Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-02-23

capitol OF the United States Ii was An event
calculated I" inspire the deepest interest the most
joyful feelings III the hearts of freemen and lovers
OF liberty wheresocrcr dispersed. The corner
stone OF republican institutions had beeu laid and
constitution reared thereon that for the first
time III all the ages left people free to govern
themselves by officers selected by themselves In
the building now to BIZ erected these rulers were
, to meet aud frame laws for nations guidance
| In all he days Of trial through which they had
passed the patriot had looked forward to this lav
with hope long deferred. But ut last it had come
/ On the 18th of September, 1893 Alexandria
Lodge, presided over by Worthy Master Dick held
the post OF honor. and Brother George Washing.
! ton, wearing the apron and sash worked by
| Madam Lafayette and now the property of this
| lodge conducted the masonic ceremonies, pro.
uounclng the corner stone we'll formed, true
anu trllsty. Meet and proper it was that he who
had led the armies of his country to SUCCESS should
thus conSeerate to the genius of liberty that spot
| towards which to-day 100000 of freemen
look us doth the Mahomniedan towards Mecca.
But the end of festivities had come the vote.
OF mourning and lamentation was heard through
out our land, great man had fallen but moro
than that to our lodge, loved brother, i kind
| ncghbor had passed to his rest. Washington was
dead. His work was done And those who knew
anu loved him i'll life could only unite to pay the
last sad tribute of the living to the dead oAexan-
drla Lodge the sacred trust Of committing his
oody to the earth was assigned, and by them the
last offices for the dead, rs taught in our ritual
were performed. By the placid Potomac where
he was born, had lived and died, earth TO earth.
dust to dust, ashes to ashes the Master OF our
iouse consigned his mortal remains to rest aud
the brethren bowed down with grief returned to
| lodge OF sorrow, conltortcd only by tue thought
that his memory should live till time is no more
Passing on over years marked by Masonic &C
tirlty and hrotherlv love would be false 70 our
nature did we not pause ut the year 1924, and
| mark the progress OF events
The hopes aud fears of the lovers Of republican
Institutions had ended in fruition in the one case
and proven unfounded in the other. The thirteen
States had become twenty four, the 4 600 900
people OF the revolution had become 10 900 900
| the star OF empire had taken its way westward
the pride of Great Britain had been huuLled
again III the war of 1S12, and America stood
pfimnS lher poFss amongst the nations of the earth
peace aud plenty prevailed, the nations of the
earth were gathered here to build up its waste
| places. The oppressed Of the old world found
loving welcome in the new. Well may We wish
that those who bulded this grand ediice, who
| fought, bctl, toiled and labored for it. could but
have lived 10 see this day. TO some it was given
| b'it there came day during this year when na.
lions eyes We're turned towards the east 10 wei
come nations guest Lafayette. he who had
left his home to bring aid and encouragement to
struggling people. who had fought with them in
| th"ir battle for liberty, had sorrOwed with them
in their days of adversely aud rejoiced with them
when success had crowned their efforts LaEay-
cite, the friend of our country and of its great
men, the brother in arms of Washington the hero
Of many well fought field, bad como onrc again
to visit the land towards whose happiness he had
so largely contributed Once before brother of
the mystic tic bad visited the town. Universal
among the brotherhood was the desire to receive
aud entertain him as beftted his position Be.
scigcd By invitations from the highest in the land
ne came midst the reclamation of our people tn
share IN the hospitality of Alexandria Washing
ton Lodge No: %. An evening of social enjoy
ment followed and the guest Of the day meeting
his brethren rs such offered q toast that we may
| this night recall with pride, The Masonic Ten
pie OF Alexandria. and the illustrious yenerated
name under which it has been consecratcd " for
by this time Alexandria Lodge had become Alex.
| andria Washington Lodge No. %. | might touch
upon many matters in the history of our lodge of
interest to tue fraternity generally and to its
members especially but the Hight OF time warns
me not to trespass Oh your patience suffice it to
say that harmony aud good feeling has always
prevailed, aud success attended its every effort
In 1856 the lodge was again called upon to lay
corner stone; it was no longer day of rejoicing
1t was Il day of mourning. In the discharge OF
their duty seven brave and noble men of the city
OF Alexandria had lost their lives ir endeavoring
to eHtiuguish conilagration tlIat threatened the
whole town. And to their memory a monument
was erected solemnly consecrated by this lodge
On the night of tho 18th Of May 1871 shortly
after tho old town clock had tollcd the hour OF
| midnight the quiet old city Of Alexandria was
house was in flames and the hall where our breth.
ern had assembled for seventy years was threat
ened with destruction. Time only was sufficient
to save its most valued relies before the building
hhalloWeu by so many sacred "reminiscences was
consumed. Ere the thought of 4 proper Mace
OF meeting had entered the minds of our members
Brother f. \. Reed the Master Of Andrew Jack.
son Lodge III that spirit of brotherly love char
acterlstlc OF the true mason and Of thoughtful
ness inspired by his own generous instincts tend
q rnn thn ttcn nf In oc
Lodge. And there until the Temple was completed
our brethren gathered. But with true masonic zeal
undaunted ny the destruction of their lodge tho
4rethorn determined to rebuild it, working with
so much zeal that on the 2:Id day of February
| 1874, Most WorShipful Grand Master Wm II
Lambert, dedicated the Temple under whose roof
we now gather to masonry, virtue aud universal
benevoience In 1850 our sister lodge Andrew
Jackson. began to hold its meetings in our hall,
and working together We strive who can best work
and hest agree. From the few epochs in the his.
tory Of our lodge thus culled out Fl ON many that
might be noted did time permit its general repu.
tatsn its standing with the craft. its position in
the community may be gathered. To be mem
Der of Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22 is
now as during the past, a certificate of merit an
evidence Of character. mark of distinction
known to the brotherhood and recognized by
them i'll all this land. And in this community
while many landmarks have passed away Wash
ington Lodge in III The prime and vigor OF lis
youth Is still bridge across an hundred wears
| connecting the present with the past, tho dnrs
that are with the days that are &c more
Of its members. can only speak as a whole
TO select from the fifteen hundred men who haze
| formed our lodge in the past any but those whose
reputation is world wide. would be invidious. Yet
must speak OF them generally as their merits
deserve.
i In the hall Of our lodge have gathered lnen
worthy OF the name. and an honor to our nstitu.
ton, men who during long and useful lives
walked worthy in their several caIlngs and sta.
tions in life
Here have been brought to light ministers of Ia.
Most High whose eloquent words have carried con VIC
ton 10 the hungry soul and comfort to the distressed
men who IN the noisome pesence pursued their sarra
calling, who pointed the dying sinner to the Almighty
and sustained his sinking spirit in the hour of hntL
Physicians whose skill and learning repaired The ray
agcs OF diseases built up the sinking frame and cnye
lie to the sick Merchants with words good "a fheir
bonds the white sails of whose ships dotted the waters
OF the world, bearing our counrys flag TO every CLINE
Mechanics skilled in their trades who had so used The
gavel rs to drest their heart, and conscenc.5 Of Tia
vices and superuities of life Lawyers WHOSE ale:
tongues had plead tho Of the Graham and wao
ing oppressed anu the distressed against the Laws
1y ana the proud mans oontunely Soldiers Who,
6loou-red foot prints in the pitiless SHOWS Of vaa
Forge are automatically represented in the nernn
req and white stripes OF great peoples flag sailor
VINO IN me war OF 1879 had CONQUERED The ra