Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-06
MASONIC.

| A meeting of committee of Masons
was held at the Ebbitt House, in Wash.
iugton, last night, from both Virginia
and the District of Columbia, to discuss
the proposed exercises 10 commemora-
ton OF the centenary of the death Of
George Washington. At the last an
nual communication of the Grand
Lodge of Virginia, the Washington CEN
tennial committee was appointed to at
tend to the arrangements for the ex.
ercises, to be held December IA next,
in this city and at Mount Vernon. The
first subcommittee will have charge OF
the arrangements for banquet and re.
ception on the evening of the 18th OF
| December.
1t is intended to make this banquet
one of the most successful affairs in the
history of Masonry. At the banquet
the grand Masons and distinguished
Masons from all parts of the United
States will be present. 1t is expected
! that President Mckinley will deliver
the address at Mount Vernon, and also
receive with the distinguished Masons
at the banquet.
Last night tho executive committee
reported that the several grand juris-
d!ctions of the United States and the
territories had responded cordially to
the request for necessary funds to carry
out the proposed ceremonies. A joint ses.
sion of the centennial committee from
Virginia and the District has been called
to decide definitely upon the details of
the occasion. During last evening
much bushes of importance was dis.
posed of and after an enthusiastic con-
ference the joint assembly adjourned
with the full assurance that on the 18th
of next December there would be
gathered in this city the largest and
most representatives assembly of Masons
ever congregated in the country.
Those present last night we're Grand
Master of Virginia Judge R. T. W.
Duke jr., and the Grand Master of the
District of Columbia, Mr.. John
Fl. Small. The delegates from
Virginia present were K. Kem-
per, Mann Page, Senator John w.
Daniel and Thomas S. Martin, Colonel
Micsjsh Woods, Major A. R. Courtney
and DIR. W. M. Smith. The delegates
from the District were James A. Sam.
pie, c. z. Bergman, William Brown,
Benjamin w. Murch, Myron NJ. Parker
and Allison Nailor.
During bis entire life Washington
ever showed sincere devotion for the
cause of Masonry and Masons. 1t was
the feeling of veneration for the Mason
and the man that led the Grand Lodge
of Colorado to suggest fitting OBJ
servance of the date of his passing into
the eternal lodge above. The Virginia
lodge was requested to take charge of
the ceremonies.
The executive committee having the
affair under control is composed of the
following gentlemen Major A. R.
Courtney, chairman; Judge r. t. w.
Duke, jr., and Kosciusko Kemper.
Most OF the preliminary work was
mapped out last night, but the ques-
ton of whether the banquet should be
served in this city or in Washington
was left to be determined by the exec.
utive committee at meeting to be
held later. The majority of those
present thought the banquet would
have to be served in Washington, as,
they said, hall sufficiently large for
the occasion could not be secured in
this city.
In this city this evening R. T. ".
Duke, jr., Grand Master, A. R. Court
ney and Mann Page, Past Grand Mas
ters, George W. Darlington, Grand Sec
rotary, and K. Kemper, chairman of
the Washington centennial committee,
met DR.. VIM. M. Smith and Mr. E
War6eld and other members of the
local committee to talk over the mat.
tiers connected with the proposed com.
memorative exercises at Mt. Vernon
hxa.. al LIZ: L.