Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-11
The Masonic Banquet in Fredericls

burg.
After the dedication at Fredericks-
burg yesterday of the Mary Washing
ton monument, full account Of which
was published in tho GAZETTE Of that
date, Fredericksburg Lodge, No 4, of
Freemasons, in which George Wash
ington was made Mason, gave a
banquet at the opera house. Covers
were laid for $50 people. The promi-
nent guests were seated around three
long tables on the stage, elevated above
the body of the house. Vice-President
Stevenson was at the head OF the right
hand table, Chief Justice Fuller presd-
ed over the left, and the place of honor
at the center table was vacant when
the banquet commenced. Patriotic
music was played by the Marine Band
whose leader stirred whirlwind Of
handkerchiefs when he swung his baton
for the old familiar air of "Dixie."
During the banquet President Cleve-
land entered the hall quietly, and was
standing in the center of the stage with
the members of his cabinet and their
ladies before he was recognized. Then
the house shook with yells when Judge
James B. Sencr introduced the Presi-
dent, pointing to the portraits ofWash-
ington and Andrew Jackson above the
proscenium arch and abiding to Mr.
Cleveland as the legitimate successor Of
both. The President responded:
"Gentlemen-I am good deal en-
barrassed by the mention of my two
distinguished predecessors, and by the
fact that they are both members of the
society under whose auspices this ban
quet is given. | congratulate
the members of the fraternity
represented here. am obliged to ac-
knowledge my own shortcomings in not
being a member Of it. Perhaps it is my
fault certainly, it is my misfortune.
Those in fault seek compensation. l.,
TOO, have the honor to belong to a great
fraternity, one of which George Wash
ington and Andrew Jackson were
prominent members-a fraternity whose
grin means united stand for American
interests, whose password is the peo-
pies cause under all circumstances
whose temple is not as old as the tenn
pie Of Solomon, but az old as American
institutions; fraternity that can never
die, Tor its fruits will always be before
the world. Would you know the name
of this fraternity 1t is the brother
hood Of Free and Accepted and Patriot
ic American Citizens
Shortly afterward Gov O'Ferral!
made dramatic entrance 10 his riding
carb. and, as he filed OH TO the stage
with dozen young ladies in his wake.
was checred wildly and made a speech
tecming with praise of Virginia and her
history. Many members OF the Socie-
ties OF Sons and Daughters of the Rovo-
luton, decorated with ribbons of The
Washington family colors, red and
orange, were in the hal! when the after
dinner speeches began. During the
Vice Presidents speech, the delegate
from New York Of the Monument AS
ISOLATION, Miss Ryan, fell from the stairs
of the stage, and for time it was
thought that she was seriously injured,
the incident creating no little excite
ment Judge Sener presided, introduc-
ing first Mr.. George Alfred Townsend,
who read poem.
Vice President Stevenson followed
with response to George Washing
ton. the Master Workman OF His Age"
After few well-timed Introductory re-
marks the Vice President said I'VE
would do honor now to the memory of
the son of the illustrious woman whose
monument we have this day dedicated.
All that ne was to his country, to the
| Il \ to11 ho
ured Was it Carlyle who said, When
the times demand the man, the man
appears?' He then eloquently follow
ed the history of Washington during
the seven years struggle from Lexng-
ington to Yorktown, and concluded as
follows: 'His most eloquent eulogist
has we'll said Virginia gave Washing
ton to America, and America gave him
to the world and to the ages. And yet
this man, after his voluntary retirement
from power and place, thought it de-
rogated nothing from his great dignity
to wear the insignia and preside over
the deliberations, of lodge of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons. Since the
period long lost in the mists and shad-
ows Of bygone centuries, when the no.
BILE fraternity held conclave on high
mountains and in low wales, it has new
er known so illustrious member"
Associated Justice John NJ. Harland,
of the Supreme Court, responded elo-
quently to "Our Distinguished Guests, !"
and "The National Mary Washington
Monument Association" was responded
to by Mr.. Blair Lee, of Washington.
| The celebration ended with great
ball in the Opera House, where Gov
O'Ferrall held reception.