Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-18
living at this day.

matron living at this day..
Remembering these, things, let us leave
this place with our love of country strength
ened, with a higher estimate of value of
American citizenship, and with prayer to
God that our people may hold fast to the SEN
timent that grows out of love and reverence
for American motherhood.
SENATOR DANIEL.
President Cleveland then introduced Mr..
Lawrence Washington, of Alexandria, do
scendant OF Mary Washington, who deliver
ed short address, and at its conclusion the
President introduced the orator of the day,
Senator John W. Daniel.
Senator Daniel in his address paid grace
full tribute to Mrs Waite and the ladies of the
Mary Washington Association whose pious
hands had reared "The first monument on
earth erected by women to a woman He
said: "tlis stone represents two ideals-wo-
manly excellence and patriotic duty. You
have reared this beautiful ubelisk to one who
was the light of the dwelling, in plain rural
colonial home. Her history hovers around it,.
She was wife, mother and widow. She nursed
hero at her breast. AT her knee she train
ed to the love and fear of God and to the king
ly virtues, honor, truth and valor, the lion of
the tribe that gave to America liberty and In.
dependence. This is her title to renown. II
is enough. There were ten thousand Mary
Washingtons among the mothers OF the Rev
olutioE, and honorng her we honor the moth.
erhood of heroic days and heroic men," He
traced the history OF the mother OF Washing
ton from her birth on the 3oth OF November
1706, at the plantation home Of her father.
Col. Joseph Ball, in Lancaster Co., Va, on
the banks of the Rappahannock, and through
all the eventful years OF her life down to her
death at her home IN fredericksburg on the
25th OF August, 1880 In closing Senator
Daniel said: "Patriotism, kneeling by this
good womans grave, invokes its inspiration
and pfays Gods blessing ON the land Of
Washington
MASONIC BANQUET.
After the Grafton, Gov. OFerrall presented.
on behalf of the ladies of the Mary Washing
ton Association, of fredericksburg, engross-
ed resolutions, expressing their thanks to the
National Association for the erection of the
monument. These resolutions were deliver
ed to Mrs. Chief Justice Waite, president of
the National Association. Immediately after
these ceremonies the President held a recep-
ton in front Of the grand stand,
While the President was holding his recep-
ton, most of the other distinguished guests
were entertained at Masonic banquet at the
opera House given by the lodge in which
George Washington was made Mason. At
this banquet which commenced at o clock,
the principal speaker was President
Stevenson. Later, President Cleveland, who
had gotten through his reception at the grand
stand, came in. He was received with great
enthusiasm and said:
'Gentlemen-I am good deal embarrassed
by the mention of my two distinguished pre-
decessors, and by the fact that they are
both members of the society under whose au-
spices this banquet is given. congratulate
the members Of the fraternity represented
here. lam obliged to acknowledge my own
shortcomings in not being member of it,
Perhaps it is my fault; certainly, it is nv
misfortune. Those in fault seek compensa-
ton. |, too, have the honor to belong to
great fraternity, one of which George Wash
ington and Andrew jackson were prominent
fraternity whose grip means
united stand for American interests, whose
password is the peoples cause under all cir
cumstances' whose temple is not as old as
the temple OF Solomon, but as old as Ameri-
can institutions; fraternity that can never
die, for its fruits will always be before the
world. Would you know the name of this
fraternity? 1t is the brotherhood of Free and
Accepted and Patriotic American Citizens
The monument to the mother of Washing
ton, unveiled, is an obelisk of white marble,
fifty feet high. Its base consists OF three
courses, the upper one bevelled and surmoun-
ted by die bearing simple inscription
MARY
THE MOTHER OF
w ASHINGTON