Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-15
tBy Telegraph to vlrginian-P llot.)

b
Washington, d. c., Dec. 14.-With
solemn pomp and circumstance. with
ceremonies. beautiful, Impressive and
appropriate, in the presence of distin-
guished assemblage, and in the full
splcndor of ideal autumn weather, the
centennial OF the death OF George
Washington was COMMUNICATED to-
day at Mount Vernon.
To-duy's ceremonies were elaborately
planned and successfully carried to
fruition They were conducted by the
Masonic bodies and by the Red Men of
the United States. Charge OF the cere-
monies incident to to-days commence
ration was placed In the hands OF the
Masons of Virginia, it being in the Old
Dominion that Washington WAS obl-
gated as a Master Mason and there that
he participated enthusiastically In Ma
sonic work and observances The OIL
GERS OF the Grand Lodge OF Virginia,
and the membership of Frcdericks burg
Lodge. In which Washington was made
Mason. and Of Washington-Alc Xan-
dria Lodge over which he presided MS
worshpful master had the chief part
in the duty of seeing that to-day's OBJ
servances were appropriate.
1ltFs MaNIC
The visiting Masons, many accompa-
MED by the ladies of their families, con-
grcgated i'm Washington early to-day,
and, escorted 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 Washing
L. n I'll,
ccedcd to Mount Vernon also by boat.
At 10 o'clock President Mckinley, HIM
SELF an enthusiastic Mason, accompa-
MED by Secretary of State Hay, Secrc-
tary OF the Treasury Gage, Secretary Of
the Navy Long, Secretary of the Int
rior Hitchcock, Secretary OF Agricul-
turc Wilson, and Postmaster General
Smith. of the Cabinet: Assistant Sec
rotary OF the Navy Allen, Major Gem
eral Miles. left Washington on Il spc-
cinl electric train for Mount Vernon
arriving there at II o'clock. The Presi-
dental party was greeted by Grand
Master Duke. of Virginia. aud by him
was escorted to the mansion.
THE FUNTRAL RITES.
After She President and his Cabinet
had reviewed the Masonic bodies from
Il platform on the east front of the
mansion n procession was formed and
H1ONcU, as on the I'll OIL AIelleT.ll w OSLl-
ington's funeral. December IS, 1893, to
the old vault, where the remains were
first deposited. There, i'll the immediate
presence OF the grand officers OF the
various States and the assembled Ma
sons solemn funeral rites were con-
Quoted.
A solemn dirge by the Third Cavalry
Band was followed by tho invocation
pronounced by the Rt. Rev. A. NJ. Ran
dolph. Bishop of the Southern Episcopal
Diocese OF Virginia. Grand Master A.
A. Burnand, of Colorado, delivered nm
grafton on the life and work of Wash
ington.
AT TIE TOMB.
The procession reformed and moved
then to the tomb where the remains of
Washington and those OF his family
now lie. The tomb was magnficently
decorated with flags and festoons of
evergrccns and flowers. Prayer was
offered by the Rev. G.. II. Ray, D. D.,
grand chaplain OF the Grand Lodge of
Virginia.
When the Grand Master of Virginia
called upon each OF the jurisdictions of
The thirteen original States, the juris-
dictions of the Western States and
those Of Canada, Belgium and Nova
Scotia, for messages and tributes sent
hy them, and all responded; then the
Grand Master of the District OF Column
bia deposited within the tomb the
lambskin apron rs Il token of inno-
ccnce: the Grand Master Of Missouri
deposited the white glove as token of
friendship; and the Grand Master Of
California deposited the evergreen as
an emblem OF the Masonic faith in the
irsurrection ETAO ETAO FIJI ETAO
resurrection of the body and the i'm
mortality of the soul
Scores of beautiful wreaths and
punches of evergreens were then de-
posted within the tomb, one of the
most beautiful tokens. an immense
wreath of Ivy, immortallcs and acacia
blossoms, being offered by President
Mckinley.
THE PRESIDENTS GRAFTON.
The procession returned to the east
front of the mansion, where President
Mckinley, introduced by Grand Mas
ter Duke, delivered the following ora
ton as his tribute to Washlngton:
Eve have just participated in n SER
vice commemorative of the one hun
dredth anniversary of the death of
George Washington. Here at his old
home. which he loved so we'll, and
which the patriotic women of the coun-
try have guarded with loving hands,
eyercises arc conducted under the All.