Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-15
wAsHINGToN's CENTENNIAL.

ton was received last night at Wizards
Hotel by the Grand Lodge OF Virginia,
az the concluding ceremony of the Ma
sonic day in honor of the anniver AIRY
of the death of Washington. Two
thousand people, representing the fra.
ternity from all parts OF the country,
with the ladies who accompanied them
on their pilgrimage to Mount Vernon,
thronged the halls and parlors of the
hotel and were greeted by Grand Mas
ter Duke, of the Virginia Grand Lodge,
and his receiving party.
The splepdor of the costumes blend
ed with the immense wreathes and
festoons of smilax and palms which de-
corated hall after hall and parlor after
parlor throughout the two first floors
of the hotel, making an ever changing
picture of great beauty. Music i'll vari-
Gus parts OF the building Wed with gay
laughter and conversation. For two
hours the throngs passed in review be-
fore the receiving party.
The buffet banquet, which was served
during tbs entire evening in the hotel
dining rooms, was one Of the greatest
OF its kind ever held 10 Washington.
but members of the Grand Lodge Of
Virginia who were in the city today
said it did not compare with the ban
quet tendared that body 10 this city on
Wednesday night by the Alexandra
Masons.
Grand Marshal Robert White at 8
o'clockled the procession visitors from
the Hobbies to the receiving parlors, in-
augurating the ceremonies. The re-
ceiviog party was composed of Grand
Master Duke, OF the Virginia lodge, his
brother William r. Duke, Mr9. William
R. Duke, Mrs. c. E. BurIeson, Miss
Duke, and Miss Slaughter. Assisting
Grand Master Duke were the Grand
Masters of all the Grand Lodges of the
Uaited States, ana the officers of the
Virginia Grand Lodge. S. w. Wright,
Deputy Grand Mester; Fl. 0. Kearns,
Grand senior W4tdei J. n. Euoank,
Grand Junior Warden; /. Davis, Grand
Senior Deacon, and K. Kemper, of this
city, Grand Junior Deacon.
The receiving party was assembled
in the last of the east parlors of the he
tel, Grand Master Duke personally
greeting the gathering. Heintroduced
prominent Masops from all parts OF the
country TO each other, and fellcitated
them ell on the great success that they
had made, with their immense gather
iug, of the anniversary ceremonies.
The ladies of his party did more than
heir share to enllven and beautify the
occasion.
The evening was entirely informal,
and 60 speeches were made, the ban
quet and the general mingliug of old
and new friends filing the entire time
until II o'clock. AS is usual in Wash.
ington on such occasions there was q
perfect crush and Washington people
were "in it,"
As conclusion of the reception pre-
gramme the Virginia Grand Lodge gave
banquet to The Grand Masters and
special grand representatives oil all the
Grand Lodges in the country at the
Eobitt House at II o'clock.
The banquet ended the festivities oil
the evening aud the Anniversary cere-
monies. The company numbered near
ly two hundred, the flower of the Ma
sonic fraternity OF the country. Every
State and Territory in the Union, ex.
cept Pennsylvania, was represented
and there were in addition prominent
Masons from Canada, Nova Scotia
England, and Belgium.
At l1:30 o'clock the grand officers Of
the fraternity, the receiving ladies, aud
invited guests entered the dining room
The hall was profusely decorated. In
the centre of each of the fifteen tables
set stood large jar OF ferns and La.
France roses. Ferns were scattered
along the sides of the room and cuttings
were arranged at intervals on the walls
SmiIax was entwined among the large
paintings and over the door arches.
At one end of the banquet hall was
the table of the Virginia Grand Lodge
reception committee. Grand Master
Duke acted as informal master of cere-
monies of the occasion. He was sur
rounded By the ether officers of the
Virginia Grand Lodge and the ladies OF
the party.
The occasion was, like the reception
at Wizards, entirely informal. Songs
and outbursts of applause at the
patriotic airs of the orchestra broke
gaily into the programme at frequent
intervals. Cd Southern melodies were
the rule and elected frequent applause.
"Colum bia" and America were both
sung enthusiastically by the entire
company, standing, during the evening.
In the second rendition of America"
every one sang the words, God save
the Queen" in honor Of the grand
master of Canada, The speeches were
tuned to the occasion, impromptu and
happy.
The menu of the banquet attracted
much attention. 1t had as cover de-
sign picture of George Washington
in the Masonic regalia and the costume
worn by him as master of the Alexaud
ria lodge.
1t was not until late hour in the
morning that the last speech was made,
and the company joined in the last
parting song.
Major Courtney, of Virginia, was the
toastmester. He introduced first
Judge Duke, who extended the most
cordial welcome of the Virginia frater-
nifty to all the representatives from the
several American lodges and those pre-
sent from aboard.
Judge Duke commenced his remarks
with an amusing anecdote and ended
by saying that the grand lodge of Vir-
GINA feels amply repaid for it's trouble
hv the grand assemblaga of brothers