The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-25

Monitor, was in many respects ex6mplaz of Masonry
Endowed with fine native gs sweet songster, post
Of elevated cast, dgnihed in manners pure and si
pehearted in his intercourse with men, enthusiastically
devoted to the theory and practice Of FTeemasony he
stood mp before brethren from 1898 to 1918 the
apostle Of the Masonic dispcnsaton No living or
dead was cherished much ~ Webb. No mans opin-
ions in all Masonic matters exercised much sway and
although he has been dead nearly forty years. it is to this
day the highest boast any Of make in Masonic
attanmentx sthat we have Webb's work r.
But this man, talented he WAS could not have esta
shed himself internationally in Masonic esteem but for
his social qsale 1t that he shone equally 1T Ma
wit and bypay - in the discussions Of science and
rality that gave him the appellaton Of Re The Nass
1t was becsuSe he who wrote,
hall n the usCynnx thss bids ~ ren4cc
The Temples compssssd, sxaK every voice
one Of the most brilliant efforts in poetry wrote also
these stanzas
whcn Janss warden calls us ftom our lspors,
= when the sun = = meridian height
Let Us merriy,
wan 's Sa. ~. ass. II y ne new s.S S'' invite
To the fna&s repairing,
All around, joys resoand,
Each the pleasure sharing
Mrh and oluty wthou, friyols,y
Pervade our meetings at the festive board;
Jn-ace iempersasace and prudence govern ns,
Given INTO US nom the Sassrra chair,
I'LL the sim an boar has past meridian, 81
One and all, hear the call,
From The feast repairing,
All around, aaves sound,
Each tho labor sharing
Those whose good fortune 1t was 10 spend the festive
winter night with Thomas Smith Webb testified all
their lives afterwards with what propety these odes
OF his apparently 20 various In their DRIFT, could be APP
piled to the masonic purpose to the ceentng together
Of the wal and the re happiness Of those who partici
patcd In their erection. II was mvorite theory Of
Webs and IN his own he particularly solicit
kk~k H.
Masonry should equal its duties and responsibilities
ihe u tbs craft too wcighty to be endured
unless - advantages BE- appcciatc and enjoyed In
eluAa neasurc II the Masonic lodge is to BE- made
mere co0ventcic. ~ some modern teachers would have
IT, = not worth maintaining It all It's religion and
morality pure - they arc. shares with the Church
Its Pcuqlay benefits shared by other societies large
Ana respectable Ia their membership; but it, soci ad
sa"e IN means Of opening the heart Of brother
the eye OF another it's distribution of the purst pleasure
IN the largest dividends, unapproached and unap
proachablc.
In the description given by Bancroft Of the personal
Qualities and appearance Of Washington he has described
10 admirable words the incompatible dignity OF the man
lhn was always observed in Warrington, but more e.
pscaly after his assuming the command of the army of
the revolution Naturally Of social turn reasonably
'onu Oh Jest able to maintain fair part in sportve
ieparsee the immense burden Of labor and responsibility
,oced upon him in his latter years visible outwardly
IN An 'mperturbable gravity and reserve. s'He was
ne,y Known TO smile he was never heard to laugh,
was sne scstmony borne Of him Ivy who much in
n" soes through the period of the revolution Even
~ tne semi-domcstc freedom Of his military family in
ne oompanonshp Of the brilliant and light hearted
nAmi'cn as hts aiddecamp and the coarse but cor
.i and honest Putnam, his guest nothing was infu
en1A enough to unbend that infcxble bow which re-
'pV'siVhty had strung fof him Those who saw him
ony IN council or at the frugal banquets Of the service
nouid have vowed that the social element had been
pss%ed out of George Wxshingtou's heart
pu 'ere were times, and they occurred now and then
,,o, ams' the most depressing periods Of the revolu
u when even tho Paser Patrir could and did unbend
mnen entering the portals Of Masonic lodge and hear
ing tnem closed behind him. the faithful Mer carefully
lining tnem against the approach Of cavans and
All responsibility for the hour forgotten,
'p 'he npcrturbable countenance relaxed Those who