Laying of the Cornerstone
II was an impressive occasion, back in
1 79:i. when leading citizens of the slate
gathered at Chapel Hill to formally inaugu¬
rate the building program of the University
of North Carolina.
By ARCHIBALD II END UK SON
CTOBER 12. 1793. the date of
the laving of the cornerstone
of the “North Wing.” later
known as "Old East" at the uni¬
versity of North Carolina, is cer¬
tainly one of the most significant
dates in North Carolina.
On that bright autumn day,
when the "maple trees flamed red
in the eager air.” a procession of
dignitaries, stately in mien and
conscious of the far-reaching im¬
portance of the occasion, wended
its way eastward along the gently
undulating slopes of New Hope to
the spot destined to become eter¬
nally historic. Notable among the
trustees in that procession were the
commissioners who located the site
and laid off the town; Alfred
Moore. John Haywood. John Wil¬
liams, William Hill. General
Thomas Blount. General Alexander
Mebane, and the venerable Fred¬
eric Hargett.
In this distinguished gathering,
the two figures primarily instru¬
mental in founding the University
were most conspicuous — Dr. Sam¬
uel Eusebius McCorkle and Wil¬
liam Richardson Davie.
It is fortunate for posterity that
a graphic and interesting account
of the exercises was written by
Davie and published in his home
town of Halifax. It is as follows:
Davie's Report
"On the 12th inst.. the Commis¬
sioners. appointed by the Board of
Trustees of the University of this
State, met at Chapel Hill for the
purpose of laying the cornerstone
of the present building and dis¬
posing of the lots of the village. A
large number of the brethren of
the Masonic order from Hills¬
borough. Chatham. Granville and
Warren, attended to assist at the
ceremony of placing the corner¬
stone; and the procession for this
purpose moved from Mr. Patter¬
son’s at 12 o’clock in the following
order:
"The Masonic Brethren in their
usual order of the procession, the
1
в
Commissioners, the Trustees not
Commissioners; the Hon. Judge
Macay and other public officers;
then followed the gentlemen of the
vicinity. On approaching the south
end of the building, the Masons
opened to the right and left, and
the Commissioners, etc., passed
through and took their places.
"The Masonic procession then
moved on around the foundation
of the building and halted, with
their usual ceremonies, opposite
the southeast corner, where Wil¬
liam Richardson Davie, Grand-
Master of the Fraternity, etc., in
this State, assisted by two masters
of Lodges and four other officers,
laid the cornerstone, enclosing a
plate to commemorate the transac¬
tion.
"The Rev. Dr. McCorkle then
addressed the Trustees and specta¬
tors in an excellent discourse
suited to the occasion. ... He con¬
cluded with these observations:
" ‘The seat of the University was
next sought for, and the public eye
selected Chapel Hill — a lovely situ¬
ation — in the center of the state —
at a convenient distance from the
Capital — in a healthy and fertile
neighborhood. May this hill be for
religion as the ancient hill of Zion;
and for literature and the muses,
may it surpass the ancient Parnas¬
sus! We this day enjoy the pleasure
of seeing the cornerstone of the
University, its foundations, its ma¬
terials, and the architect for the
Dr. Henderson's latest book,
"The Campus of the First
State University,” is one of
the best books that has been
written about the University
of North Carolina. It was
published last year by the
University of North Carolina
Press and contains much in¬
teresting information about
the start and development of
this great educational institu¬
tion.
building; and we hope ere long to
see its stately walls and spire as¬
cending to their summit. Ere long
we hope to see it adorned with an
elegant village, accommodated
with all the necessaries and con¬
veniences of civilized society.'
"This discourse was followed by
a short but animated prayer, closed
with the united amen of an im¬
mense concourse of people.
"The Commissioners then pro¬
ceeded to sell the lots in the village:
and we have the pleasure to as¬
sure the public, that although there
were but twenty-nine lots, they
sold upwards of one thousand, five
hundred pounds, which shows the
high ideal the public entertain of
this agreeable and healthful situa¬
tion.”
The brass plate embodied in the
cornerstone bore the following in¬
scription on its face (On the re¬
verse side the inscription is in
Latin):
The
Right Worshipful
William Richardson Davie
of
The most Ancient and Honorable
Fraternity
Of Free Masons, in the State of
North Carolina
One of the Trustees of the
University
of the Said State
And a Commissioner of the Same
Assisted by
The other Commissioners, and the
Brethren
Of the Eagle and Independence
Lodges
On the 12th day of October
In the Year of Masonry 5793
and in the 18th Year of American
Independence
Laid the Corner Slone
of this Edifice.
THE STATE. FEBRUARY A. 1950
