The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-16
UaSOuIG CE2EM0BIES.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 10 THE
MEMORY OF WASHINGTON
At MT. VERNON.
GRAND MASTER DUKE AND PRESIDENT
MCKINLEY SPEAK.

GRAND MASTER DUKE AND PRESIDENT
MCKINLEY SPEAK.
With ceremonies. impressive and APP
propriate. in the presence OF a distin-
guished assemblage. the centennial OF
the death Of George Washington was
commemorated Thursday at Mount
Vernon.
The visiting Masons, many accom-
panied by the ladies Of their families,
congregated in Washington early In
the morning, and, escorted by the Ma.
sonic bodies of the District Of Oolum-
bis. 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,
escorted by Fredericksburg Lodge and
Washington. Alexandria Lodge, as
bodies, proceeded to Mount Vernon, also
by boat At 10 O'Clock President Nc
Kinley. himself an enthusiastic Mason,
accompanied by Secretary Of State Hay
Secretary Of the Treasury Gage, Secre-
tary Of the Navy Long. Secretary Of
the Interior Hitchcock. Secretary Of
Agriculture Wilson and Postmaster
General Smith, of the Cabinet; Assist.
ant Secretary of the Navy Allen. Major
General Miles, Adjutant General Cor
bin, Secretary Porter, Assistant Score.
tsry Oortelyou, Maj John A Johnston
and Senator W. A CLARK. Of Montana,
past grand master Of his State, left
Washington on q special electric train
for Mount Vernon, arriving there at IL.
The Presidential party was greeted by
Grand Master r. T. W. Duke. Of Char.
lottesville, Va, and by him escorted to
the mansion.
In the presence Of 8, 900 people, which
included distinguished Masons from all
over the United States, the services
were conducted. The Bible on which
Washington was obligated as a Mason,
which belongs TO Lodge No. 4. OF this
city, was placed upon the altar at the
tomb and was an object Of great inter
est to the Masons and public present.
JUDGE DUKES ADDRESS.
Judge r. T. W Duke. Grand Master
Of the Virginia Masons. spoke, in
part, as follows:
THE divisions of time are but the
milestones men erect on the highway
leading to eternity. In His sight,
to Whom thousands years are but
as yesterday when it is past and as
watch in the night. the centuries are
but as the seconds which are gone ere
we can reckon them.
but one earthly thing is perma-
nent. One thing alike dehes time
and endures throughout eternity-good-
ness-for goodness is born Of God and
exists with God Greatness in man
dies with man, but goodness in man Is
as eternal as his and its Creator.
"And we who are here today, gath
ering in the light of majestic men,
DRY, commemorate the one hundredth
anniversary Of the death Of q great
man-bear testimony that the good
man never dies.
This is the only answer we can
make to the question, Why these cere-
monies?
IF 100 years ago thu real Geo. Wash.
ington died, then these ceremonies are
but vain and idle and hooking num-
meries, serving to recall an event
whose memory brings with it only q
sense Of the emptiness Of human glory.
He STILL LIVES
But Washington lives today not
only in the minds Of men, in the re-
cords Of fame-not only in the pages
of history-but lives in that serene
light which emanates from the pres
sense Of God-lives q sentient, glori.
GUS and glorified being, and we assem-
BILE here today TO thank God that he
lived, to thank God that he lives, and
to commemorate the one hundredth
anniversary of the dawn Of greater
life unto the greatest life that was ever
lived by mere mortal And we do
well-we, the members Of an ancient
institution whose legend, founded upon
death, teaches the true immortality
and whose teachings lead men TO the
highest good-an institution whose
tenets our great brother exemplihed in
his life and whose simple ceremonies
100 years ago were read above the
earthly tabernacle whence had vanished
the spirit returning to its true home.
We have today borne the same lights
and the same Book and jewels, borne
when his body was laid to rest. We
have retraced in solemn procession the
route that simple funeral cortege fol-
lowed century ago Cannon have
Numbered from the river-the voices
Of war calling vainly TO the eternal
peace as they Numbered when the
great warrior rested in peace. We
have recited from the great poet the
inspired words sung to Israel's God
OUTLYING Israel-recognizing in all
humility that it, is His voice alone
that oan say, Return. ye children of
men,.
"And now that all set ceremonies
are over, we wait ID hear the head Of
the nation pay his tribute to the ma
tion's first head. And from hence we
shall 90 back to the city's noise and
tumult, and what shall we carry hence