Iron County register., 1899-12-21


ment for the days observance origi-
mated, in 1898, with the grand lodge ol
Masons of the state of Colorado. the
proposition being made by Mos;
Worshipful William d. Wright, grand
master of Colorado, who was present
TO witness the carrying into effect OF
his long-cherished idea.
Conducted by Virginia Masons.
Charge of the ceremonies incident to
yesterdays comlnemorationw was placed
I'm the hands of the Masons of Virginia,
it being in the Old Dominion that
Washington was obligated as master
mason and there that he participated
enthusiastically in Masonic work and
observances. The officers of the grand
lodge of Virginia and the membership
of Fredericksburg lodge, in which
Washington was made Mason, and of
shington-Alexandria lodge, over
which he presided as worshipful mas
ter, had the chief part i'll the duty of
seeing that the observances were ap-
propriate.
The Duty Was Well Performed.
That the duty was well performed
was evidenced by the solemnity and
beauty of the ceremonies and by the
Immense concourse of Aasons pres
ent. Thousands were in attendance
from all parts of the country, and al
most every jurisdiction in the United
States and few from foreign coun-
tries were represented by some of
their grand officers and members.
Assembled Mt Mount Vernon.
The visiting Masons. many accom-
panied by the ladies of their families,
rongregated in Washington early, and,
escorted by the Masonic bodies of the
District of Columbia, headed by the
grand lodge of the District, made the
pilgrimage to Mount Vernon by boat.
The Virginia Masons assembled at
Alexandria, and thence, escorted by
Fredericksburg lodge and Washington
Alexandria lodge, as bodies, proceeded
to Mount Vernon. also by boat.
Distinguished Visitors.
At ten o'clock Mr.. Mckinley, himself
an enthusiastic Mason, accompanied by
Secretary of State Hay, Secretary of
the Treasury Gage, Secretary of the
Navy Long, Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock. Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson and Postmaster-GeneralS Smith,
of the cabinet; Assistant Secretary of
the Navy Allen, Maj.-Gen. Miles, Adit-
Gen. Corbin, Secretary Porter, Assist
ant Secretary COrtelyou, Maj. John A.
johnson and Senator W. A. Clark, of
Montana, past grand master of his
state. left Westinghouse special cleo
trio train for Mount Vernon, arriving
there at IL o'clock.
The presidential party was greeted
by Grand Master Duke, of Virginia.
solemn Funeral Rites.
1t was nearly an hour and a half af-
terwards before all the steamers bear
ing the Masonic bodies arrived. After
the president and his cabinet had re-
viewed them from a platform on the
east front of the mansion, procession
was formed, and moved, as on the day
III Washington's funeral, December IS.
1iT9, to the vault, where the remains
were first deposited. There, in the i'm
mediate presence of the grand officers
of the various states and the assem-
bled Masons. solemn funeral rites were
conducted.
Invocation and Grafton.
A solemn dirge by the Third cavalry
band was followed by the invocation,
pronounced by Rt. Rev. A. NJ. Ran
doIph, bishop of the Virginia diocese.
After music by an octette, Grand
Master A. A. Burnand, of Colorado, de-
livered an grafton on the life of Wash
ington.
Services at the Tomb.
The procession then moved to the
tomb where tbs remains of Washing
ton and his family lie now. The tomb
was magnifcently decorated with flags
and festoons of evergreens and flow
ers. Here the beautiful and impressive
Masonic services were conducted. The
grand masters of the Is original states
formed in line facing the representa-
siyes of the other jurisdictions, the
grand lodge of Virginia and visiting
brethren standing in semi-circle, flc-
fng the entrance TO the tomb, with
soined hands. Prayer was offered by