Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-07

France because Of its having stricken from It's
ritual all reference to the Deity and thrown
down the barrier and allowed the admission Of
atheists and infideis. With this Grand Orient Of
France no Grand lodge ID the United States Win
have any Intercourse, nor Is it recognized by
| any Masonic power In this country as legiti-
mate Masonic body, and al Masons subordinate
to the Grand lodges were forbidden to recog-
nize 1t in any way or to recognize any Mason
owing allegiance to it.. With this Grand Orient
cerneau rite established intercourse through the
principal officer Of that rite. This late event
shows how true the American Masonry Of today
ington and his associates to meet upon the
level and part upon the square"
THE ALEXANDRIA MASONIC RELICS.
Alexandria has offered its share Of entertain
ment to the visiting Knights opening to them
it's heirlooms and affording gimpses OF the times
when George Washington participated with his
brothers of 'the mystic" In the labors and the
refreshmeot Of Masonry. Alexandria, Washing
ton lodge, No. %. Of the ancient order has pre-
served more Of the relics aad personal memoirs
of the great chief than any other institution
except Christ church. II was fortunate for the
lodge that among it's early members was one
Timothy Mountford. for to him is owing la no
small degree the collection and preservation OF
the relics which now belong to the lodge.
"Mr. Mountford was born in New Hampshire
on the day the Declaration Of Independence
was signed, July 4. 177e: at least he always
said so. He had been attached to the service
OF Col. Tobias Lear, who was General Washing
tons private secretary In the last years Of his
life and who received and cvrried out hts dying
injunction. After Wastington's death the
colonel was appointed United States consul to
Tunis, and Major Mountford accompanied him
in the capacity Of secretary Of the consulate.
While there he was indefatigabie in the coiiec-
ton Of animals, rare birds, skins, pictures. med
ais and other rarities THESE ne brought back
with him to this country He was Freemason
and united with Alexandria W ashingtou lodge
about 1909. The lodge had In Its possession a
number Of relics of Washington. There were.
also, in the possession of the military compa-
MES Of the town various flags that had been cap
tured from the British and the Hessians during
the Revolutionary war. There were some curl
osittes, too, In the old town house that stood at
the corner Of Fairfax and Cameron streets,
where the court house now stands. and there
the museum was first begun under the auspices
of this lodge. When. in 1916, the new market
house was built, the third story rooms which
We have mentioned were appropriated to
the Alexandra Museum. There all these
curiosities were gathered and arranged
by Major Mountford. He boarded for awhile at
the City hotel, but soon made his home at the
museum. little room there contained his do
nestle furniture and his fiddle, and there he
lived. sometimes poorly enough, and there In
1916 he died. He was in manner a gentleman
Of the old school, generally courteous and ur-
figure was as well known in the market as the
town clock ITSELF and few of the dealers that at
tended market but had heard his store of auec-
dotes time and again until they came to know
them as well as he did himself. He had skill in
nosing out curiOsities, and every cat with an
extra head. or dog with five legs, or Sismese
twins Of chickens that saw the light in Alexan-
dria were his booty. He was q taxidermist OF
no mean skill, and he stuffed and prepared of
animals. birds and the like many hundreds Of
Uiuo OH Of alirrhf hovr ia
live eagles. One of these was procured in order
to perch on the arch at the corner OF King and
Washington streets when Lafayette passed, but
the major kept up the supply, and had an eyre
Tor his eagles at the north end of the highest
porch, which was rallied in so as to make q cage.
The purchasers in market always heard the
scream Of the eagles above the hubbub of the
market place. The butchers fed the eagles free.
IL is said that toward the close Of Mai. Mount
fOrd's life he himself subsisted to some extent
upon the meat the butchers furnished the
eagles. The last eagle died a short time before
his masters death-if ca Eles can b said to have
masters"
After Major Mountford died in 1S46 the
Washington relics werewithdrawn byAlexandria-
Washington lodge and preserved In the lodge
rooms. Both the museum In the lodge room
were destroyed by fire in 1871, but while the
relics in the museum persisted those In the lodge
room were preserved.
THE WASHINGTON RELICS
In possession of the lodge are listed by Mr.. N.
L. Brockett as follows:
"The apron and sash worn BY Washington at
the laying Of the cornerstone Of the Capitol In
1793.
"His farm spurs"
BOOT, strap or garter.
"A piece of cloth from his coat worn BY him
at Braddock's defeat on June 9, 1755.
"A piece OF the coffin which contained his re-
mains. inclosed in leather casket, presented
by his nephew.
"a piece of cloth from the tent he occupied
at the Heights of Dorchester in IT'S and at the
surrender of CORVALLIS in 17Sl.
His field compass
piece Of the old vault in which his remains
were first deposited
Hts cupping Instruments"
These are secured in a recess in the wall and
protected from injury by glass front There
are besides the masters chair used by Washing
ton aud his successors in Office as the presiding
officer OF the lodge.
Washington's chamber clock. its hands point
ing to twenty minutes past ten indicate the
hour Of his death.
Diploma of the Grand lodge Of Philadelphia,
September "a, 1779. issued to Or. Elisha G. Dick
as member OF Philadelphia lodge. N 70. O.
neatly framed apron Of Dr. James Crask,
surgeon general Of the continental armies and
an Intimate friend OF Washington.
Santa Annals spurs
A lodge ball ticket of March l. 1925
A key OF the Bastile.
An ancient Masonic truncheOn brought from
the cabinet of Dr.. Francis De Valingen, an emi-
nent Mason OF London.
A ball ticket issued for the gentlemen's Free
Masons ball, given at the market house in Fred
ericksburg on Monday. December %, 1857. It
is written on the back of q playing card-the
eight of spades.
The lodge is also adorned with many portraits,
one a full length portrait OF Washington at
sixty-four In full Masonic dress, painted BY
Williams. of Philadelphia for the lodge IN 1874
1t has upon the back an inscription His Excel
lency George Washington, Esquire, President of
the United States Williams. pinxit ad vvum,
September Is. 1894" There is also a full length
portrait OF Washington painted for the lodge by
Hurdle, of Alexandria, 1S40, and many portraits
OF the Washington family, as well as several por-
traits OF Lafayette, with many OF other emf
nent Mssons
superb banquet service, originally $500
pieces, with the lodge initials aud number en-
graved on them, but now reduced by the ire
freshments" of other days to less than 200 pieces
still remain IN the closets Of the lodge.
The lodge haa also in its possession a minia-
ture ship some three feet from stem to end Of
bowsprit, man Of war build fully equipped and
rugged. 1t has three decks and Is pierced for
IA guns, all OF which can be run out or drawn
In by machinery. It was the work of captured
French sailor while In confinement In the Alex
andria Jail during the French war at the close of
the last century. The ship is not now at the
room, having been broken and removed to Mr.
Shoots to be rerigged.
HISTORY OF THE RELICS.
The first of these relies, the apron and sash,
hat n oiol fpkx yk>n 49, H.