30-Wm. H. Smart Encampment, 150 men, Post 56-Charles Beck Encampment, 100 men, Post 57-P. Stearns Davis Encampment, 75 men, His Honor the Mayor, President of the Common Council, and Members of the City Government. Ex-Mayors, Representatives to the General Court, Heads of Departments, and citizens generally. Upon reaching the Common, the procession passed directly around the foundation of the Monument, when a halt was made, and position taken by the City Government upon the top of the foundation wall. After Prayer, by the Rev. RUFUS P. STEBBINS, D.D., the following Ode, written for the occasion by Comrade Lord! let thy mighty hand Grant all oppressed release, And bless our land with peace For evermore! The Chief Marshal, Gen. CHAMBERLAIN, now introduced the Mayor to the assembly, who made the address which is here given: ADDRESS BY THE HON. CHARLES H. SAUNDERS, MAYOR. FELLOW CITIZENS: On this spot, famed in our Revolutionary history, where the illustrious Washington first assumed command of the American Army, we meet to-day to commence our work, and to lay the corner-stone of this structure, which shall commemorate in the great future the real actors of the great struggle from which we have so recently emerged; and which shall bear their names, and transmit their memories to generations yet unborn, and shall manifest somewhat the sacrifices made by them for the free institutions which we enjoy. We cannot, I think, yet realize the magnitude, or too highly appreciate the momentous consequences, of this contest, or the great principles of self-government involved; but we can offer our thanks to that kind and overruling Providence (who seeth the end from the beginning), that our nation was |