Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-11
WASHINGTON AS A MASON.
Exercises Mt the Banquet 1t FreA>
ericksburg.

At the Masonic banquet at Fredericks-
burg yesterday, after the monument cere-
monies. covers were laid for $50 people.
The prominent guests were seated around
three long tables on the stage. elevated
above the body of the house. Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson was at the head OF the
right-hand table Chief Justice Fuller pre-
sided 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, under the
leadership Of Prof. Fanciulli. who stirred q
whirlwind OF handkerchiefs when he swung
his baton for the old familiar air OF Dixie"
During the banquet President Cleveland
entered the hall quietly. and was standing
in the center of the stage with members q
his cabinet and their ladies before he was
recognized Then the house shook with
yells when Judge James b. sener intro
duced the President. pointing to the por-
traits of Washington and Andrew Jackson
above the proscenium arch, and referring
to Mr.. Cleveland as the legitimate success
or OF both, The President responded:
Gentlemen: / am a good deal enbar-
raised by the mention of my two distin-
guished predecessors, and by the fact that
they are both members of the society under
whose auspices this banquet is given.
congratulate the members of the fraternity
represented here. i am obliged to acknowl-
edge my own shortcomings in not being a
member of il. Perhaps IT is my fault: GER
tainly it is my misfortune Those in fault
seek compensation. / have the honor TO
belong TO great fraternity. one of which
George Washington and Andrew jackson
were prominent members-a fraternity
whose grip means united stand for Ameri-
can interests, whose password is the peo-
pies cause under all circumstances whose
temple is not as old as the Temple Of Solo,
mon, but as old as American institutions
fraternity that can never die for it's
fruits will always be before the world
Would you know the name OF this frater-
nifty? 1t is the brotherhood of free and ac-
oepted and patriotic American citizens"
Shortly afterward Governor O'Ferrau
made a dramatic entrance in his riding
garb. and as he filed onto the stage with q
dozen young ladies in his wake, was cheered
wildly, and made a speech teeming with
praises of Virginia and her history. Many
members of the societies OF Sons and
Daughters of the Revolution. decorated
with ribbons of the Washington family
colors. red and orange, were in the hall
when the after-dinner speeches began.
During the Vice Presidents speech the
delegate from New York of the Monument
Association. Miss Ryan. fell from the stairs
OF the stage, and for a time IL was thought
that she was seriously injured, the incident
creating no little excitement. Judge Sener
presided. introducing George Alfred Town
send, who read the poem printed In yes
terdey's Star.
Vice President Stevenson followed with .
Master Workman of His Age" After .
graphic description Of Washingtons char
acter and career. Mr.. Stevenson continued:
And Yet this man, after his voluntary
retirement from power and place, thought
IL derogated nothing from his great dignity
to wear the insignia and preside over the
deliberations OF a lodge OF Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons. Since the period.
long lost in the mists and shadows OF by
gone centuries, when this noble fraternity
held conclave on high mountains and In
low wales. il has never known 50 nlustrious
a member.
AT the laying OF the corner stone Of our
national Capitol. one hundred years ago.
Washington officiated as grand master OF
Free Masons. as well as in his great Office
of President Of the United States. 10
craftsman can forget that upon that his
oric occasion Washington wore the sash
and the apron that had been wrought by
the hands Of the wife of the beloved
Lafayette. Now, as then, to those who
would Ievile this venerable order. the an
swer is perfect: Washington was .
Associate Justice John NJ Harlan OF the
Supreme Court responded eloQuently to
Our Distinguished Guests" and the other
speeches were: THE Patriots. Civil and
Military, of the War of the American Rev
olution," Representative Z. A Meredith:
THE National Mary Washington Monu-
rnent Association" Mr. Blair Lee of WASH
ington; THE Tenets of Free Masonry"
Judge B. r. Wexford of Richmond: Alex
andrla-Washington Lodge" OF which Geo.
Washington was the urSt master, Dr. W.
NJ Smith OF Alexandria. the present master;
The Progress and Development of the
Nineteenth Century as Helped by Women"
Second Controller Of the Treasury Charles
H. Mansur of Missouri.
In the dusk the crowds cheered the de-
parting presidential train.
The celebration ended with q great ball
in the Opera House, where the bellies from
Richmond and those of Fredericksburg
tripped through the quaint figures of the
minuet. as their colonial ancestresses were
wont to do when Mary Washington was q
maiden.