The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-09
ABOUT The APRON
Worn by George Washington
as a Mason.
ITS HISTORY is GIVEN
P. A. Rohrbaugh Receives
Two Interesting Letters.

The Masonic lodge at Towanda, Butler
county, will on the 18th inst. memorial
ize the death of George Washington with
appropriate ceremonies and public dem
orstrations. P. A. Rohrbaugh of this
city, and a member of Wichita Lodge
No. SO, will deliver the Grafton. Mr.. Rohr-
baugh, in order to have information di-
rect from the lodge of which General
Washington was a member, wrote to
that lodge and has received two letters
disclosing facts not before published.
The associations clustering about the
days referred to in these letters make
them peculiarly interesting, and through
the kindness of Mr.. Rohrbaugh they are
given here They are from the secre-
rary of Frederick Lodge No. 4, Freder-
icksburg, Va:
fredericksburg. Va.
Your letter to hand and contents
noted. Washington was made a Mason
in this lodge. then known as the Fred
ericksburg lodge. He took the LIST de-
gree November 4. 1882 the End degree
March 3, 1913, and the 3rd degree August
4, 1853. He remained a member of this
lodge as long as he lived, and his death
was reported by the lodge to the grand
lodge Of Virginia, in 1900. He was the
charter master of Alexandria (after-
wards Washington added to Alexandria)
Lodge No. o. when it was chartered by
the grand lodge of Virginia, lin 1883. prior
to that 1t held a charter from the grand
Of T7ja
a thorough Mason and when convenient
and able attended the meeting of lodges
near where he was located. Very fra
ternally. S. ]. QUINN,
fredericksburg Lodge No 4"
But the following letter is interesting
as the tracer of a souvenir apron of Cen
eral Washington. 1t is from j. S. Fletn-
ing, secretary Of Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 81,
of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and is
as follows:
Replying to your favor of the 2sth,
have procured all the information about
the Washington apron, which is as fol-
lows: Colonel A. r. Boiler when boy
saw Lafayette in Baltimore. His father,
a Royal Arch Mason, was personally ac-
quainted with the marquis and from him
he learned the history Of the Washing
ton apron 1t was made in France. 1t
was both the French and American flags
worked with gilt, the staff forming an
other compass. It was sent to Lafayette
and by him presented to General Wash
ington, and was worn by the general
when IN lodge ND to the time of his
death. This gift of affection after the
death of General Washington came into
the younger brother of the dead general,
who owned large and valuable land es
tates in Jefferson county, Va. (Now
West Virgnia). Charlestown, the county
seat Of Jefferson county, was laid out
upon the land of Charles Washington,
and took its name from him. The Ma
sonic apron remained in possession of the
family Of Charles Washington until
some time after his death. Mr.. George
Washington Hammond, who was reared
in Shepherdstown, was made Mason
here in 1915. married a daughter Of
Charles Washington and thus through
his wife, a niece of the generals. Mr..
George w. Hammond became the owner
of the apron, and by him the relic was
presented to Mt Nebo Lodge No 81, A.
F. & A NJ. OF the genuineness of the
souvenir there is not the least doubt, as
an evidence OF that fact, I need only
state that the Washington family, who
have, and do, set great store by all the
relics of the general, have kept track of
this apron. and a few years ago Mrs.
Burnett. who was also Miss Washing
ton. threatened to bring suit in the
courts for the recovery of the apron, but
1of&
Mt Nebo the undisputed owner of the
aaron.
This apron has been worn upon
number of ever memorable occasions. the
laying of the cornerstone of the United
States capitol. the Washington monu-
ment, the Masonic temples at Baltimore.
Md. and Winchester, Va, and a few
years ago made journey to the grand
lodge Of Minnesota. in charge of a men,
Der of our lodge. They were so pleased
with 1t that in gratitude they treated it
to handsome frame and glass, the
frame made of cherry (Which may be
Significantly with the Masonic emblems
engraved thereon. Later in. 1899. it was
present at the grand lodge Of West Vir
ginia. in your old city Of Nartinsburg,
and the Mascns Of your old Jurisdiction
were much pleased and interested in it.
Taken from the records Of the lodge.
-. S. FLEMING. Secretary"
Seal of Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 81, a. F.
& A NJ.
Mr. Rohrbsugh has visited the old
homestead Of General Washington at ut.
Vernon. and made coDious notes Of the
surroundings of the home and the in
terror Of the building. He also made a
visit TO Christ church in Alexandria.
where General Washington worshiped.
and examined the pew in which he sat.
which IS still mounted with brass and
kept bright and clean. He has a late
letter from Right Worshioful K. KEN
per. a member OF the Washington cen
tennial committee. and a member Of