The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-19

The solemn services IN commemoration
,st5e hundredth anniversary Of the death
- Gen. George Washington. held at
Nf,.st Vernon. where his honOTed ashes
-.,,s. and al the city which bears his
-. we're Of the most imposing charae-
-. About the tomb OF the Father OF His
,,---fry. Iis chief Executive, attended by
Sd. cabinet and the highest officials Of the
-.rf g5rser-l with the Masonic bodies
-. bald tribute to a departed brother as
v.u as 90 a great patrioi The Order OF
t..s Men held services 81 Mount Vernon
,.a.,arday afternoon the Masons conduct
~ fre.r memorial exercises in the morn
SIX
IG t1e afternoon the patriotic societies
,ftse Dis rict OF Columbia. including the
s5rs of The Revolution, the Sons 81 the
American Revolution. the Society OF the
-o.oris. Wars. and the Daughters of the
Revolution met al Epiphany Church, and
~s..,d with impressive ceremonial, the
,Er..s, Of the great leader OF their an
,..tor- The George Washington Me-
-o-ia. Association held its cOmmemora-
..g. services al the Lafayette Square The
s,a- .r the evening The Order OF Red
,.s- also extended their celebration 10 the
evening" UUeH they held elaborate eXer-
,as.. a: Convention Hall. The MasOns
sfs, gave a banquet at Willard's Hotel in
,t. eyerag. The Association OF Oldest
5,.sb.taHts OF The District OF Columbia
s,.o paid tribute to The immortal arst
President
Exercises at meunI vernon.
,rrrrf Vernon was yesterday the Nee "a
q. American patriotism. The eyes Of a
r.-af,f.l people We.e centered On the
.~s. which was at the same time the
T.r,. and the last Tegting place OF Gen.
George Washington. Those who could
-.gf attend the exercises were there IN
,-f-,r and societies Of al sorts in Vari-
,r- si,i. OF the country took occasion
81, celebrate the centennial The occasion
MS a solemn one. but the feeling OF sOr-
r5W was more than cCunterbalanced in
ifa rejoicing of a nation Jhat II could
render such an account Of the talents in
trusted 10 IL 100 years ago. impressive
Is were the ceremonies, hal!owed by the
name OF him whose memory was cele-
hrated. there ran throughout the entire
exercises a note OF triumph, a paean of
4ubilaut congratulation tnst the work so
nobly begun had been 50 we'll carried
On.
The Masonic exercises at Mount Yer
non breathed more the sDirit of broad
rgrrioriym than any narrow pride in the
order The celebration was without
parallel In the history of Frsemasonry in
America The Grand Lodges of every
State and Territory In the Union were
represented, with the little cluster OF the
thirteen original States hOliing the place
a honor. The tribute paid 10 Washington
vas tEree-fold; he was honored as an
American. as = Mason, and as citizen of
The world For Masons Of other cCun-
tries had come 10 lay their wreaths upon
his tomb ard render their homage 20 the
man who for more than century has
been regarded in all lands as without
fear and without reproaeh,
Washington and Masonry.
Il W2s ftting and appropriate that the
Masons should take the lead in celebrlt-
ing the day. 1t was in this mighty legion
oi honor that Washington developed 30
many of those qualities that made his
future career possible. Three OF the lOdg
- which took part in the ceremonies yes
terday will remain inseyarably associated
with his name. Ii was in Fredericksburg
Lodge. No. I. that he took his first degree
and became a master Mason. He was
NOrshipful master of Alexandria Wash
iEgton Lodge, No. -, at the time OF his
death. Federal Lodge, No. !, now OF the
District of Columbia, conducted the fu-
neral exercises over his remains one hum
dred years ago. To these lodges was ac-
corded the place Of honor, both In the
line OF march and during the exercises at
AlOGnt Vernon. The Masonic order has
on more than one occasion paid its tribute
tG the name of Washington. The sugges-
tion that the Mount Vernon estate be pur-
chased from the heirs first came from
Masonic lodge, and the order itself raised
81 large portion OF the money.
The suggestion that the centennial OF
Washington's death be observed with Ma
sonic rites first came from the Grand
Lodge of Colorado. The suggestion met
with a hearty and unanimous approval
from all over the country. 1t was con-
cedrd that the Grand Lodge OF Virginia
sGould have charge of the exercises and
the preparation of the programme. AS a
graceful concession 10 the lodge over
which Washington once presided. il was
decided that the Grand Lodge of Virginia
SHOULD hold its annual session at Alex
arotia- In fact, everything was done to
hlungly commemorate the occasion.
Mr.. MckiIley's Tribute.
The response from other countries was
sincere and fraternal. English Masons
expressed their sympathetic concurrence
III The purpose of the celebration. and
th- Prince Of Wales and the Earl of Lon
ut>DoTough sent messages and tokens of
Their appreciation. Representatives were
present from the Grand Lodges OF Cana
ii, Nova Scotia, and Belgium i'm person
ana other foreign jurisdictions had be-
slowed credentials Of representation upon
Dicther Masons residing in this country.
Ike President OF the United States him
Sell = lellCw-craftsman. honored the oc-
casion by his presence, attended by the
members of mis- Cabinet and other high ,f
NciaIs Of the ndticn. The Chief Executive
made a short address, IN which he grace
lllly complimentod his Masonic brethren
OA their worthy enterprise In so magni-
h'enlly celebrating the occasion. He ex-
l"Iled In the highest terms the man who
HTsl took the chair he now occupied. Be
sides the Masonic brethren anc the govern
ment officials, a vast crowd of citizens
their wives and families, attended the ex-
erclses, coming BY boats and the e.ectrlc
cars. The largest number of people ever
seen at Mount Vernon assembled there
yesterday TO soemnize the centennial of
the death OF its former owner.
Al o'clock in the morning the master
Mas0ns OF the District Of Columbia, ex-
cspt Federal Lodge. No /. formed on the
west side Of Fourteenth street. between
Pennsylvania avenue and street, and
the other Masonic bodies began 10 form
rapidly In the vicinity OF the Ebbitt
House.
Masons RI The Tomb.
The procession moved out on Pennsylva-
MA ayenuc to Seventh street, and thence
u the wharf 10 take the boats for Mount
Neiuon. Grand Marshal Robert White, of
West Virginia. directed the line Of march
ind Z large and efficient force of aids as
sisted lim Grand Marshal Whites stan
~ . = fulL.u-.. Enrr.- SfarHlfnrH .a.L.t