Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-21
At MOUNT VERNON.
The Anniversary Of the Death Of
Washington Concentrated.
EXERCISES BY NASONS and RED MEN
President Mckinley and His Cabinet Re.
view the Masonic Bodies- Grafton BY
the President Ut the Mansion
monies Successfully Carried Out


Washington, Dec. 16.-With solemn
pomp and circumstance, with cere
monies beautiful, impressive and appro
pirate, in the presence of distin
guishcd assemblage and in the full
splendor Of ideal autumn weather, tn,
centennial Of the death of Georg,
Washington was commemorated yes
terday at Mount Vernon. That Noun,
Vernon should have been selected q,
the scene Of the exercises was peculiar.
ly fitting. There it was that the hap
piest incidents Of Washington's life
occurred. In other parts he endured
his trials, on other fields he won his
trlumphs; but there, surround ed by
those whom best he loved, were spent
the restful, quiet, studious hours Of his
life. There 1t was, too, that he sickened
and died, and there all that was mortal
of him was laid to eternal rest in a
mausoleum overlooking broad sweep
OF the picturesque Potomac.
Yesterdays ceremonies were elabor-
ately planned and successfully carried
to fruition. They were conducted by
the masonic bodies and by the Red
Men of the United States. The visit.
ing masons, many accompanied by the
ladies of their families, congregated in
Washington early yesterday and, es-
corted by the masonic bodies of the
District Of Columbia, headed by the
grand lodge of the district, made the
pilgrimage to Mount Vernon by boat.
The Virginia masons assembled at
Alexandria and thence, escorted by
Fredericksburg lodge and Washington
Alexandria lodge, as bodies, proceeded
TO Mount Vernon, also by boat.
At ten O'Clock President Mckinley,
himself an enthusiastic mason, ac-
companied by Secretary Of State Hay,
Secretary of the Treasury Gage, Secre-
tary of the Navy Long, Secretary of
the Interior Hitchcock, Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson and Postmaster
General Smith of the cabinet; Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy Allen, Maj. Gen.
Miles, Adjt. Gen. Corbin, Secretary
Porter, Assistant Secretary Cortelyou,
Maj. John A. johnson and Senator W.
A. Clark, Of Montana, past grand
master of his state, left Washington on
a special electric train for Mount ver-
non, arriving there at II. The presi-
Dental party was greeted by Grand
Master Duke, Of Virginia, and by him
was escorted to the mansion.
1t was nearly an hour and a half
afterwards before all of the steamers
bearing the masonic bodies arrived.
After the president and his cabinet
had reviewed them from platform on
The east front of the mansion, pro-
,ession was formed and moved, as on
the day of Gen. Washington's funeral,
December 49, 1893, to the old vault,
where the remains were first deposited.
There, in the immediate presence Of
he grand officers of the various states
md the assembled masons, solemn
uneral rites were conducted.
After music by an octette of the
rand lodgeof the District of Columbia,
irand Master A. A. Burnand of Col
'rado, delivered an grafton on the life
If Washington, laying particular
tress upon his life and accomplish
nents
The procession reformed and moved
hen to the tomb where the remains of
and those Of his family lie
low. The tomb was magnifcently
ecorated with flags and festoons of
vergreens and flowers Here the
eautiful and impressive masonic serv-
,es were conducted. The grand mas
ers of the 10 original states formed in
me facing the representatives of the
ther Jurisdictions, the grand lodge Of
'irginia and visiting brethren standing
A semi-crcle, facing the entrance to
he tomb with joined hands,
The procession returned to the east
ront of the mansion, where President
lcKinley, introduced by Grand Master
luke, delivered an Grafton. The presi-
ent was interrupted frequently by APP
lause and at the close of his speech he
as cheered heartily. The exercises
t the mansion were concluded with a
enediction pronounced by Brother Ed
!. Calisch, rabbi of Beth Ahaba syna-
ogue of Richmond, Va.
At three o'clock a delegation of the
improved Order of Red Men arrived at
iount Vernon TO pay the tribute of
70, 900 Red Men to the memory of
'ashington. He was one OF the
,unders of the "Sons Of Liberty" to
hich the Red Men. trace back their
'igin through varying names, hctng
reat Incohonee Litchman pronounced
lie Grafton upon Washington. He was
,llowed by the great chief OF records
harles II. Conley, with a beautiful
essage to the Red Men of the World.
! conclusion he deposited within the
,mb handsome silk flag on stand
I'd to which was attached four rib
1ns of the colors Of the order green,
-ange, blue and scarlet.
----s Freshmen strike.
st. Louis, Dec l4-The two leading {
!. Louis afternoon papers, the Star q
,d Post-Dispatch, for the first time in |
Ieir history, issued no daylight edi- |
ons yesterday. This was in conse- t
fence of a pressmen's strike, which |
sted eight hours. The striking press
en- returned TO work at night under
orders of President Bow. Q
an, of the International Webb Press. ,
an ,c union