Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-02-23
WASHINGTON LODGE cEETENNIAL,-SAN
Q1IEN

at which there was q very large attendance
OF members and visiting MaSous from other
lodges
Donch's band of six pieces from Washing
ton was also present part Of the time, and
discoursed excellent music there as wei! as
ut the banquet.
The lodge was called to order by W. NJ.
{. L. Stuart and Rev. N. Sutcr. OF Christ
Church offered prayer.
Among the prominent visiting Masons
present were the following 4. w. w. B.
lsaacs, of Richmond, grand secretary of
Virginia; ". G.. w. Poe, deputy grand sec
rotary pro tenn. of the Grand Lodge of Vir-
glnla T. NJ. J. p. Milness, of PENNSYLVANIA;
I. NJ. Jawler, Washington, No l6; E. G.
Hight. OF Atlantic Lodge Maine and 9TH
erS
Regrets at the inability to be present on
the occasion We're received from Judge T.
L. Wexford, of Richmond, Va; c. B. Dav.
&. NJ, of Pennsylvania r. NJ. Page, G.. NJ.
of Virginia NJ. Ncsbit, G.. S. of peensylva
MIA: 7. S. Coles, p. c. NJ. OF Virginia, and
congratulations by telegraph from Mount
Vernon lodge of Rhode Island.
Judge Stuart then delivered a chaste and
beautiful address which was loudly applaud
ed and for which he received the congratu-
laton of all present. He spoke as follows ::
Members Of the Masonic Fraternity: welcome
your presence to this our day of fcslivty.
Brethren Of Andrew Jackson Lodge. who are
engaged with us i'll teaching and practiciug the
immortal and cnnobing doctrines of Masonry in
this community. bid you that hearty welcome
here which the relations of friendship and broth
erly love existing between us demand aud TO YOU
my brethren Of Alexandria Washington Lodge
No %, extend my hearty congratulations that
though century has rolled by since the institution
OF this lodge years checqucred with peace and war
JOY and sorrow, foes without and alas sometimes
Toes within s.; yet faithful to every trust, steadily
teaching the great doctrines, faith in God, hope
| Ill. immortality and charity toward all mankind
the odgeof our love IS to-day celebrating with the
respect and appreciation of all who know it, its
hundredth anniversary. Go back into the past
as far As the pen of the historian records the
habits OF people, back into those old days till the
twilight of civilization dims, then fades into the
| darkness that precedes the coming dawn amongst
all people in national matters as we'll as in private
relations, and We See the custom of celebrating
each great event in the life of the nation or the
individual firmly fixed in the minds and affections
| OF the world. How enlinently meet and proper is
it then that we should gather beneath the shadow
OF our own roof, upon the spot and by the altar
where our fathers offered up their devotion TO the
| Supreme Architect of the Universe surrounded
| by SO many articles that recall the great men who
have been members OF our lodge, aud here celr-
| brate with JOY and gladness, praise and thanks
giving, the day that marks the attainment Of our
| first century.
hn hundred years ago the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania issued its warrant to Robert Adam,
| Michael Ryan. and William Hunter names to this
day among the honored and esteemed il this com
| munity, authorizing them to admit aud make
| Freemasons according to the most ancient and
| honorable n hn (ruf, IN, n
and nations throughout the known world and not
c0utrarywise " in Lodge No. 30
The charter WAS granted ut Time memorable
III the history of the world and dear To the lover
OF humanity But u few years before the great
bell in Philadelphia had proclaimed Ii berry
throughout the land 10 the Inhabitants thereof >
aud the onward tramp of patriot armies de-
| termintd to be frcemcn had echoed through the
Western continent. Now the deadly combat, the
forced march. the hurried retreat the devastated
fields, the burning h0mestcads had become things
Of the past and triumphant over. freedoms foes
rose tie graudest fabric of ancient or modern
times-thc American Union. Amongst those who
gathered i'll Lodge 80 were men who on every
we'll fought field in liberty cause had shown their
man hood and their love of country
| Men who had left weeping wives and babes al
home to fight battles that should hand down tn
| their childrens children and to generations vet
| unborn hOuudGss continent blessed with the
smile of the Almighty, fruitful in the products of
every CLINE and IN heritage for the distressed and
oppressed of all the nations They were men
who. with every breath, had imbibed the love OF
freedom. men who gazing upon the lofty noun.
tain peaks reaching heavenward, the majestic
rivers flowing uDclrbed and unlettered toward
the sea- the smiling valleys, the peaceful plains,
| had ycarned after that freedom of thought and
of action coveted by one created in the image OF
God yet understood only by those who appreciate
the immortal doctrine, "All men are Ev naiure
! free and equal Men who had learned by e1.
| pcricuce the value Of that mystic tic which makes
all mankind akin; who had seen the hIyonct raised
the sword point thirsty for blood, drop
ut the talsmanic word brother or when
the mystic sign was given. Men who
had seen the cmbttered enemy bury. his wrath
and as Il mother nurses its child relieve n dis
tresSed brother, whispering sweet counsels in his
ear or with the beautiful ritual of the order com.
nit his body TO the earth in confident hope of tho
resurrection of that better part which can never.
never, never die. Such the men who counted
themselves proud to he numbered with our order
| the days of old and when in 1888 it was
deemed cxpcdnnt to sever its connection with tho
| Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and connect itself
with the Grand Lodge of its native State Vir.
! Snia the choice of such men for Il first master
under the Virginia charter could not ut that day
! ha doubtful. Towering above his fellow men in
mental grandeur like some colossus, was one, n
man, mason. lover ofhis fellow man. He hud knrt
at that sacred altar an Entered Apprentice he had
ncCn passed Id the ueSree OF Fellow Craft, he had
! been raised to the sublime degree of an NJ NJ Asa
noishbor all loved him who knew him. and who
did not know bright face and sterling integrity.
| As nelghhor who had not seen him in familiar
| intercourse with tho people OF the town or in
friendly converse by their tiresdes IS soldier of
Christ, vestryman of the church hallowed by
So many "reminiscences, Il man who had led the
armies of the Revolution. upheld by his sonius
through trials manifold Of hunger, naked.
ness cold defeat. to the browning act Of his life
the defeat Of the British army and the arknowl.
edsment by Great Britain of American iudepep.
dence. Surely here. where by the majestic Foto
mae, rest all that is mortal Of him, | need not
name him-the immortal Washington Glad
ly concnrring in the wishes OF his bre-
thTen, Washington accepted the trust AMI
Lodge No. ~ became Alexandria Lodge No %
with General George Washington as its master
Here the first of his age, the equal of any in the
past, met his masonic brethren upon the level
end from the chair now used by the mas err of this
lodge prcsidel over the deliberations of his
brethren, or repaired with them the hour of labor
being over, 10 the place Of refreshmeut. Among
the many beautiful rites and ceremonies of our
order none IS more beautiful or attractive than
Ehat OF laying corner stones of pnblic ediices,
Upon two memorable occasions tles audra Lodge
No. ~ was called upon to perform or assist in
performing this ceremony. The hrst was upon
the laying OF the corner stone Vt the Alexandria