Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-07
MEMORY OF A MASON.
UNWILLING OF THE MONUMENT TO
CAPTAIN A. q. BABCOCK.
THE CEREMONIES WILL Be IMPOSING
Members of the Craft VIII Assemble
Mt HoIIywood-The Programme In
Fu1l-Sketch of the Deceaseu-De-
scription of the Memorial.

The monument erected by the Masonic
Home Ladies' Auxiliary to the memory
of the late Captain Alexander G. BAD
cock will be unveiled with imposing cere-
mony In Hollywood Cemetery at 4;SO
o'clock this afternoon. The memorial
has been reared over the grave Of Cap
tain Babcock, which is upon plateau
IN the new part Of the burying-ground'
overlooking the Jefferson Davis section.
Members of all the lodges of Masons
who desire to attend will assemble on
the grounds. The exercises, which will
no conducted under the auspices Of Dove
Lodge. No 81, A. f. and A. NJ, of which
the deceased was so long and devoted a
member, will be most interesting and
impressive. The programme will be as
follows:
l. Introduction of Most Worshipful A. X.
Courtney, Grand Master of Masons In
Virginia, who will preside.
2. Prayer by Rev. ]. ]. Gravatt.
8. Hymn-"Blessed Be the Tie That
Binds" sung by the choir of Al-Saints
church.
4. Address by Hon. Il. 3. Munford-
8. Masonic Doxology-"Be Thou, Oh God
Exalted High" led by Captain f. w.
Cunningham, all Masons joining.
6. Benediction by Rev. DIR. f.. n. Calisch.
During the singing of the hymn, "Bless-
ed Be the Tie That Binds" the monument
will be unveiled by Miss Lizzie Baylor
and Master Wayt King, of the Masonic
Home.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT.
The monument is a very massive and
handsome one, and its dimensions are
as follows:
Base-Length, feet inches; width.
feet 91-2 inches; height, 2 feet.
Second base-Length, 5 feet 10 inches;
width. feet inches; height, foot 3 IL
inches.
Die-Length, feet inches; width, 2
feet inches; height, feet l inch.
Cap-Length, 8 feet: width, teet
inches: height, l foot 10 inches.
On the south side Of the monument,
which represents the front, is the name,
Alexander G.. Babcock," and underneath
il. Erected by the Masons of Virginia.
on the east end is the Thirty-third De-
gree emblem, the double eagle, while on
the north side can be seen the Masons
emblem and the date of the birth and
death of Captain Babcock. and on the
west end can be found the inscription,
1.-THE Founder of the Masonic Home or
Virginia"
The monument is the work OF Messrs.
Walden & Coutts. The cap and bottom base
of the monument are cut of blue granite
from the Westham quarry, while the
polished portions are of blue granite from
the quarry of Peter Donnell x Sons.
WAS DEVOTED TO MASONRY.
Captain Babcock. whose memory the
Nasons of Virginia will honor to-day
was devoted to Masonry. He was the
founder and the most liberal patron OF
the Masonic Home, but was noted FOR
his works of charity in almost all d.
rectsons. He was born near princeton,
n. j.. in 1895. At the age of IL he went
TO New York, and was apprentlced 10
a bank-note printer
During the war between the States he
conceived a strong sympathy for the
South. and came TO Richmond. He was
emnloved by the Confederate Govern
ment printing establishment, and also
served in the army as captain under
Nosby. After the war he became
thoroughly identified with Richmond. He
never married.
He was a member of Dove Lodge, No.
81 and a member also of the highest
bodies of the Masonic order in Nir-
ginia. During the last years of his lie
he was an invalid, and died at his SUI
burban home, Cedar Lawn about four
years ago.
In founding the Masonic Home, Cap
tain Babcock evidenced an exalted IN
terpretation of one of the chief tenets
of Masonry. and his works follow him.
In 1896 the Masonic Home LADIES'
Auxiliary Association appointed a com
mittee to raise the necessary funds TO
erect a "Babcock monument" Circulars
We're sent to each Masonic Lodge in the
State. Contributions were received from
different Masonic lodges and Royal Arch
chapters, and friends and relatives Oh
Captain Babcock contributed also.