Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-18
"reminiscences.

To the editor of the Aierandria Gazette:
Quite by accident Il recently published
book by f. i. Brocket. esq. of Alexandria,
Va. has fallen into my hands. It seems
to be, as its title indicates, a history ofAlex-
andria Washington Lodge, &c, established
i'll 1888, but this is not ali; it is very care
fully prepared work and gives the reader a
very general idea of events and the leading
spirits that controlled them so far as relates
to the history of the quaint old town, or
rather city of Alexandria. The Alexandria
Washington Lodge, that means, of course. a
Masonic lodge, and the name of this one
would indicate, as it very surely does. that
not only Washington but the very best and
purcst men of other times that have gone
before lis belonged to this ancient order. and
although the writer is not of the fraternity
he has as high regard for many of those of
it as those outside of its pale. To this
lodge Washington belonged, and upon Gen.
Latayette's visit to this country in 1S24-5
he was invited by the Masonic Institution
of the town Of Alexandria to visit and be
entertained by them at such time as might
be most convenient for him." He in reply
to their invitation indicated Saturday. the
2lst of February, 1925, as the time when he
would be pleased to accept the hospitalitics
of his Masonic brethren. On that day La
iayette arrived at the City Hotel at 3 p. N.
and was Immediately conducted by the COM
mlttce OF arranger ents to the anti-chambcr
of the Washington Lodge ROOM \ few mo-
mcnts thereafter one of the committee an
nounced to the lodge already assembled
| n tn tl,no
room. and had requested to be introduced
TO his brethren of Washington Lodge. No
%. Instructions were given by the Wor-
shiptul Master to conduct him into the
lodge, and the brethren were requested to
rise and receive him
In a few moments the friend of Washing
ton arrived, clothed i'll the Masonic habli-
mentsso often worn by the Father of his
country, and was introduced to the Wor-
shiptul Master, who addressed the guest ''to
which Lafayette made Il brief reply after
which the master and officers of the lodge
presented their brethren singly TO the guest
who received them in the most atlectonate
and fathcrly manner, and often repeated his
assurance that it was one of the happcst
moments of his life These ceremonies be-
ing over the company was invited into Il
room where refreshments were served. After
the feast was over, toWhich the company sat
down at 6 o'clock. the cloths being removed
a number Of fixed toasts were drunk, among
them this: "Our Ilustrious Brother and
Guest, Gen. La Fayettc: His brethren take
peculiar pleasure in receiving him in that
Lodge over which their beloved Washing
ton was pleased to preside This toast
was received by the company standing and
answered by nine cheers. The company re-
suming their seats, General La Fayette rose
and made a brief reply, thanking his breth-
ren in ailectionate terms for their friendly
welcome This order, in Washington's day
and up to Il much later period, was very
popular with the masses, but in the full &c
NTH Of its prosperity and glory IA change
came by the reported exposure of its secrets
by man named VIM. Morgan who for this
cause made the order of less repute, and not
for many years after did it attain, if ever it
has, to its former prestige. The event to
which | allude occurred, | think. in 1896
now more than fifty years ago, and it was
brought to mind by the unveiling Of mon
ument erected to the memory of VIM. Nor
gan at Batavia n. Y, by the National Chris
tian Association about two months since,
One of the inscriptions on the monument is
this: Sacred to the memory of VIM. Nor
gan, a native of Virginia, captain in the
war of lSl2, respectable citizen of Batavia,
and martyr to writing, printing and speak
ing the truth
Subscriptions to the monument fund were Sc
cured throughout the country. The monument
is nearly forty feet high and bears Il statue of
Morgan seven feet six inches in height
1t was claimed that Morgan was murdered
and there IA 'e been from time to time,
since his mysterious disappearance all sorts
of stories told about it. but the fact re-
mains the same all reports to the con-
trary notwithstanding that nobody knows what
became of him except the persons that took or
abducted him from the Jail in Canandagua. y. Y.
where he was confined for trivial debt which
upon being paid by somebody the evidence of
which being produced to the jailor's wife in the
temporary absence of her husband he was released
and Immediately upon reaching the open air at
an understood signal a carriage drove up and
he was spirited away and that's the last that was
ever known of VIM. Morgan except by those who
abducted him. The writer was born in the vii.
lage where this event occurred and remembers
when quite a lad, going with another youncster
whose father was one of the suspected parties to
see him IN the Jail where he with Others was con-
fined for time on account of mere supposed COM
plicity in the affair. The writer knew the iailor's
family very we'll and only few years ago learned
from his oldest son that he went with his mother
holding on to her apron strings while she unlock
ed the door of Morgan's cell, and that this cir
cumstance and the excitement attending and
growing out of the affair made an ndclible i'm
preston upon his mind. B.
Washington, D. G., Oct. 81, 1882
TEsT POCKET DYSPEPSIA CURE