The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-05-11
WASHINGTON SMOTHER
The Monument to Her Memory
Dedicated at fredericksburg,
PRESIDENT OLBvELAND's ADDRESS
He Pays = Glowing and Eloquent TrIb-
ute 20 American Motherhood and to
the Free and Accepted citizens Of the
United States.

OF the Mary Washington monument
reached this city shortly before noon yes
terday. A great crowd surrounded the
station, and when the train pulled in a
presidential salute was fired President
Cleveland and his cabinet were received
by members of the reception committee,
Of whom one was Judge Harlan, Of the
supreme court. In the adjoining streets
were various organizations, conspicuous
among them the Confederate veterans,
bearing battle flags Of the Confederacy.
The procession marched through the
town from the station TO the Green Knoll,
topped with wooden stands, where the
Sons and Daughters of the Revolution and
distinguished guests were assembled
The program for the dedicatory exer-
oises we're as follows: Prayer by Rev.
James 2. Smith, d. D., address Of vel
come on the part Of the city by Hon. A. p.
Rowe, mayor; address of welcome on the
part of the state of Virginia by Governor
Charles T. O'Ferrall; Masonic ceremonies;
address by Mr.. Lawrence Of Washington,
descendant of Mary Washington: ora
ton by Senator John W. Daniel, the ora
tor of the day.
Senator Daniel in his Grafton said
All that / am, said Washington, Il
owe TO my mother All that we are as
nation we owe TO him. His debt is ours
1t is many times multiplied 1t is ever
growing, as the ever growing republic
illustrates in its virtues and in its faults
alike the merit of his example and the
wisdom Of his teachings, But for the
light that streamed from the deeds of him
she bore, we would doubtless have never
heard the name of Mary Washington, and
the grass that grew upon this grave had
not been disturbed by curious footsteps or
reverential hands. But it does not follow
that she shines only in the reflection of
her offerings fame. Her virtues were not
created; they were only discovered by the
marvellous career of her illustrious son.
There were ten thousand Mary Washing
tons among the mothers Of the revolution,
and honoring her we honor the mother
hood Of heroic days and heroic men.
"For many years this grave remained
unmarked. But that this monument has
been slow to rise is no proof that Mary
Washington was unappreciated OF for
gotten. That this monument is reared
now is better proof of appreciation than il
1t had been done under the momentary
impulse of some transient feeling. This
is the great test, and the hoary years to-
day set their seal on her glory"
President Cleveland responded to Gov
srnor O'Ferralls address of welcome, say
ing in part:
81 speak to those who are today greeted
as the official guests OF Virginia and Fred
ericksburg when I return sincere thanks
for the hearty welcome that has been ex-
tended to us In behalf OF both the state
and city. Our appreciation Of the warmth
Of your reception is not diminished by the
1pht fhak tt, Itch -
meaning belonging to this occasion there
are no guests here. We have assembled
on equal terms 10 worship at a sacred ma
tionAl shrine
THE man who said he cared not who
made a peoples laws If he could write
their songs might have said with more
truth that he could gauge the strength
and vigor of a people and their fitness
Tor self government il he knew the depth
and steadfastness of their love for their
mothers. ! believe that he who thinks it
brave and manly to Outgrow his care and
devotion for his mother is more than he
who has no music in himself, fit for trea-
son, stratagems and spoils, and should not
be trusted. Let us recall today as conclu-
sive proof of the close relation between
American greatness and lasting love and
reverence for our mothers the proud dec
laration of George Washington All am
| owe to my mother;' and let US not for
get that when his glory was greatest and
when the plaudits of his countrymen were
loudest he valued more than these the
blessings and approval of his aged mother.
while these exercises cannot fail to in
spire us anew with reverence for Ameri-
can motherhood, we will remember that
we are here to do honor to the woman who
gave to our nation its greatest and best
citizen, and that we have the privilege Of
participating in the dedication of monu-
ment erected by the women of our land in
loving and enduring testimony to the vir-
tues Of the mother of Washington. Let
us be proud today that the nobility of this
woman exacted from distinguished for
eigner the admission; If such are the ma
irons of America, she may well boast of
illustrioLs sons; and that Lafayette
who had fought with her son for Ameri-
can independence, declared after he had
received her blessing; L have seen the only
Roman matron living at this day
Remembering these things, let us
leave this place with our love of country
strengthened with a higher estimate OF
the value of American citizenship, and
with pray er to God that our people NAV
of love and reverence for American
motherhood"
Fredericksburg Lodge No, of Free
Masons, in which George Washington
was made a Mason, gave a banquet at the
opera house after the ceremonies around
the monument. The prominent 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 presided over the left and
the place Of honor at the center table was
vacant when the banquet commenced.
During the banquet President Cleveland
entered the hall quietly and was standing
IN the center of the stage with the mem
bers Of his cabinet and their ladies before
he was recognized Then the house shook
with yells when Judge James b Sener in
troduced the president, pointing to the
portraits OF Washington and Andrew
jackson above the proscenium arch and
Alluding to Mr.. Cleveland as the legti-
mate successor Of both, The president re
sponded;