The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-15
hAsONS CONDUCT COMMEMORATIVE
EXERCISES IN HONOR OF
GEORGE WASHINGTON
CEREMONIES ARE IMPRESSIVE
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY IS PRESENT
AND DELIVERS AN GRAFTON
AT MOUNT VERNON
OCCASION MADE MEMORABLE

and From Abroad as Well - Fit
ting Ceremonies Celebrated in
New York. Philadelphia and Else
where-FIrst Presidents Pew.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-With solemn
pomp and circumstance, with ceremonies
beautiful impressive and appropriate, in
the presence of a distinguished assem-
blage, and in the full splendor of ideal
autumn weather. the centennial Of the
death of George Washington was COM
memorated today at Mount Vernon. That
Mount Vernon should have been selected
Rs the scene of the exercises was pc
culiarly fitting. There it was that the
happiest incidents Of Washington's life
occurred. In other parts he endured his
trials, on other fields he won his triumphs,
but there, surrounded by those whom
best he loved, were spent the restful,
quiet, studious hours of his life. There
it was, too, that he sickened and died,
and there all that was mortal Of him was
laid TO eternal rest in mausoleum over
looking a broad sweep of the picturesque
Potomac.
Today's ceremonies were elaborately
planned and successfully carried to a
eoncl@s4on. They were conducted by the
Masonic >odies and by the Red Men Of
the United States.
ORIGIN OF IDEA.
The idea Of the days observances orig
mated in 1893, in the grand lodge of
Masons of the state of Colorado, the
proposition being made by the Most Wor-
shipful William D. Wright grand mas
Tar of ho % rxr;&-
ness the carrying into effect of his long
cherished idea.
Charge of the ceremonies, incident to
today's commemoration, was placed in
the hands of the Masons' Of Virginia. it
being in the 0ld Dominion that Wash
ington was obliged as a master Mason,
and there that he participated enthusiast
tically IN Masonic work and observances
The officers of the grand lodge of Vir-
ginia and the membership Of Fredericks-
burg lodge, in which Washington was
made Mason, and OF Washington-Alex-
andria lodge, over which he presided as
worshipful master. had the chief part in
the duty of seeing that today's observ-
ances were appropriate. That that duty
was well performed was evidenced by
the solemnity and precision of the cere-
monies and by the vast concourse of
Masons present. Members were in at
tendance from all parts of the country,
and almost every jurisdiction in America
and few from foreign countries were
represented by some of their grand Of
fcers and members.
VISITING MASONs
The visiting Masons, many accompanied
by the ladies of their families, congre-
gated in Washington today, and escorted
by the Masonic bodies of the District of
Columbia, headed by the grand lodge Of
the District, made the pilgrimage to
Mount Vernon by boat The Virginia
thence, escorted by Fredericksburg lodge
and Alexandria lodges, in a body pro-
ceeded to Mount Vernon, also by boat.
At 10 o'clock President Mckinley him
self an enthusiastic Mason, accompanied
by Secretary of State Hay, Secretary of
the Treasury Gage. Secretary of the Navy
Long, Secretary of the Interior Hitch
4 cock, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and
Postmaster General Smith, of the cabinet,
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Allen,
Maj Gen. Miles, Adjt. Gen. Corbin, Sec
retary Porter, Assistant Secretary Cortel-
you, Maj. John A. Johnson and Senator
W. A. Clark, Of Montana, past grand
master of his state, left Washington on
q special electric train for Mount Yer
non, arriving there at IL o'clock.
PRESIDENT ARRIVES.
The presidential party was greeted by
Grand Master Duke Of Virginia, and by
him escorted to the mansion.
1t was nearly an hour and a half after.
wards before all of the steamers bearing
the Masonic bodies arrived. After the
president and his cabinet had reviewed
them from platform on the east front
Of the mansion, a procession was form
ed and moved, as on the day of Gen
Washington's funeral, Dec. Is, 1799 to the
old vault where the remains were frs
deposited There, in the immediate pres
ence of the grand officers of the various
states and the assembled Masons, solemn
funeral rites were conducted.
A solemn dirge by the Third Cavalry
band was followed by the invocation pro
nounced by the Rt. Rev. A. M. Randolph
bishop Of the Southern episcopal diocese
of Virginia. After music by an octette
of the grand lodge of the District of CO.
lumbia, Grand Master A. A. Burnand, OF
Colorado, delivered an address on the
life and work Of Washington, laying par
ticular stress upon his Masonic life and
accomplishments.
AT WASHINGTON's TOMB.
The procession reformed and moved
then to the tomb, where the remains Not
Wasl Ngton and those Of his family :
now. AlaS tomb was magnifcently deco
TaleQ WIN uaBS ana IeStOOnS OF ever
green's and flowers. Here the beautiful
and impressive, comprehensive Masoni,
ceremonies were conducted The granC
masters of the thirteen original state,
formed in line facing the representative,
Of the other Jurisdictions the grand lodg,
of Virginia at the head, the two lines
joining hands, facing the tomb of Wash
lie ton. Prayer was then offered Ther
the grand master of Virginia called upo1
each Of the jurisdictions of the thirtee1
original states, the jurisdictions of tn,
other states and those of Canada, Bel
gium and Nova Scotia, for messages sen
by them, and all responded. Then tn
grand master of the District Of Columbi;
deposited within the tomb the lambskil
as token Of innocence; the grand mas
ter of Missouri deposited the white GLOW
as token of friendship, and the gran,
master Of California deposited the ever
green as an emblem Of the Masonic faitl
In the resurrection of the body and tn
Immortality Of the SOUL
At the conclusion of this ceremony tn
following responses were made:
The Craft-Ameni
All the Grand Masters-Oh. Death
where is thy sting?
The Grafton, Grave, where is thy vic
tory7
Scores of beautiful wreatha an