The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-15
dent Mckinley.
President MckinIey,. Address.

President MckinIey's Address.
The procession returned TO the east front
OF the mansion, where President Mckinley.
introduced by Grand Master Duke. deliv-
cred the following Grafton as tribute to
Washington:
W have just participated in a service
commemorative OF the one-hundredth ami
versary of the death OF George Washing
ton- Here, at his old home, which he loved
so well. and which the patriotic women Of
the country have guarded with loving
hands, exercises are conducted under the
auspices OF the great fraternity OF Ma
sons. which. a century ago.. planned and
executed the solemn ceremonial which at
tended the father Of his country to his
tomb. The lodge in which he was initiated.
and the one over which he afterwards pre-
sided as worshipful master. accorded posi-
tions OF honor at his obsequies. is to-day
represented here in token of profound re-
spect TO the memory of their most Illus
trfous member and beloved brother.
"Masons throughout the United States
testify anew their reverence for the name
OF Washington and the inspiring example
OF his life. Distinguished Representatives
are here from all the grand lodges of the
country to render the ceremonies as digni-
fed and impressive as possible, and most
cordial greetings have come from across
our borders and from beyond the sea- Not
alone In this country, but throughout the
world, have 1Iasons taken special interest
III the ODScESdnCt OF LllS CenIclNidi dl1l-
versary- The fraternity justly claims the
immortal patriot as one of its members;
the whole human family acknowledges him
as one of its greatest benefactors. Public
bodies, patriotic societies and other organi-
~zations, our citizens everywhere, have es-
teemed IL a privilege to-day to pay their
tribute to his memory and to the splendor
OF his achievement of justice and liberty
among men. His fair fame. secure in its
Immortality. shall shine through countless
ages with undiminished luster.
HIS WORK HAS STOOD THE TEST.
"The struggling Republic for which
Washington was willing to give his life
and for which he ever freely spent his for
tune, and which, at all times, was the OBJ
ject OF his most earnest solicitude, has
steadily and wonderfully developed along
the lines which his sagacity and foresight
carefully planned. 1t has stood every trial.
and at the dawn OF a new century Is
stronger than ever to carry forward it's
mission OF liberty. During all the interven-
ing years IL has been true, forever true, to
the precepts of the Constitution which he
and his ilustrious colleagues framed for it's
guidance and government. He was the na-
tional architect, says Bancroft, the his
torian, and but for him the Nation could
not have achieved its independence, could
not have formed its union. could not have
put the federal government into operation.
He had neither precedent nor predecessor.
His work was original and constructive
.,nd has successfully stood the severest
tests.
He selected the site for the capital of
the Republic he founded, and gave IL the
name Of the Federal City. but the commits
sion substituted the name of Washington
as the more fitting. and to be a perpetual
recognition of the services of the COM
mander-in-chief of the continental army,
the president OF the convention which
framed the Constitution. and the first Pres
ident of the Republic. More than seventy
millions of people acknowledge allegiance
To the flag which he made triumphant. The
Nation is his best eulogist and his noblest
monument.
IT have been deeply interested and
touched by the sentiments Of his contem-
poraries. uttered a hundred years ago on
tne occasion OF his death. The Rev. Wal
ter Kin OF Norwich. Conn. in the course
of an eloquent eulogy delivered I'm that
city on Jan. 5. 1900, said in part: BY one
mighty effort of manly resolution we were
born anew and declared our independence
Now commenced the bloody contest for ev-
erything we held dear. The same Almighty
Being by whose guidance we were hitherto
conducted beheld us with compassion and
saw what We leeded-a pilot. a leader In
the perflous enterprise we had undertaken.
He called for Washington, already pre-
pared. anointed him as His servant with
regal dignity. and put into his hands the
control of all our defensive operations. But
here admiration suppresses utterances.
Your own minds must fill out the executive
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 the COM
mander-in-chief would suffer materially in
hands like mine. But this 1 may say-the
eyes or all our American Israel were placed
upon him as their saviour under the direc-
ton or heaven, and they were not disap-
pointed
CENTURY-OLD TRIBUTES.
"The Rev. Nathan Strong. pastor of the
North Presbyterian Church in Hartford,
spoke as follows on Dec. q, 1899: He was
as much the angel of peace as of war; as
much respected. as deeply reverenced in the
political cabinet for a luminous GOODNESS of
disposition whereby party jealousy became
enlightened and ashamed of itself, as he
was for a GOODNESS OF In the
dreadful moments when empires hung sus-
pended on the fate of battle. His opinions
became the opinions Of the public body.
and every man was pleased with himself
when he found he thought like Washing
ton- Under the auspices of this great war
rior. who was formed by the providence of
ooa TO defend MS country, the war was
ended and America ranked among the ma
tons. He who might have been a monarch
retired to his own Vernon. unclothed of all
authority: to enjoy the bliss of being a free
private citizen. This was a strange sight,
and gave a new triumph to human virtue
q triumph that hath never been exceeded
In the history of the world, except Ii was
by his second recess, which was from the
presidency of the United States
And on the day preceding. Dec. 26, 1923.
IN the course of his memorable funeral
grafton before both houses of Congress,
Major General Lee. then representative
from the State of Virginia, gave utterance
TO the noble sentiment as forceful TODAY
as In those early years of our national life:
TO the horrid din OF battle sweet peace
succeeded and our virtuous chief, mindful
only or the common good, In a moment
tempting personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT. hushed