Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-15

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on similar scale.
GRAND MASTER DUKES SPEECH
The speech OF Judge R. T. W. Duke,
Grand Master Of the Virginia Masons'
in introducing President Mckinley at
Mount Vernon yesterday was master
piece, and was listened to with much
attention by all present. Among other
Things the Judge said:
"The divisions of time are but the
milestones men erect Oh the highway
| leading to eternity. In His sight, to
Whom a thousand years are but as
yesterday when it is past and as watch
! 10 the night, the centuries are but as
| the seconds which are gone ere We can
| reckon them. But one earthly thlog
is permanent. One thing alike defies
| time and endures throughout eternity
goodness-for goodness is born OF God.
Greatness in man dies with man, but
goodness in man ia IS eternal as his and
It's Creator. And we who are here to-
ay, gathering 10 the light OF males
! tic memory, commorate the one hur-
dredth anniversary OF the death of q
great man-besr testimony that the
good man never dies. This is the only
answer We can make to the question,
Why these ceremonies.' Ifone hundred
years ago the real George Washington
died, then these ceremonies are but
vain and idle and hooking mumeries,
serving to recall an event whose mem
| DRY brings with it only sense of the
en- ptiness of human glory. But Wash
ngton lives today not only in the minds
of men, in the records of fame
not only in the pages of history-bul
lives in that serene light which eman-
ates from the presence of God-lives d
| sentient, glorious and glorifed being,
and We assemble here today to thank
God that be lived, to thank God that
he lives, and 10 commemorate the one
huudredth anniversary of the dawn OF
. greater life unto the greatest life that
vas ever lived by mere mortal. Aud
re do well-we, the msmbers OF an
ancient institution whose legend, found
| ed upon death, teaches the true i'm
mortality and whose teachings lead
men to the highest good-an institution
whose tenets our greet brother e1em-
Dlifed in his life and whose simple cere-
monies 100 years ago were read above
the earthly tabernacle whence had
vanished the spirit returning to it's true
nome. We have today borne the same
lights and the same Book and jewels
horne when his BODY was laid to
rest. We have retraced in solemn
procession the route that simple
funeral cortege followed century
ago. Cannon have Numbered from
the river-the voices of war calling
vainly to the eternal pesce-as
they Numbered when the great war
rior rested in peace. We have recited
from the great poet the inspired words
sung to Israel's God-outliviDg Israel
recognizing in ali humility that it is
His voice alone that can say, Return
We children of men," Judge Duke az
t-rwards gave succincr history Of
Washington as Mason, and in con-
clusion said: "And now that all sci
ceremonies are over, we wait to hear
the head of the nation pay his tribute
to the nations first head. How shall
Introduce him I might bid you hail
him as the head of the United Com
monwealths, the chief of the nation
your chosen ruler. I might speak oil
him as the gallant soldier, gallant up
on the field and braver yet in honor
ing the bravery of his former foemen.
But will not do 30. shall bid you
listen to the voice of Virginis-made
Mason-the son of the great Common
wealth of Ohio, once part of Vir-
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 McKin-
| lew"