Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-13
ONE uuNDnEprH ASs1vARsAn,.
Tribute to the Memory ofthe Father OF
Hf. Country.

Tribute to the Memory Of tho Fa,hor OF
Hf. Country.
| The Masons of the English king
World will gather at Alexandria, Va,
next December. to pay tribute to tn.
memory Of George Washington, on the
Tooth anniversary of the death of the
| patriot.
Considerable interest is manifesta1
/ here in the approaching celebration 4;
Alexandria and it il probable that ,hc
Virginia Peninsula Will be largely re
presented. There are several prorlnen.
State officers in this vicinity who Viii
attend in their official capacity.
I me idea of a centennial memorial
service was promulgated by the Grand
Lodge of Colorado in 1884. George
washington was made aMason in Fred
ericksburg Lodge, and was asked to
become the first Master Of the Alexan-
dria Lodge when that body was organ
lied.
There have been. and there still are,
skeptics who refuse to believe thut
I'Washington was ever made a Mason a t
all but the fac, is proved indisputably
by the existence of Il letter from Wash
inston in the archives Of the N1assa chu-
sets Grand Lodge
When he was retiring from the Pres
ldency OF the United States the Grand
Lodge of Massachusetts wrote. ex-
pressing the great regret Of that juris-
diction. In replying to this testimonial
sestion that the celebration should he
held in Alexandria. Va
The reasons that promoted this sue-
geston are not Tar 20 seek Washing
ton was the first Master Of the Alexan-
dria Lodge. which, from this fact, has
come'to be called the Alexandria Wash
1nston. Washington wrote: my at
tachmcnt to the society of which we arr
members will dispose me always to CON
tribute my best endeavors to promote
the honor and interest of the craft "
The remains of George Washnslto
We're laid to rest. in the first place, with
Masonic ceremonies, on the 14th day of
December, 1899.
Colorado has suggested that the
Grand Lodge of Virginia shall take pre-
cedence in the memorial services with
which it is proposed to mark the Tooth
anniversary Of that event. The ar
rangements have been left to a commit
tee. of which the following gentlemen
are members: Grand Master r. T.
Duke. of charlottesville; Senate Dan
iel and Martin: Major 4. r. Courtney.
vi
! jor Mann Page. of Brandon, Past Grand
Master; Kosciusko I<enlrer. Of Alexan-
dra, Grand Deacon, and other distin-
suished gentlemen.
! Special provision was made at the
last meeting Of the Grand Lodge of Vir-
ginia to hold the next annual meeting
on December 18th. l4th and 15th. at Al
eSandria, in order that that body might
| take part in the proceedings
| Nearly all of the Grand Lodges in the
| United States Canada and other Eng
| disappearing countries have concribu-
ted towards the celebration. and will be
represented at the ceremonies Ill.,. "
| Conspicuous positions will be given in
the proceedings to the Alexandria ana
fredericksburg lodges, in view of
washington connection With them
| The carem onies will resemble, as fan
as possible. those Which marked the
burial OF the distinguished general
Warships will be gathered in the Po-
tomac and will lend the thunder Of the
minute gun to the impresslveness of the
occasion.
| The Masonic ceremonies over, Presi-
! dent Mckinley, himself a Mason, will
deliver an address at the tomb Of
/ Washington at Mount Vernon.
| Zach Grand Lodge has been request
| ed by the committee to be present in
the person of the Grand Master, or such
representative as he may appoint The
| Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania alone Ct
all the lodges in this country. has de-
clined to participate in the event, on
| the ground that it is understood that
they will not take part in any proceed
inSs outside of their own jurisdiction
| In many instances very large delega-
tons will be present from the various
Grand Lodges. Maryland and the Dis
trict of Columbia will be very largely
! represented, nearly every member of
1.-The Grand Lodges in these jurisdictions
being present.
! TIE APPROACH OF AUrUMN