The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-10
MOTHERS NAME.
Honor Paid to the Mother Of
Washington Today.
Beautiful Monument Now Marks the
Place Of ;ler Long Neglected Grave.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va, May 10.--The
special lraln wan the PRESIDENTIAL party
Tor tue Ceremony VI unvellng ths Mary
Washington monument left Washington
at y O'Clock.
President Cleveland was in q Pullman
car in the rear With Secretaries Gresham,
Carlisle, Lamont, blsseil and Morton, and
Prlvale secretary Tnuroer, Mrs.
Gresham, Mrs. Carlisle ana other
ladies. Another carried Mrs. Waite,
widow of the cnief justice of the Supreme
Court, who Is president OF the national
Mary Mashin gton Memorial ASSOCIATION,
Chief Justice a .iler ana most Oh the VIZ
gina delegation an Congress.
The Daughters of the Revolution OF
Washington had two cars. The National
Marine band another. The Alexandra
Light Infantry boarded the train at that
city. The run 10 Fredericksburg was un-
eyentfui. 1t occupied two hours.
The program for tie oedlcatory exer-
cises was as ioliows:
PRAYER by Rev. James p. Smith, M. ID.
Address of welcome on the part OF the
city bv the Hon. A. p. Rowe, Mayor.
Address of welcome ON the part OF the
State of Virginia by Governor Charles Il.
O'Ferrall.
Masonic ceremonies.
Address by Mr.. Lawrence Washington,
a descendant of Mary Washington, and
the orator of the day, followed by poem
by George Alfred Townsend.
senator Daniels Grafton.
"George Washington was the noblest
figure that ever stood in the forefront OF q
ave are gathered today around his
mothers grave.
s"AIl that / am," said he, Il owe to
my mother An that we are
as Nation we owe to him.
His debt is ours. 1t is many times null
tiplied. 1t Is ever pgr,Dsiia growing q, as
illustrates in its virtues and in
its faults alike the merit OF his example
and the wisdom of his teachings.
Beholding the monument, We rejoice
that the debt is acknowledged, and rea-
lize that no:limitation OF time can bar rem
dition of justice to noble fame.
"Our gratitude goes forth TO our country
women who have so worthily achieved
this work. Men attempted it and left 1t
half accomplished. The State and the Fed
eral Governments alike contemplated, dis
cussed, and then postponed It,. Our
noble women undertook 1t, and II is
done.
1--WE thank you, madame, you, Mrs.
President and your companions OF the
Mary Washington Monument Association.
Your success il your reward and you will
be henceforth blended in our vener-
etiea- With -her-w whose -name Is
carved upon this sacred stone.
1t was fitting indeed that your
pious hands should rear the first monu-
ment on the earth erected by women TO
a woman and titting, too, that it should
bear the name of Mary, the mother OF
Washington.
"The stone represents two idcals-wo-
manly excellence and patriotic duty.
They are inseparable. Love for
the mother Is the first as it
is the most constant and sacred
emotion OF our being. Affection spreads
to the family, clan, tribe or people to
which We belong and then twines
tracted to them by the magnet
ism of association. 1t fastens to birth
place, 70 living place, to home, to mother
land 10 fatherlano, country. This Is the
genesis aud evolution OF patriotism. But
love of country is only a figure OF speech.
We cannot love the insensate earth
which cannot give back any respon-
sive speech or glance of sympathy. Love
must go from and 10 tine living. Our
countrymen are our country.
'The Nation Is the aggregatesthe homes
are the units, man is the builder. woman
is the inspiration. Discuss constitutions,
administrations and policies as we may,
the outcome must depend upon the sub
soil they spring from. Make the home
all right and the rest will follow"
The monument was made Mt Buffalo,
n. ", and Is plain granite monolith, 90
feet high, standing upon base, il feet
square. II bears the inscription;
"MARY, THE MOTHER
OF
WASHINGTON"