The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-09
MASONIC COLUMN.
From the washington Capftal.j
FreemasOnry in the District.

| FROM TIE WdSIIuStOu SaplIaI.I
FreemasOnry in the District.
The fact that some Of the members OF
the late British High Commission are
members Of the Fraternity of Frecma-
sons affects directly a large, influential,
and respectable portion of our people.
The Earl de Grey is the Grand Master
Of Masons Of England, succeeding in
highest Masonic office the Earl Of let
land, who held it for twenty-siX years.
Lord Tenterden is Past Master Of the
Lodge Of Harmony and Past First
Principal of the Chapter Of Iris, Eng
land. Sir John A. Macdonald and
Colonel Bernard are prominent and dis
tinguishcd members Of the Masonic
Fraternity ofCanada. As Masons they
are bound by the tie of confratcrnity to
half a million Of the substantial citizens
of the United States. These gentlemen
were not merely ornamental or honor
arv members of the Craft, holding its
high offices in virtue Of their social
rank, and leaving to others the pcrfor-
nance of its labors. I'm the midst Of
his numerous official and social duties
Lord Tenterdcn found time to pay
several visits to the lodges in this .iuris-
diction, and before two OF them ilustra-
ted in a mastery manner the workings
of the order according to the English
ritual. He was elected an honorary
member Of pcntalpha Lodge in this
city, and carries back to England a
beautiful and costly Past Masters jewel
as a souvenir of his Masonic association
with the brethren here.
The other members Of the commits
sion were also practical workmcn in the
Masonic art
To those who know what Frccmason-
airy is it stands in need Of no indorSc-
mcnt or cncomums. But there are
always persons, superficial and super
cilious, who coniound it with the thou
sand ephemcra associations which have
initiated and travcstied its insignia and
its rites, and which are 50 constantly
seeking that publicity and parade which
it is one of the first principles OF Ma
sorry to avoid.
1t is cherished prejudice with such
persons that Masonry is vulgar; and
it must have been a severe shock to
their feelings to discover that the cream
of European aristocracy did not dlSdaln
its honors, or shrink from public allilia-
ton with the institution as it exists
among us. Those who may chance TO
drop into Gardeners may there see the
photographs of Earl slc Grey and Lord
Tentcrden, clothed in lamb-skin aprons
and a full Masonic insignia.
The occasion is not inopportune to say
something Of the history and status OF
Freemasonry in this District, where it
has reared a temple at cost OF 5000
600, which is an ornament TO our city,
and where it has lately played the host
in princcly style to noble and distin-
guished guests from foreign countries
and from every quarter OF orr own
land.
The early history of Masonry in tLis
locality is naturally associated with the
name of George Washington. He first
learned to love the Craft in the early
provincial and military lodges, which
originally received the ritual of spccula-
tive Masonry from England, and III
which he met the first gentleman Of
Maryland and Virginia. We are in
iebted to the researches OF that we'll
known Masonic proficient, MAJOR Ben
Perley Poore, for many facts in the
early history Of the Craft in this lati-
tude. He expresses the belief that
Potomac Lodge, OF Georgetown, Is de-
scended from st. Andrews Lodge, which
was in working order in that place in
1913. OF Lodge No 9, in Georgetown,
the only relic is the marble gavc which
was used by Washington when Presi-
dent, in laying the cornerstone OF the
Capitol. The first Masonic hall was
erected in Georgetown in 1910.
The southcastern boundary.mark stone
of the District of Columbia was laid
with Masonic honors, by the Craftsman
of Alexandria. April Is, 1871. Federal
Lodge No. !, was chartered by the
Grand Lodge of Maryland, September
II, 1893, and six days afterwards the
cornerstone of the Capitol was laid by
that lodge, assisted by Lodge No. 9, of
Georgetown, and 81, of Alexandria.
The Masonic ceremonies were perform
ed by President Washington, and the
gavcl used was then presented by him
to Valentine Reinzel, who afterwards
became the first Grand Master Of Ma
sons Of the District Of Columbia.
The Grand Lodge. Of the District OF
| Columbia was organized December |,
1910. by delegates from Federal Lodge,
Potomac Lodge Columbia Lodge, and
Naval Lodge, of Washington. and
Brook Lodge, of Alexandria.
Among the older lights of Masonry
in the District may be mentioned
Alexander McCormik, Joseph 1nglc
John Mount, William Lambert, Daniel
Kurt 7. Corcoran, jr., Charles Cruik-
shank, r. C. Weightman, William w.
Seaton, and Robert KeywOrth.
Henry Clay presided over Masonic
convention held here to consider the
! formation of National Grand Lodge,
a proposition which has since been
warmly advocated but never accom-
plished.
Lafayette was distinguished Mason,
and his reception by his Masonic broth
rem on his return to this country was
the means of causing large accessions
to the Craft from among those who are
| o,.nr randy To aAnnt ANYTHING which