The National tribune., 1899-12-21
MASONIC SERVICES AT MT. VERNON.
Representatives from Every State Pay Tribute to Their Most
usous Brother George Washington Addresses by President
Mckinley and Grand Master Duke, of Virginia.

to the flag which he made triumphant.
The Nation is his best eulogist and his
nobleSt monument.
4 have been deeply interested and
touched by the sentiments of his contem-
poraries uttered hundred years ago on
the occasion of his death. The Rev. Wal
ter King, of Norwich, Conn.,, in the course
of an eloquent eulogy, delivered in that
city on Jan. 5, 1900, said in part: BY
one mighty effort of manly resolution We
were born anew, and declared our lnde-
pendence. Now commenced the bloody
contest for everything we held dear. The
same Almighty Being by whose guidance
we We're hitherto conducted beheld us
with compassion, and saw what we needed
"a pilot, leader in the perilouS enter
prise we had undertaken. He called for
Washington. already prepared, anointed
him His servant with real dignity, and
put into his hands the control of all our
defensive operations.
AN COMMANDER OF THE ARMY.
"But here admiration suppresses utter
ance. Your minds must fill out the active
character of the man. A description of
the warlike skill, the profound wisdom
the prudence, the heroism, and integrity
which he displayed in the character of
Commander-in-Chief would suffer materi-
ally in hands like mine but this, | may
Say-the eyes of all our American Israel
were placed upon him as their savior, I'M
der the direction of heaven, and they We're
not disappointed
"The Rev. Nathan Strong, Pastor of the
North Presbyterian Church, in Hartford,
spokS as follows on Dec. p, 1893: he
was as much the angel of peace as of war,
as much respected, as deeply reverenced
in the political cabinet for luminous
coolneSs of disposition whereby party jeal-
ouSy became enlightened and ashamed of
itself as he was for a coolness of command
in the dreadful moment when empires hung
suspended on the fate of battle. His
opinion became the opinion of the public
body, and every man was pleased with
himself when he found he thought like
Washington.
Under the auspices of this great war
rior, who was formed by the providence
of God to defend his country, the war was
ended and America ranked among the Ma
tons. He who might have been monarch
retired TO his own Mount Vernon, unclothed
of all authority, to enjoy the bliss of being
a free private citizen. This was strange
sight, and gave a new triumph TO human
virtue-a triumph that hath never been ex-
ceeded in the history of the world, except
by his second recess, which was from the
Presidency of the Unite States
and on the day preceding, Dec. 26,
1893, in the course of his memorable funeral
Grafton before both Houses of Congress,
Maj.-Gen. Lee, then a Representative
from the State OF Virginia gave utterance 10
the noble sentiment as forceful to-day as in
those early years of our National life:
''To the horrid din of battle sweet peace
and our virtuous chief, mindful
only of the common good, in a moment
tempting personal aggrandizement, hushed
the discomfort of growing sedition, and,
his power into the hands
from which he had received it, converted
his sword into a plowshare, teaching an
admiring world that TO be truly great you
must be truly good
LASTING CHARACTER OF HIS FAME.
while strong with bis own generation.
he is stronger even i'll the judgment of
the generations which have followed. After
a lapse of century he is better appreciated.
more perfectly understood, more thoroughly
venerated and loved than when he lived
He remains an neverincreasing influence for
good in every part and sphere of action OF
the Republic. He is recognized as not only
the most far-sighted statesman Of his