The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-05-20
Washingtos Masonic Apron-A Banquet
of Masons.

III INV hbtE
commandant Metz, in Germany, a distinguished
scion of an al lent noble French family. During
the copyersata at the table, the Duke of Glou-
cester. brothet to the King of England, spoke OF
the Declaratn of Independence, just put forth
by the An4American colonies, and OF the
strong measus adopted by the British ministry
to crush the ing rebellion. The young noble
man listened / silence. He was a boy in form
and personal bpearance, just past 10 but the
heart of patrifand hero was beating beneath his
closely buttoH coat, and his Imagination anu
zeal were fire ht the recital of a people fighting
for liberty. q rose from the table, hurrledly
made his ATTACHMENTS to return to Paris, and
revealed his IBID resolve to his equally enthuslas-
rio vonnp wild lie came to America, sought the
ACQUAINTANCE + the Commander-in-Chief of the
American arm. and volunteered to hght IN the
cause of Ameen liberty.
Life. voutHT fortune and the endearments of
home were alTeely devoted to colonial eInanci-
patton. Justhe method to awaken the nobler
sentiments ofhe heart, selfsacrifcing devotion
to the interestof others. Washington felt the
electric shockrom this benevolent heart and took
LAFAYETTE to |, bosom nor was the bond severed
till death gavthe stroke of mortal separation.
After the Gle of the war the young nobleman,
with more of oanly maturity, returned to Paris,
and over antover again, in glowing eloquence,
rehearsed thea5le virtues of the great American
leader to hisyOung and charming wife. She,
like every trs woman, was always deeply inter-
ested in everhing that engaged the attention of
her husband. She soon came to reverence Wash
ington with lfeeling closely allied to that of
devotion. Shl c~orresponded with him, and re-
ceived from hi cordial invitations to the simple
delights of rurl Gfe at Mount Vernon.
In 1884 Lafsete determined to visit Wash
ington in his direment. Madame Lafayette
earnestly desiredo present some visible testimony
of her regard tdtHe great patriot. Besides the
hOpd Of narSon4 fyiap6ShiD there was n bond OF
union between Washington and Lafayette oil a
different characsr. They were members of the
Fraternity of Rec and Accepted Masons, and
both loved the mystic brotherhood" Madame
Lafayette took advantage of this charm to add
interest to her testimonial Of esteem. She pre-
prepared with Ter own hands an Apron of white
satin, upon whsh she wrought in needlework all
the various emHems of the Masonic Order. This
she sent with tr husband to be presented to her
ideal of true gpatness at Mount Vernon. 1t was
kept by Washington as q cherished memorial of
a noble womanduring bis life. 1t now occupies
a conspicuous lace on the walls of the Grand
Master {. room n Masonic Hall, Philadelphia.
The foregoing is from b. j. Lossing's forth
coming :. Wellington" The Apron was used
at the city o Washington on the 10th OF last
month, at a reception and banquet given by the
Masonic Fraternity of the District to Earl de
Grey, Lord Tenterden, Sir John Mcdonald, Mr..
Northcote, son of SIR Strafford Northcote, and
Lestrange, Secretary of the British Legation.
The Earl is Grand Master of the Order in Eng
land. Senate SALISBURY is Grand Master of the
Grasd Lodge f the District OF Columbia. He
wore the apro, and sash and used the gavei Of
Washi6gt0n.-.fter ar address to the guests OF
warm words of raternai welcome by Stansbury,
Earl de Grey responded as follows
MosT WoRsEIPtuL sax AND BROTHERS: | trust
YOU Will permit ne to return u yJu ana to the
Grand Lodge OF th, District of Columbia my most
~sSateful thanks foi the very kind and fraternal
welcome which you have given me on this occa-
sion. L assure you, Sir, that | esteem it the
greatest honor to have thus been received, and to
have had the opportunity of being presented by
you to the Grand Lodge of the District of Column
bia, an honor, which lam well aware, l owe not
to my personal worth, but to the act-and the
most important and significant fact-that | am
the representative of the Grand Lodge of Eng
land. holding the highest Office that can be con-
ferred on a nason in England-that of Grand
Master-apd Sir, l esteem it most fortunate
for me as anindiyidual, and fortunate for Masonry
in both cointrles-that there should at length
have taken Iace so close a union between Masonry
in America ind Masonry in England, and that
you should DIV for the first time, as you tell me,
receive within the walls Of this important Grand
Lodge of rec MasOns, the Grand Master of
England. We all know that fraternity is the
first principe of Masonry, and therefore it is that
all must rejice at everything which tends to bind
more closel together the Masons of different
countries. Sir, esteem myself very fortunate,
indeed, to hive had it in my power to attend
here to-nigt. | shall carry away from this
Grand Lode the most grateful recollections of
YOUR kindnes. | shall make it my first duty to
tell my brethren in England of the magnificent
reception witch has been accorded to their Grand
Master to-nght, and [ I'M confident that L do not
misinterpret the feelings with which they will
receive the Attenuation when | see them. They
will indeed rejoice that the first step has been
taken whichwill tend to a closer and more init
mate union between American and English
Masons. [Geat applause. A union which, for
my part, 1 aways believed existed, but which [
believe will be closer and more intimate in the
future.
The Ear5was applauded as he resumed his
seat. The company sat down to banquent. At
the removi of the cloth, a table Lodge was
opened, anlthe government of the Grand Lodge
was suprens as in the Grand Lodge. None but
Masons wee admitted to any of the ceremonies.
Even the cterer's servants and musicians belong
to the frathnity.
"Our Nksonic Brethren of England - was re-
sponded to ly Lord Tenterden. He said
When the Masons of England receive the ac-
count of this days doings they will feel that a
great honor had been done to English Masonry,
The occasid of my coming from England to
Washingtonis one to which the principles of the
III PNAAA"J "PpAS"S' " 40 OiO III
which | am Ilre all right Masons will agree with
me that we mould 8 meet upon the level and part
upon the sqtare."
The healti of Sir John Macdonald having been
drank, he sad:
He had occasion once to travel with a sick
friend in tie United States, and, though unac-
quainted, waen it became known that he was a
Mason there was no favor which was not cordially
extended to him. He had the pleasure of attend
inc the centenlry of a Masonic Lodge of one of
the oldest and most renowned regiments of the
British army, where it was stated that during the
Revolutionary War the Masonic chest, containing
the evidences of their existence as a Lodge was
captured by vessel of the American navy. and,
although thg had given it up as lost, George
Washington, Commanding the armies o the United
States, did no forget he was a Mason, and re-
turned it in the most cordial and friendly way.
When he returned to Canada he would convey to
the Masons here an account of the high honor
which had ieen done English Masons on this
occasion.
COLUMBIA
rC