National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-21

Tho records Of Fredericksburg Lodge,
No. 4, show the following facts; Nov. 4,
5752, that Washington was present on
that day, and the 9th Of November tho
record says:
Received OF Mr. George Washington, for his
March !, 5T5s-George washington passed
Fellowcraft.
Aug /, 75s-Georgo Washington raised
Master Mason.
The old record book of the lodge is still
preserved, and tho Bible on which ho
pledged his VOWS to Masonry is here to-
day; and the book OF constitution of the
lodge, signed by him, is also here.
fredericksburg Lodge was organized
under authority from Thomas Oxnard,
provincial grand master at Boston, and
was one Of the four lodges represented at
Williamsburg whom the Grand Lodge Of
Virginia was organized as an independent
grand lodge.
When the constitution had been adopted
by the convention in 1888, and ratified
by the states, Gen. Washington was
elected tho first president Of the United
States, and in tho city Of New York, on
the Both day of April, 1859, he was in
of Office upon the Bible Of st. Johns
Lodge, No. l, Of New York city. Robert
X. Livingston, chancellor Of the state Of
New York and the grand master of tho
Grand Lodge of that state, administered
to him his oath Of office. This Bible was
procured by the marshal Of the day, Gen.
Jacob Morton, who was also worshipful
master Of that lodge, ana also the grand
secretary Of the Grand Lodge OF New
York.
UPON TAKING THE OATH
Washington bowed his head reverently
and kissed the sacred volume. Chancellor
Livingston exclaimed, solemnly: Long
live George Washington, president Of the
United States" which was responded to
by the thousands present, Long live
to-day tho officers aud members of that
old Lodge St. John, No. 1, aud the
veritable Bible upon its historic cushion.
The memory of Washington's oath OF
Office upon it is perpetuated by the fol-
lowing inscription. beautifully engrossed,
aud accompanied by miniature likeness
from an engraving by Leney, which were
inserted by order of the lodge. The
closing poetic lines were first written by
the Rev. DIR. Haven, Of Portsmouth, n.
H., on Washington's visit to that town In
1859, in answer to an inquiry by what
title he should be addressed. Tho COM
mittee appointed by the lodge to form
this memorial were sworn on the same
volume to do it faithfully. The follow
Ing is
A COPY OF THE INSCRIPTION:
ss on Vim. of Washington. volume dnis
On the 8Oth day of April, A. NJ. $3.50, in the
city of New York,
Was Administered to
George Washington
The First President of the United States Of
America,
The Oath
To Support the Constitution OF the United
States.
This Important Ceremony Was Performed by
the Most worshipful Grand Master
OF Free and Accepted Masons of the State o.
Robert X. Livingston,
Chancellor OF the State.
Fame spread her wings and loud her trumpet
Great Washington is near. What praise hi
what title shall he have9 She paused ant
Not one: his name alone strikes every It'll,
deadl
THE CAPITOL CORNERSTONE
was laid on Sept. 81, 1893, in the thir
teenth year of American Independence
when a grand Masonic procession tool
place for the purpose. Gen. Washington
Potomac from the Virginia shore o.
Georgetown, and was received by the vol
unteer artillery. and the officers and breth
rem of Alexandria Lodge. No. %, and Co
lumbia Lodge, No. o, of Georgetown, an6
proceeded to the Presidents square, In
the city of Washington, where they were
met and saluted by Federal Lodge, No
Is, recently oragnized-in all their ele
giant badges and clothing-headed by
Brother Joseph Clsrke, Ri. w. g. M. pr
tem.. Of Maryland, and conducted to ,
large. lodge prepared for the purpose o
their reception. By the vigilance o
Brother Clotworthy Stephenson, CRANE
marshal pro tenn, the procession wa
formed and marched to the southeast cor
ner Of the capitol where in due form tn
cornerstone was laid with appropriate
ceremonies, after which the grand maste
p. I. delivered an grafton.
The following account OF the event l
taken from the newspapers of the day:
On Wednesday one of the grandest masoni
professions took place for the purpose Of lay
ing the cornerstone of the capitol of the Unite
States, which, perhaps, was ever exhibited o.
the like important occasion. About 10 o'cloc
Lodge No. 0 was visited by that congregatio
30 graceful to the the craft, Lodge No. -, 9
and directly afterward appeared on the south
efn banks Of the grand river Potomac one
u the finest companies Of volunteer artillery thu
hath been Lately seen per,ading 70 rsc n,t
came In sight with his suite, TO whom the Al
tillery paid their military honors and his ea
cellency and suite crossed the Potomac an
was received in Maryland by the officers an
brethren of No. % Virginia and No. Mar!
land whom the president headed, precede
by band of music the rear, brought up b
the Alexandria Volunteer Artillery with gran
solemnity OF march, proceeded TO the Pres
dents square, In the city of Washington
where they were met and saluted by No. 10 {
the city Of Washington in all their elegaI
Joseph Clarke, RI. W G. NJ p. r., and col
Quoted to a large lodge prepared for the pu
pose Of their reception Atter short space
Stephenson, grand marshal p r., tho brothe
hood and other bodies were disposed in q Sc
ond order of procession, which took -plaC
amid brilliant crowd Of spectators Of bot
sexes, according 70 the following Grrans
The procession marched two abreast, In IL
greatest solemn dignity, with music playin!
rejoicing, from the Presidents square to Il
capitol, in the city of Washington, where Il
grand marshal ordered a halt and directe
each file in the procession to incline two step
one TO the right aud one TO the LETT, and iaI
each other, which formed hollow OblUI
square, through which the grand swordbear
led the van, followed by the grand mastt
i. T. on the left, the president OF the Unite
States in the center, and the worshipful mast
OF NO - Virginia on the right. All the 9th
orders that composed the procession advance
in the reverse Of their order of march fro
the presidents square to the southeast corn
OF the capitol, and the artillery filed oil to
destined ground to display their maneuve
and discharge their cannon; the president
the United States the grand master r. T., M
the worshipul master of No. - taking the
stand TO the east OF a large stone, and all u
craft forming circle westward stood she
time In awful order
The artillery discharged a yolley. II
grand marshal delivered the commissioners
large silver plate with an inscription thereo
which the commissioners ordered to be rea
as follows:
"lhis southeastern cornerstone of the COZ
tOl of the United States of America In tho oil