7. Laying of the corner stone according to Masonic rites, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.

8. Benediction, by Right Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, Bishop of Washington.

Brig. Gen. G. L. Gillespie, Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, master of ceremonies, opened the exercises by the introduction of Bishop Satterlee, as follows:

"The exercises for laying the corner stone of the War College, U. S. Army, will open with an invocation by the Right Reverend the Bishop of Washington."

The invocation by the bishop was as follows:

INVOCATION.

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'Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

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'Almighty God, Whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite, have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of Thy servants, the President of the United States and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek Thy honor and glory; and that we and all the people, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honor them, in Thee, and for Thee, according to Thy blessed word and ordinance, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen. [From the Book of Common Prayer.]

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"O Almighty God, the Sovereign Commander of all the world, Who sittest in the throne, judging right, we beseech Thee to bless with Thy favor the Army of these United States of America, that it may be a strong defense to our country and protection to her institutions; especially do we ask Thee to prosper our handiwork in the foundation of this War College, that it may be a school of sound learning and true heroism. Develop in our country the principles of law and order; direct and dispose the hearts of our rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of true religion and virtue. And grant that the course of this world may be so ordered by Thy governance that peace and happiness, truth and justice, temperance and fortitude, may characterize our nation through all generations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

The musical selection was "The Star Spangled Banner."

The master of ceremonies then introduced the President of the United States with the following words:

"We are fortunate in having with us to-day the President of the United States to give emphasis by his presence to the high purposes for which the Army War College is to be erected. It is most fitting that he should be present at the laying of the corner stone, to dedicate it in words which shall go forth to the Army as an incentive to every eligible officer to fit himself by earnest preparation for selection to receive the advanced instruction proposed to be given in the college. It is a significant fact that this is the centennial year of the original occupancy of this reservation for military purposes."

The address of the President was as follows:

"GENTLEMEN AND LADIES: It should be a matter of pride and congratulation to every American citizen interested in the welfare of his country that to-day we lay the foundation stone of a building

the erection of which signalizes a long stride forward in securing the efficiency of the United States Army, a step less important than that marked by the enactment of the law to create a general staff, but a step supplementing the passage of the act, rounding it out and rendering it of a far wider and far deeper usefulness.

"One word first to the nation and then another word to the Army. To the nation first: It has well been said that the surest way to invite national disaster is for a nation to be opulent, aggressive, and unarmed. [Applause.] The nation that is rich, that is so high spirited as to be somewhat careless of giving offense, and that refrains from that preparedness which is absolutely necessary if efficiency in war is ever to be shown-such a nation is laying deep the foundation for humiliation and disaster. As a people, whether we will or not, we have reached the stage when we must play a great part in the world. It is not open to us to decide whether or not we shall play it. All we have to decide is whether we shall play it well or ill. The part is before us. We have to play it. All that it rests for us to do is to say that we will play it well. [Applause.]

"This nation has, by the mere trend of events, been forced into a position of world power during the past few years. It has responsibilities resting upon it here in the Occident and in the Orient as well. It can not bear these responsibilities aright unless its voice is potent for peace and justice, as its voice can be potent for peace and justice only on condition of its being thoroughly understood that we ask peace, not in the spirit of the weakling and the craven, but with the assured self-confidence of the just man armed. [Loud applause.] "So much for the lesson to be learned by our people from the movement in which the erection of this building is a part.

"Now a word to the officers and enlisted men of the Army. The last two or three years have witnessed a notable awakening in our people to the well-being of the Army. Our people are understanding as never before the fact that the Army, like the Navy, will do well in