Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-16
ANNIVERSARY OF WASHING.
TOMS DEATH.

the Washington centennial committee
of the Grand Lodge OF Masons of Vir
giria called at the White House yes,
terday and presented President McKin-
ley with an invil%ion to attend and de-
liver the orAtion at the Masonic obssrv-
ance of the centennial OF the death OF
Gaorge Washington, at Mount Vernon,
December II.
Capt X. Kcmper, as chairman of the
commit ee, presented the invitation in
the following address
"Mr. President: The Grand Lodge
of Masons in the State OF Virginia, al
the request OF the Grand Lodge of Ma
sons OF Colorado, have determined to
mark the centennial OF The dealh OF
George Washington, first President OF
tae United States and the general com
handing tue armies of the revoiutioY,
by suitable Masonic ceremonies a.
Mount Vernon on the HI OF Decem-
DER, 1888. In these services and GER
monies the Grand Ledge OF Virginia
WI have The hear,y cooperation OF
the Grand Lodge of Masons in the Dis
Jrict OF Columbia aud probably all
of the grand lodges ia the United
STAT, s, besides many OF those ia ior ign
aods. The observances at Mouat Yer
non will consist as nearly as possible
of duplication or reproduction OF The
funeral ceremonies OF December Is,
1899 A procession, TO form at The
mansion, will proceed first to the old
.z.k ,,bora Waob;Dotop mos than
buried, al which poiut short address
will be delivered by the grand mastsr
of Masous of Colorado. At the new
tomb. ia which are contained the re-
mains Of General George Washington,
suitable Masonic ceremonies will take
D!ace. The procession will then pass
10 the eastern front of Mount Vernon
mansion and there it is hoped that your
excelleucy, after & proper introduction
by the grand master OF the Grand
Lodge of Masons Of Virginia, will de-
liver such an ADDRESS as to your excel
leucy es citizen, Mason and President
shall seem eppropriate. Those who
stand in your presence compose 10 part
the committee OF the Grand Lodge Of
Virgins, charged so formulate suit.
able programme for that interesting oc-
casion. 1t seems meet to US, and we
nave no doubt it will TO your excel
ieucv, that the incumbent in 1899 IN
the chair once filled by the father OF
MS country should be the speaker on
that occasion, an occasion ct once rem
iniscent and suggestive, aud we come
in the confident hope of your excel
lsncy's cordisl acceptance. In this
connection permit us TO hand you
copy OF the history of Fredericksburg
Lodge, No. 4, Fredericksburg, Va:
IN which George Washington was made
3 Mason.
20. A copy OF the history of Gen.
Lafayette's visit to that lodge i1 1924
"3. I copy of the address of Gen.
Andrew Jackson or the occasion of hs
aging OF the corner stone to Mary, the
mother of Washington, at FrederlcGs'
burg. Va, in 1888, in which Gen. jack
sor thea President of the Unitee
States. says he knew Washington well.
and gives his personal estimate OF him
II. A copy of the history cf Alexan'
dr;a. Washington Lodge No. %, OF Alex
sodria Va, OF which Gen. George
Wsshipeton was the first master. Your
Masonic brethren feIicitate themselves
that this occasion, December II, 1879
will find at the head OF the goVernweno
one who, like Washington, belongs 70
the Masonic order, an order w0lch mas
contained in its membership certainly
einht President of the United States
Washington. Andrew Jackson and
James K. Polk, who were past grand
masters of Masous of Tennessee; Wil-
liam Henry Harrison, James buehanap, J,
Andrew Johnson, James 4. Garheio
and your excollency.
"Praving your e%cellency's accep
tance of this, our cordisl and earnest
invitet;on to unite with us'n the cere-
monies of December ia, 1899, and wi q
rne slatemnt that your auewer is dc
sired in order that we may incorporate
II in our report to the Grand Lodge OF
MesoDs of Virginia, which meets at
Richmond December 6 next, and thank
inc YOU for this interview, we aWsi'
your excellency's p'eisure:"
President Mckinley said be saw no
reason wby he could not take part. dc
annroyed cf the plaus, aud ssid that ie
Considered himself Virginia Mason
a. he had been initiated at Winchester
Judge Duke, grand master OF Virginia
Mssons, said that the centennial Is eGI
citing interest smorg Masoas IN al slI
Quarters of the globe. Letters nave
Ss 6ssn received from New Zealand lodges
saving that they will send representa-
'iyrb The programme, as arranged tor the
centennial ceremonies, includes the ss,
semblipg OF the Masons OF Virginia ana
Tenresensatives of every Masonic ora 81 81
rhronchout the United States ana par,
Of Europe, in this city the morning o o.
December II, and to proceea &c ELI. rns
tomb of Washington, where tne 1eo lunG, ;5l
rsI services Of December 1t, lIsS, ;S,a Til'
be m duplicated as nearly as possiple,
The II services will conclude with aT?ta3 sGol;
address by the President OF the Onl'e'
0'l.Gs, Alter the ceremonies the Masons o.
virginia will proceed to Washing'on ,ss 10
Tsn