Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-02-22
THE NATIONS GUEST.

Masonic Brethren, or town was again honor.
ed on yesterday BY tAe presence Of thin great
and beloved man.
The inclemenct Of the morning excited an
apprehension in many, that they would be dis
appointed in the pleasure so anxiously antici.
pated; but, at the appointed hour, they were
relieved by the welcome information, that the
Guest had arrived, accompanied by his friend
Col. La Vasseur. He aIshted from his CARR
age at the door ofthe City Hotel, at o'clock.
and was Immediately conducted by the CON-
mittee of arrangement 70 the antechamber Of
the Washington Lodge room.
The Lodge had been formed at three, and
were ready for his reception. In few mi.
nutes after he had beta conducted into the
antechamber, one of tn. committee announc.
ed to the Worshipfui Master that Brother La
Fayette was in the adjoining room and had re.
quested to be introduced to his Brethren d
Washington Lodge, No. %. Instructions
were given by the Worshipfal Master to con-
duct him into the Lodge, and the Brethren
were requested to rise and receive him.
In a few minutes the friend of Washington,
clothed in the masonic habiGments SO often
worn by the Father Of his Country, entered
the room, conducted by Brother Roberts, the
Mayor of the Town, and by him was intro.
duced to the Worshipful Master. The Wor.
shipful Master then addressed the Guest as
follows:
Hlustrlous Brother La Fayete:
Among the various demonstrations Of JOY,
which your arrival in the United States has e.
licited from the hearts of its grateful citizens,
none have been more truly respectful, or more
sincerely rendered, than the cordial welcome
of your Masonic Brethren.
The services which you have rendered tc
our beloved country, in the war which attain
ed its independence-when you abandoned
family, friends, fortune and home, to aid the
cause oflibery-to fight its battles, and to burs
aslnder the chains of bondage, are in our mind:
"freshly remembered"
Through all the Yicissitudes Of your distin
guished LIFE, you have been. present to oul
minds. and dear to our affections
Whether as the conquering hero, on the vic
torious plains of York, or as prisoner at Oh
mutt to the enemies of freedom-whethel
asserting and defending the rights of liberty
in the stormy councils Of your country, o.
peacefully situated in the bosom of your ia
mily, at the happy mansion Of La Grange, you
have ever been revered as some of the pillar:
of our Temple"
1t affords me inexpressible pleasure, to be
the organ Of my Brethren, here assembled, tt
welcome you into the bosom of this Lodge
in which your highly valued friend, the be
loved Father Of ous country, was wont to pre-
side over our fsssKs.s and iHcalcete the princi
pies of our order" Friendship, Morality
Brotherly Love and Charity" While it is GU
pride and boast that we had him to rule owe
us, we also esteem ourselves peculiarly happy
in having you for our patron. When Masonry
has such supporters, its principles will be main
tained-its cause must flourish.
Accept, illustrious Sir and Brother, our mos
cordial welcome though we are unable tt
pay the debt Of gratitude which is due to you
you have our prayers that happiness may at
tend you, until the Grand Master of the uni
we're shall summon you to eternal happiness
in the Grand Lodge above.
To which the venerable Guest replied
"WorMipful Sir, and Brethren Of Washing
Lodge receive with peculiar sensations Thu
mark of kindness and attention, and these ex
pressions Of esteem from my Masonic Bre
thren; and it is particularly gratifying to my
feelings to visit Lodge, over which our la
mented illustrious Brother Washington pre-
sided. / shall ever cherish high regard to-
Masonry, and pray you, Worshipful Sir, ane
the rest of the Brethren, to accept my particu
lar and grateful Acknowledgements.
The master and officers of the Lodge, mex
presented their Brethren singly to the Guest
who received them in the most affectionate ane
fatherly manner, and often repeated his as
surance that it was one of the happiest mo
ments of his life. The scene was extremely
interesting and the recollections which ma
turally associated themselves, were such a.
are rarely experienced. The room was beau
tifully furnished, and decorated in the riches
and simplest manner by the hands OF our patrl
otto sisters. Over the Masters char huns
the portrait of its immortal first occupant
over that of the Senior Warden, was TIT
portrait Of the venerable Guest, takei
forty years ago, and held in possession OF th'
Lodge during the whole of that time; and Oh
other parts of the wall were those OF all the
Presidents of the United States, so striking a
at once to be recognized by both the Guests
We regret that our limited time will not per
NIT US to do justice to the description we have
undertaken-we can only give hasty sketch
at present, and must make up forour defclen
CIV hereafter. The ceremonies being over
the company was invited into r00m' where
refreshments were set out; and soon Afterwards
dinner being announced, the procession wa
formed.
The Fraternity then moved in the follow
ing order to Clagett's Hotel:
ORDER OF PROCESSION.
Tylers Of Lodges.
Stewards of Lodges.
Youngest Master Masons.