Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-12-15
by Judge r. T. w. Duke, grand master
of Masons of Virginia.
HE MEASURED THE CITY.
In Which the Nation Gathered to
Honor Him.


ed with that event, and also forcibly
brings to the front the city of Alexan-
dria which in 174S he, then a youth of
16, aided in surveying. There is GER
tainly no more prominent and conspic-
uous figure in history than George
Washington. In an era when sensa-
tional writer's are ready to pick to
pieces historical characters, not even
sparing Washington, it may not be out
of place to review briefly the worth of
this eminent man.
! Washington's character was marked
| by all the strongest points/that make
up the ideal man. No matter how we
view it we find him always the same:
calm, dignified and ready to meet ard
bravely deal with each emergency and
! problem as it was presented. We can
but admire the brave boy renouncing
his chosen profession to please a de-
voted mother. If we follow him into
the wilderness with chain and compass
or as he leads the hardy soldiery in de-
fense of home and civilization against
/ the savage when not 20 years of age,
we must pause and wonder. His sub
| sequent career in the house of bur-
gesses and as colonial soldier to the
time when in Alexandria he presided
over a meeting of citizens that re-
! solved, should Boston submit I'VE will
not was one proving the material of
| .;..l,t
to Philadelphia as a representative 10
the continental congress or through the
dark days of the revolution he is still
the same.
! View him assuming command under
the Cambridge elm, mark his history
through eight long years of trial and
disaster in Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Delaware, to the glorious consum-
nation at Yorktown, and we find him
ever ready to perform his duty to his
country. The patriot stands brightly
forth at Annapolis where he surren-
ders his sword and proved himself the
champion of human liberty. See him
return for a time to what he styled
the retreat 1 have chosen with fond
est predilection.'' Mount Vernon.
thence presiding over the constitu-
tional convention. Mark him for eight
years as chief magistrate and again
position from childhood to mature age
we are compelled to admire and re-
| spect Washington. No better proof of
his innate modesty and great worth
can be given than the following extract
taken from his farewell address after
refusing third term, thus forever fix
ing the term of that office:
Though in reviewing the incidents
of my administration 1 am unconscious
of Intentional error, 1 am nevertheless
too sensible of my defects not to think
it probable that I have committed
many errors. Whatever they may be,
I fervently beseech the Almighty to
avert or mitigate the evils to which
they may tend. I shall also carry with
me the hope that my country will
never cease to view them with indul-
gence, and that after forty-fve years
of my life dedicated to it's service with
an upright zeal, the faults of incom-
petent abilities will be consigned to OBJ
livion, as myself must soon be to the
mansions of rest
Such is the man whose memory the
people of the United States commem-
crate today and in whose honor the
Masonic fraternity from every state
and territory gathered at his tomb to
repeat the services that were enacted
at Mount Vernon 100 years ago.
MASONIC PILGRIMS.
Mascns from nearly every jurisdic-
day in Alexandria and proceeded to
Mount Vernon to hold commemorative
exercises at the tomb of Washington
going over as nearly as possible the
services of a hundred years ago. The
gathering was notable The PROPOSE
tion to undertake the pilgrimage was
upon the suggestion of the grand lodge
of Colorado IL 1898. The grand lodge
Of Virginia met in Alexandria yester-
day in Hills opera house. Most of the
representatives from other jurisdic-
tions have their headquarters in Wash
ington city, as it was found impossible
to arrange for the accommodation of
the host of visitors in Alexandria. 1t
is not generally known that there does
not exist a national lodge of this most
important organization. Each state has
it's separate organization and controls
the subordinate lodges within its own
Jurisdiction. Under these conditions
the pilgrimage was much more difficult
and the honor paid Washington much
more pronounced. President Mckinley
attended, going by a special electric
train to Mount Vernon, where he de-
livered an eloquent address. On his re-
turn he stopped in Alexandria and held