The Portland daily press., 1899-12-15

| Wtta iofura aanas> a prayer W. oAoIc<
By the Rev. q. II. Ray, ID. D., grans
chaplain Of the grand lodge Of Virginia.
Then the grand master Of virginis
called upon each of the Jurisdictions o.
the thirteen original states. ths jurisdic
tions OF the western states and those oi
Canada. Belgium and Nova Scotia fol
messages and tributes sent by them ant
all responded.
Then the grand master Of the District
Of Columbia deposited within the toni
ths lambskin apron a. . token Of inno.
osnce; the grand master Of Mifsouri de.
pssissd the white glove as q token Of
friendship and the grand master oi
California deposited the evergreen a. On
emblem Of the Masonic faith In the rssur-
rsct.on Of the body and the Immortality
Of the soul. The procession returned tc
the east front Of the mansion, where
President Mckinley was introd uoed by
Grand Master Duke. and delivered the
following or~tion ~ his tribute to WASH
ingtoni
We have just participated In ssrvioe
commemorative Of the enc hundredth an
niversAry Of the death Of Gsorgs Washing
ton. Hers In his old home which he loved
80 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. Q century ago, planned and exc
cutsd the solemn ceremonial which at
tsrded the Father Of his country to his
to.l.-. L. -hfch ~. s,t
sted and ths one over which he aftsrwafd
presided as worshipful master, accorded
positions Of honor ut his obsequies are to-
day represented here in token Of profound
respect 10 ths memory Of their most illus-
trious membsr and bsioved brother. Ma
sons throughout the United States testify
anew their reverence for the name of
Washington and the inspiring example of
his life. Distinguished representatives
are here from all the grand lodges Of the
country TO render the ceremonies ~ dig
nifed and impressive as possible and
most cordial greetinss have come from
across our tordsrs and from bsyond the
see. Not alone In this country, but
throushout ths world have Masons taken
S1Rc8toA tIkose as tn8 0tU1E N0tt0u VI tdi5
centennial snniversary. The fratcFnity
Justly claims the immortal patriot as one
of Its members, the whole human family
him ~ one Of Its greatest
bensfsetors. Pablio bodies, patriotic
societies and other orgaaizAtions. our
citizens everywhere have esteemed 10
privilege today TO pay their tribute to his
ma ma oxv ana IN tha snlan.3,r ~ his arror,
piishmsnts In the Advancement Of justice
and liberty among men.
His fair fame. secure In Its immortali-
~, shall shine through oour tiesS ages
with undiminished lustrs. The struggles
republic for which Washington Was will
ing to give his life and for which he ever
freely spent his fortune. and which at all
Tine. Mas iAa obisct 81 his "'sss -ssrcss'
along the lines which his
saaaoity and foresight carefully planned.
Il has stood every trial, and ct the dawn
Of new century Is stronger than ever to
narry forward Its mission OF liberty.
During all the intervening years u has
been true to the preoepts Of the constitu-
tiou which he and his illustrious col
leagues framed for Its guidance and gov
ernment He was the nations al architect.
says Bancroft, the historian. and but for
him the nation could not have achieved
Its Independence, could not have formed
Its union, could not have pot the Federal
into operation. He had
neither precedent nor predeoessor. HIS
work was original and constructive and
has successfully stood the sevsrest tesla
He selected the site for the capital OF the
republic he founded and gave 10 TO the
name Of the federal city. but the commits
sion substituted the namo Of Washington
as the more fitting. and to be perpstuai
recognition Of the services OF the oom-
mander in chief Of the continental army,
the president Of the convention which
framed the constitution and the first
president Of tho republic. More than so,-
600, OCO Of people acknowledge sllegiancs
to the flag which he made triumphsns.
The nation 10 his best eulogist and his
noblest monument.
/ have been deeply interested and
touched By the sentiments OF his contem-
poraries, uttered . hundred years ago on
the occasion Of his death. 1hs Rev.
Walter King Of Norwich, Conn, In the
course Of an eloquent eulogy delivered In
that city on January 8, is0o, said In part'
"By one mighty effort Of manly rssoiu-
tion We were born anew and declared our
Independence. Now commenced the
bloody contest for everything We hsid
dear, The same Almighty Being, BY
whose guidance We were hithsrto con-
Quoted, behsld Us with compassion, and
saw what we needed-a pilot, . leader In
the enterprise we had undertaken. He
called for Washington, already prepared,
annointed him a. His Servant with regal
dignity and put into his hands the con-