The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-09


Washington Lodge, No. 80, f. A. NJ, pre-
sided over by the immortal himself, and IN
whose honor it was named. Subsequently,
however, the cession of Alexandria to the
District rendered necessary change in the
title, and the old Masonic branch was 1e-
christened as the Alexandria, Washington
Lodge, No. 90.
The first lodge-room-there are two of
them-is called, I feel tempted to hazard,
the Blue Chamber. The carpet in this long,
spacious apartment, the curtains, the furni-
ture finish -everything-is blue; and the
sun-rays piercing those many shades, all
closed, has the effect OF dashing the entire
room with a blush air, at once novel and
impressive. Here may be seen the chair Of
state which was occupied SO often by Wash
and still retained in use; also, the gaveI
with which he ruled proceedings in the
simmer temple;" also, the two "lesser
lights" belonging, Of course, to the lodge,
and carried in the funeral procession
which escorted the remains OF the immoT-
til to their last resting place. TINS
same room fairly teens with relics OF
| every description, and continues in the GUS
tody in the old lodge. Washington's cham
Der clock is here; it is curious piece Of
mechanism, wrought by "George Med
hurst, London" and has its pendulum
hung in the centre; still retained in its old
| condition, the hands yet point at the hour
when the first and best Of Presidents
breathed his last-twenty minutes after 10
O'Clock ION the evening, as history tells us,
OF December IA, 1799).
There is also painting Of Washington,
executed in 1894 by order Of his lodge; also
painting OF the Marquis de Lafayette, exc
+ho Il ;pf, INIT
ty-two years Of age, and presented to Wash
ington; also the lodge charter, dated 1888,
and the pictures OF the members who con-
stituted the lodge in 1904, all grouped in one
frame; also a small likeness of DR.. E. c.
Dick, who read the service at the grave Of
Washington. Two cases, having glass doors,
are located on the left side of the room, and
contain the following array Of relics, CRATE
ful sight for the patriot OF to-day Centennial
Dilprims please take notice.: A piece of
Washington's coffin and coffin-cloth, boot
strap or garter; piece of Braddock's coat
worn at the time Of his death; Washington's
wedding gloves; piece of his tent at York
town; stick of sealing-waX found in his
escritoire, and last used by him; box made
OF the wood Of Shakspeare's famous null
berry tree, and under the branches whereof
the bard delighted to sit and mediate; ;
Washington's penknife, given him by his
mother when he was twelve years OF age,
and kept by the great man until he was
fifty-siN; cupping instrument belonging
to Washington; his field compass; his field
spurs; Masonic apron worked by Mrs. Gen
eral Lafayette, and presented to Washing
ton; q button OF the Kind fashionable at
Washington's first Inauguration, in 1889;
and Indian towahawk of stone, found on the
hills surrounding the Kanawha river; copy
OF q printed invitation and plate found in
| Washington's effects; the right-hand glove
Worn by Washington while in mourning for
his mother; Washington's pruning-knife; E;
button from the coat worn by the Father
Of his country at his first inauguration !;
medal of Washington, presented to him by
D. Eccleston Lancaster, Esq, the founder
OF free schools in England; silver dollar
| Of 1893; piece OF the old vault which re-
ceived Washington's remains, and few
other reminders OF those days which are
supposed to have tried mems souls.
| In vet another mysterious chamber, whose
| prevailing color my minds eye, or more pro-
| perly, perhaps, my eyes mind, does not ut
| this minute recall, may be seen, among an
army Of such, the following additional rel-
| les A painting OF Thomas, Sixth Lord Of
| Fairfax, who employed Washington as, his
surveyor; q collection OF fnely-wrought
glassware belonging to the lodge; Masonic
aprOn belonging to Brother DR.. James
Craik. surceon-general OF the Revolution
ary war; a trio of letters, written by
the immortal, and dated respectively De-
cember %, l7s3. June 10, ,l7S4, and No
yember II, 1899 (this last one only one short
month prior to his death), and the two fol-
lowing writings of olden times, whose sew
eral transcriptions shall end this inventory.
One Of these is an admittance to gentle
mans ball, and is written on the reverse OF
the eight Of spades, proving that even IN
those days there were prohclents III the
handling OF deck. 1t reads:
"Ticket for the Gentlemen's Free Ma
sons' Bali. to be given at the Market House
in Fredericksburg, on Monday, the 2S De-
cemr. DAVID BLAIR, Secretary, 1861" Y
The other is Il document of more stable
tenor:
UShipped, by the grace OF God, in good
order and we'll condition, by William Lee
in and upon the good ship called the Friend
shin, whereof is master under COD, 1or thls
present voyage, William Romain, and now
riding at anchor in the river Thames, and.
by Gods grace, bound for Virginia, to say:
One case, one trunk, one box OF perchan-
disc. being m'rk'd and numbered as in the
margin, and are to be, delivered in like good
order and we'll conditioned at the aforesaid
Port of Va. (the dangers OF the seas only
accepted), unto Mrs. Anne Washington, ut
Pope's Greek, Potomac river, or to her as
signs, freight for the sd goods being pd with
primage and average accustomed. In Wit
ness whereof the Master or PIrser OF the SO
shin hath affirmed to 3 bills Of Lading, a1l OF
this tenor and date; the one OF which bills
being accomplished, the other TO stand
void. And so God send the good ship to
her desired Port in safety, Amen.
"Dated in London, Oath December, l7!3.
.WILLIAM ROMAN. - : .i., &