The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-16
pray God may be perpetual.
HIS MASONIC RECORD.

ceased to recognize his membership or
obligations Washington never failed
to recognize any obligation from the
greatest to the smallest. This was one
Of the characteristics Of the man. one
Of the characteristics of every truly
great man, one OF the Characterization
that man derives from God, to Whom
there Is nothing great or small; in
Whose august vision the fall Of the
sparrow is observed as we'll as the wreck
of q world. That Washington was made
q Mason in Fredericksburg Lodge No
4. August 4, 1853, no man can deny.
l. myself have seen the record. That
he was q charter member Of Alexandria
Lodge NOW Alexandria Washington),
No. %. and its first worshipful master
can be proven by as indisputable evil
dence as that he was our first President.
That Lafayette was made a Mason
in his presence is beyond dispute. and
today we have here the Masonic regalia
worked by Madame Lafayette present
cd to Washington by Lafayette himself
and accepted by him as a Mason. And
today we have borne the Bible. the
jewels and the three lights borne by
the lodge at his funeral as a Mason, 100
years ago, and hold in my hand as l
speak the gavel he used when, clothed
as q Mason and acting as Grand Master
Of Masons, he laid the cornerstone Of
the Capitol What he thought Of Ma
sonry can be easily found II anyone
desires to find it in his answers TO the
addresses Of Masonic lodges in this
Union. Printed in his writings they
are Of easy access to every man, and he
IL was who summed up the conclusion
Of the whole matter when he said, in
answer to the address Of the Grand
Lodge Of Massac husetts TO their Illus
trious Brother George Washington. on
the eth day Of December. 1897. the
great object Of Masonry is TO promote
the happiness Of the human race
when emperors die ministers wait
at the doorway to speed to the expec.
tant heir the welcome news. Cere-
monies formal, cold and stately await
alike upon the birth and death Of kings
But this king Of men died as be was
born, with none about him save those
dear to him-simple, plain unpretend-
ing, great in his simplicity. Love and
veneration were with him when he
died and the nations Of the earth wore
mourning at his funeral.
A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.
1.-The observance Of this anniversary
should not await another century. Here
each recurring anniversary OF this
mans death should be not merely the
gathering Of the craft whose member
ship he adorned. bat Of the people who
owe to him the foundation Of their
greatness and their glory. Here lovers
of their country should come to catch
the inspiration Of his great life. the
purity Of his patriotism, the simplicity
of his characterize dignity OF his
manhood and the unostentatious piety
of his soul. Here the politician should
come to learn that purity, and rectitude
and straightforward honesty is as posi-
BILE In the art Of government. and as
successful, as in eny other science.
Here the soldier should come to take
courage at the remembrance that the
soldier sleeping here overcame defeat
with patience and conquered victory
with self.abnegation. Here the citizen
should come to learn that his Is no idle
position In government where he Is in
part a ruler that service to ones coun-
try Is due as long as life lasts. Here
the man should come to learn how man
can achieve greatness without sacriflc-
Ing himself to ambition, and glory
without q stain upon his escutcheon.
And here at this shrine we have
come, my brethren, to show that Ma
sonry can never forget her illustrious
dead can never forget that death is but
the birth OF immortality. and that
nothing that is good in man, or worthy
of love and admiration, can ever die.
To speak to us today we have hidden
one who, like Washington, disdains
not the humble badge Of labor, the
Msson's apron who fills today the chair
once filed by Washington.
How shall l introduce him? might
bid you hail him as the head OF the
United Commonwealth. the chief Of
the nation-your chosen ruler. might
speak Of him as the gallant soldier,
gallant upon the field and Drawer yet In
honoring the bravery Of his former foe
men. But will not do 80. shall bid
you listen to the voice Of Virginia
made Mason-the son Of the great Com
monwealth Of Ohio, once q part OF Viz.
ginia-whom Virginia Masonry claims
here, yet gives him, as Virginia hath
ever given, alike her lands and her
children to her country, the American
Mason, our Brother William Mckinley.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
President Mckinley spoke as follows :
1--WE have just participated in a SER
vice commemorative Of the one hun.
dredth anniversary Of the death Of
George Washington. Here at his old
home, which he loved 30 well. and
which the patriotic women Of the
country have guarded with loving
hands, exercises are conducted under
the auspices Of the great fraternity Of
Masons, which century ago planned and
executed the solemn ceremonial which
attended the Father Of His Country to
mi -. IL