The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-19
WASHINGTON ANNIVERSARY.
The Exercises at Mount Vernon-Ma-
sonic Ceremonies Address by Presf-
dent Mckinley.

Washington, December 14.-with
solemn pomp and circumstance; with
ceremonies, beautiful, impressive and
tinguished assemblage, and in the full
splendor of ideal utum weather, the
centennial of the death of George
Washington was commemorated today
at Mt. Vernon.
Today's ceremonies were deliberately
planned and successfully carried to
fruition. They were conducted by the
Masonic bodies and by the Red Men
Of the United States.
Charge of the ceremonies incident
TO today's commemoration wa placed
in the hands of the Masons of Virgin
ia, it being in the Old Dominion that
Washington was obligated as a 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, n of
Observation-Disclosures lodge. over
which he presided as worshipful mas
ter, had the chief part in the duty of
seeing that today's o~bservances were
appropriate.
The visiting Masons, many accom-
panied by the ladies of their families,
c~ongregated in Washington early to-
day and, escorted by the Masonic bod
les of the District of Columbia, headed
by the grand lodge of the District,
made the pilgrimage to Mount Vernon
by boat. The Virginia Masons assem-
bled at Alexandria and thence, escort
ed by Fredericksburg lodge and Wash
MISUNDERSTANDING lodge, as bodies,
proceeded to Mount Vernon also by
beat.
1t 10 o'clock President Mckinley,
himself an enthusiastic Mason, accom-
panied by Secretary of State Hay, Sec
rotary of the Treasury Gage, Secretary
of the Navy Long. Secretary of Inte-
rior Hitchcock, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wilson and Postmaster General
Smith, of the cabinet, Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy Allen, Major General
Miles, left Washington on a special
electric train for Mount Vernon, arriv-
ing there at II o'clock. The presiden-
tial party was greeted by Grand Mas
ter Duke, of Virginia, n by him was
escorted to the mansion.
After the president and his cabinet
had reviewed the Masonic bodies from
a platform on the east front of the
mansion, a procession was formed n
moved, as on the day of General Wash
ington's funeral December Is, 1893. to
the old vault, where the remains were
first deposited. There, in the immedi-
ate presence of the grand officers of
the various states and the assembled
MaSons, solemn funeral rites were
conducted.
A solemn dirge by the Third laval
ry ban was followed by the invocation
pronounced by the Right Rev. A. M.
Randolph, bishop Of the Southern
| LNr;CooDol I;0o4ra 90 yTfr~inio Cror1
Master A. A. Burnand, of Colorado,
delivered ar grafton on the life and
work of Washington.
The procession reformed and moved
then to the tomb, where the remains
of Washington and those of his family
now lie. The tomb was magnificently
decorated with flags and ~festoons of
evergreens and flowers. Prayer was
offered by the Rev. G.. H. Ray, d. D.,
grand chaplain of the grand lodge of
Virginia.
When the grand master of Virginia
called upon each of the jurisdictions
of the thirteen original states, the jul
risdictions of the western states and
those of Canada, Belgium and Nova
Scotia, for messages and tributes sent
by them all responded.
Then the grand master of the Dis
trict of Columbia deposited within the
tomb the lamb skin apron as a token
of innocence; the grand master Of
Missouri deposited the white glove as
a token of friendship, and the grand
master of California deposited the ev-
ergreen as an emblem of the Masonic
faith in the resurrection of the body
and the immortality of the soul.
Scores of beautiful wreaths and
punches of evergreenS were then de-
posted within the tomb, one of the
most beautiful tokens. an immense
wreath of ivy, immortelles and acca-
cia blossoms, being offered by Presi-
dent Mckinley.
M'KINLEY'S ADDRESS.
The procession returned to the east
front of the mansion, where President
Mckinley, introduced by Grand Mas
ter Duke, delivered the following ora
ton as his tribute to Washington:
I'VE have just participated in a ser
vice commemorative of the Tooth ami
versary of the death of George Wash
ingtOn. Here at his cid home, which
he loved so we'll, and which the patri-
otto women of tine country have guard
ed with loving hands, exercises are con-
Quoted under the auspices of the great
fraternity of Masons, which a century
age planned and executed the solemn
ceremonial which attended the father
of his country to his tomb. The lodge
in which he was initiated and the one
over which he afterward presided as
~worshipful master, accorded positions
Of honor at his ~obseQuies, are today
represented here in token CT profound
respect to the memory of their most
illustrious membe and beloved bl other
Mason throughout the United States
testify anew their reverence for the
name of Washington and the inspiring
example of his life. Distinguished rep
resentatives are here from all the grand
lodges of uhe country TO render the
ceremonies as dignified and impressive
as possible, and most cordisl greetings
have come from across our borders and
from beyond h sea.
Not alone in this country bu'
throughout the world have Masons
taken especial interest in the observ-
arce of this centennial anniversary
The fraternity justly claims the i'm
mortal patriot as one of its members
the whole human family acknowled'
ges him as one of its greatest benefac'
tors. Public bodies. patriotic societies
and other organizations, u citizen:
everywhere, nave esteemed II a PRIV
lege today to pay their tribute 10 NJ:
h1.