The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-15
Gen. Baker spoke of the cosmopolitan
character of the order.

| managing lbs euuJooT On'
said: One hundred years ago this very
day, the supreme architect OF the uni
verse, removed from this terrestrial
sphere, to the Celestial lodge, our illus
trious brother, George Washington.
In veneration of his memory as Ma
son, we as Masons are here assembled
to mark our respect for his lofty patrl-
otism, and his true masonic virtues
On the 14th of December, 1899, died
suddenly at his home, at Mt Vernon.
in Virginia, General George Washing
J ton. commander in chief of the armies
of the United States Mature in years,
covered with glory and rich in the at
fecrions of the American people, ne
| passed to his eternal home beyond the
stars.
| When men of common mould are
swept from the theatre OF human life.
there is no public concern In their
death, and no note which betrays I'M
wonted feeling, falls from the lips OF
the people. But when some superb
character, some man whose noble deeds
touch all humanity, falls from the
ranks of life, the grief is universal and
all the world seems to be mourners at
his tomb. So it was when Washington
died. Good men everywhere, and all
lovers of liberty the world over, put on
L &c Df mo
poet. the painter. the sculptor, the ora
tor, Joined the hands of genius to
embelish the virtues of his lofty char
acter, and perpetuate his spotless fame
Never before, or since, did the people
of the republic unite in such general
mourning. Each citizen We'd with
every other in placing laurels upon his
brow. The idol of his own land, and
the envy of every other, his eulogies
were heard in every zone of the earth
The military heroes of the world, the
fell destroyer of nations. are abashed IN
his presence In the purity and white
ness of his fame, we declare him to be
superior to all others. No faint ever
sullied the completeness of his glory.
| Ancient heroes and modern captains,
| are dwarfted in the splendor of his re
| nown. Such is the man and brother,
whose memory we this day commemo-
rate, Well did John Adams, the presi
dent say, that eff the prayers of the
people had been answered, he would
have been immortal. For Washing.
ton alone, did the American Congress
resolve, chat it be recommended that
the whole people wear Grape on their
left arm, as mourners, for thirty days"
Not even for Lincoln were all the
people so invoked. In that great flu
ne1al grafton, delivered before the two
houses of congress, by Major General
Henry Lee, occurs those memorable
and immortal words declaring Wash
Iington to be "irst in war. first in peace
and first in the hearts of his country
men,.
And this man was Mason. true,
loyal, faithful Mason, carrying into his
grand life the noble teachings he had
so we'll learned in the secret pavilions
of the craft.
In the last drama of his eventful life
he was ill but twenty-four hours, with
an inf1ammatory sore throat, induced
by exposure in a rain storm. Three
doc ors attended him, and the whole
proceeding was marked with dramatic
interest. There is but little doubt
that Washington was scientifically
murdered by his physicians, dying
under the excessive treatment which
was strictly in accord with the medical
science of that day. He died of scien-
tific phlebotomy. Four times were the
veins opened, taking at the last abund-
ant bleeding thirty-two ounces of his
precious blood Copious calomel was
given, ten grains at a time, with re-
peated doses of emetic tartar He was
bills cred to the point of fearful dis
tress, and bran and vinegar were ap-
piled to his throat. Then, at last, his
vigorous constitution yielded to the
terrible treatment But before he ex
pired, he begged to be left alone by his
doctors, and be permitted to die with
out further interruption. He only
needed a cross to have equalled Jesus
of Nazareth in his final taking off,
On the afternoon of the 18th day O.
December, 1899, all that was mortal of
George Was ington was borne to the
tomb. The historic scene was at Mt,
Vernon, on the banks of the classic
Potomac There amid beautiful groves
and spacious avenues, beneath trees
planted by the heroes own hands, amid
scenes of rich and varied beauty even
on winters day, he was borne to his
final sepulcher. He had laid in state in
the long and lofty portico of his late
mansion, where so often the hero had
walked and conversed with friends,
such as Lafayette. Hundreds came to
gaze upon that countenance, still COM
posed and serene, even in death express
sing that dignity of the mighty spirit
which but lately ~elt in that lifeless
FORM On tho haod of tho coffip MO