The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-15

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fraternity, were the only emblems or
decorations upon his coffin have often
seen the beautiful apron in the patent
office, at Washington, where it was
kept with his military, outfit for many
years, but is now removed to Mt Yer
non. AS they marched to the vault,
the military fell into line, then the
music, then the clergy. then the Gen
erals colored servants, leading his ia
vorite horse, with his saddle, holster,
and pistol, then the body with military
and Masonic pall-bearers. Following
them were the mourners and immedi-
ately following them the Masonic
brethren. And the account, by Masonic
pail bearer, goes on to state that, when
they arrived at the tomb, the clergy
the Masonic brethren and some citizens
descended into the vault, and then the
funeral services were completed" l
am particular about the final disposition
of the body of our illustrious brother,
because it has been alleged that he was
not buried with Masonic .honors. 1t
is the general rale of our order that no
Mason can be inferred with the formali-
ties Of the order unless it be at his own
special request. Now we do know what
ceremonies took place within the vault,
for we do know that his Masonic
brethren descended into the vault, and
upon the authority of Benz. j. Losing,
Washing on's historian, they performed
the prescribed Masonic funeral rites.
The sun had just set when the imposing
ceremonies were ended, but the sun of
his glory will never set. There was
buried the hero, the sage, the friend OF
liberty, the savior of his country and q
true Mason. ~.
Washington was made an entered ap-
prentice in the lodge at Fredericksburg,
Va, Nov. 4th, 1862. The records OF
that lodge, yet in existence, contain the
entry. On the 3rd of March following,
he was passed as Fellow Craft, and on
the 4th of August next succeeding, he
was raised to the sublime degree of a
Master Mason. The bible on which he
was said to have been obligated, is still
in existence. In his earlier military
career against the French and Indians,
when under British authority, it is of
record that he was very attentive to his
Masonic duties.
There is abundant evidence to show,
that during the Revolutionary war, he
was frequent attendant on the meet
ings of military lodges, and that some
of these lodge meetings were held in
Washington's own tent, the chief ihim-
self presiding. So we'll was he known
as a Mason that he was at one time
recommended to be Grand Master of
the United States, which honor he de-
clined. After the close of the war and
when he had returned to his home at
Mt. Vernon, be was duly elected Master
of lodge No 80, at Alexandria, the city
nearest his home In 1906 that lodge
was permitted to change its name to
that of washington Lodge" in honor
of it's first Master. He is said to have
been constant and punctual in his at
tendance and scrupulous in his observ-
ance of the regulations of the lodge, and
that he discharged the duties of the
chair with uncommon dignity and in
telligence in all the mysteries of our
craft. Very frequently Washington
took occasion to express his high esteem
of the order and his cordial apprecia-
tlon of it's high purposes. He invari-
ably eulogized its principles and sought
to promote its prosperity.
Washington was not the man to be-
long to society which was useless in
itself. or which was in any way hostile
to morality, religion, good order, or to
the public welfare.
Benjamin Franklin was also Mason
made one III England, and become
Master of a lodge, and subsequent
ly Grand Master of Pennsylvania. The
Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander
Hamilton, and nearly all of the leading
officers in the Revolutionary war were
Masons
When Washington died, the Masons
in all the leading cities of the land held
the most elaborate funeral obsequies
In Alexandria, Baltimore, Philadelphia
New York and Boston; nothing in that
day could excel the magnifcence of his
funeral rites by the fraternity. They
are said to have been the most imposing
Masonic funeral ceremonies ever before
seen in the world. Every Masonic lodgt
In.the UnitedStates was draped in mourn
ing, and everywhere suitable Masonic