Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-12-15
Hundredth AnniVerSaryOf
Washington's Death
A MASONIC MEMORIAL
A National Demonstration of Honor in
Front of the Tomb of the First in
War the First in Peace and the
First Forever in the Hearts of All
Americans - the Ceremonies at
Alexandria.

Alexandria, Va, Dec. 14.-One humid
red years ago today General George
Washington, the father of his coun-
try said to his sorrowing relatives
and friends who surrounded his death
bed: II look to the event with perfect
resignation" few minutes later the
soul of the great man had passed to
it's last resting place. The death oc-
Cured in the Washington manor house
at Mount Vernon, and the burial took
place a few days later, the remains
being placed in the family vault on the
estate as was common in those days.
The funeral was an impressive affair,
conducted by the Masonic fraternity,
to which General Washington belonged,
and attended by many of the great
men of the day.
In observance of the centennial Ma
sons of high degree from fifty lodges,
including those of Nova Scotia, Quebec
and New Zealand, as we'll as the repre-
sentatives of all of the grand lodges in
the country, assembled in this city
this morning and proceeded to Mount
Vernon. The visitors proceeded from
Alexandria to Mount Vernon by way
of the river and on the electric car
lines. The places of honor were given
to the grand lodge of the state of Viz
ginia, Alexandria Washington lodge
No. %. Fredericksburg lodge No. and
Federal lodge No. of the District of
Columbia. Old Dominion commandery
K. T. did duty as escort.
The memorial services at Mount Yer
non were of an extremely impressive
character and the programme carried
out conformed as much as possible to
the services on that solemn occasion
one hundred years ago when the re-
mains of Washington were laid to rest.
After forming in line on the east side
of the historic mansion the visiting
lodges moved in procession to the old
vault, the same order being observed
as on the day of Washington's funeral.
procession a battery of artillery doomed
forth its tribute to the memory of him
who was first in war. AS one hundred
years ago minute guns doomed from a
ner there was heard this morning the
thunder of guns from a United States
man-of-war anchored opposite Mount
Vernon.
Arriving at the old vault a solemn
dirge was rendered by the band, and
Right Rev. A. NJ. Randolph, bishop of
the southern Episcopal diocese of Vir-
ginia, offered the invocation. Music
furnished by an octet from the grand
lodge of the District of Columbia pre-
ceded an address delivered by the
grand master of Masons in Colorado.
Immediately following this address. in
which the grand master of Colorado
paid an eloquent tribute to the mem
Ory of the first president, the grand
masters of Masons in the thirteen or
iginal states formed in line facing away
from the tomb. The grand masters of
other states described a semi-circle in
front of them, and the grand lodge of
Virginia, joining hands, formed circle
about the tomb. A touching address
announcing the purpose of the assem-
blage was delivered by the grand chap
lain of Virginia, and brief responses
were made. After that the procession
moved to the new tomb, in which the
remains of General Washington and
his wife now lie side by side. Here
suitable Masonic services took place,
conducted by the grand lodge of Vir-
ginia, assisted by the grand lodge of
the District of Columbia. Wreaths
and other tributes We're deposited on
the tomb. The tribute included a
wreath of oak and evergreens from
Londonsborough Park, East Yorkshire.
England, sent by the Earl of Londes-
borough, past grand senior warden of
England, and the officers of Constitu-
tiOnal lodge No. 4, of Beverly, East
Yorkshire. The present was the more
interesting as it was sent from the i'm
mediate vicinity of the home of John
Washington, the founder of the illus
trious American family.
After breaking up, the procession
moved individually to the east front of
the mansion where addresses were de-
Iivered by several of the notable visit
ors, the exercises being presided over