The times., 1899-11-30

ises tc be one Of great moment to the or
der.
The evening Of December 1S, the
Grand Lodge Of Virginia VIII assemble in
its annual communication at the Opera
House in Alexandria, and the visiting
Masons and invited guests viii be enter
tanned al Alexandria Washington Lodge
No -. and elsewhere.
The morning of December Il, the
Grand Lodge of Virginia, Fredericksburg
Lodge No. T. Alexandria Washington Lodge
No. -, Federal Lodge No. l. of the Dis
trict of Columbia. and representatives from
other grand jurisdictions and invited
guests, together with the civic and mill
tary association to conform as nearly as
possible 90 the funeral ceremonies of De-
cembcr rs. 1899, viii proceed from Alex
andria tG Mount Vernon by electric cars
and steamboats,, leaving Alexandria at $3.50
y. H.. sharp.
At Mount Vernon the Masonic bodies
viii form. together with the invited guests.
on the east side of the mansion and proceed
10 the CID vault by the same path and in
the same order in which the procession
was formed and moved on the day OF Gen
eral Washngtous funeral
At the old vault the services Will be con-
Quoted as follows:
Solemn dirge by the band.
Prayer by Brother the Right Rev. A. n.
Randolph. Bishop Of the Southern Episco-
pal Diocese, of Virginia.
Music by octette from the Grand Lodge
of the District OF Columbia.
Address by the Grand Master of Masons
of Colorado.
The procession Will then move to the
new vault in which the remains of General
Washington and his wife lie. The Grand
Lodge of Virginia viii form in a circle
around The vault, assisted by the Grand
Lodge OF the District of Columbia, and
. representatives OF ether jurisdictions in
front Lodge No. 4, OF Virginia on the
right; Lodge No p. of Virginia, on the
left and Federal Lodge No. l. Of The Dis
! trict of Columbia, in the centre.
/ Services at the tomb will then be con
Quoted by the Grand Lodge OF Virginia, as
sisted by the Grand Lodge of the District
of Columbia and the representatives Of the
other grand jurisdictions and viii con-
/ clude as follows:
Prayer by the Grand Chaplain of the
Grand Lodge of Virginia.
Vocal Music.
Benediction by the Grand Chaplain Of
/ the Grand Lodge of the District of Colum-
bia
The procession VIII then break up and
return as individuals to the east front Of
the mansion where the Grand Master OF
Virginia VIII introduce Brother William
Mckinley. President Of the United States,
who VIII make an address The exercises
win close with the hymn, America, sung
by all present
During the ceremonies minute guns viii
be fired from Fort Washington ana from a
United States war vessel in the Potomac,
opposite Mount Vernon. Military salutes
. VIII be fred at the same time on the
/ grounds Of Mount Vernon The funeral ser
vices viii be Identical with those which
were held 100 years ago at the same place.
After the address by the Grand Master
Of Colorado the grand masters OF the
+ thirteen original States VIII stand in a ii1e
il front Of thc tomb facing out. Ire grand
masters Of other States and foreign jar s.
dictious viii stand in half circle facing
them The Grand Lodge Of Virginia and
other Masons are TO stand in a circle
around the tomb, joining hands.
After the prayer by the Grand Chaplain.
. the Grand Master of Virginia viii s s.ate
the purpose OF the assemblage, and ask for
greetings and responses f.Om The thiiteen
original States. After these have been
given he viii turn TO the States from each
section North East South, and West, and
ask for tributes 10 the memory OF him
whose name they celebrate.
At the close of the ritual the grand
masters viii deposit their eve green
ureaths and the craft will slowly march
by the tomb and do the same. After the
bcnedCtion the brethren viii proceed to
the mansion.
The Virginia Grand Lodge committee
makes the following recommendations in
its formal circular of announcement:
"As this viii be the first gathering to-
. gether Of Mas0ns Of the United States and
foreign lands in the worlds history, t
VIII be proper to entertain them at the
close OF the exercises at Mount Vernon with
a banquet Obviously the proper place TO
hold this banquet, because OF the national
character OF Washington, and of the gath
ering OF MasOns from this country and
/ other lands on that occasion, Will be IN
, the city that bears WashingtOns name,
and which he himself laid out. In this
connection, and at the request OF your
committee the Grand Lodge of the Dis
I trict of Columbia has appointed COM
/ mittee of. CO operation. Observance OF the
da. viii conclude with an immense re-
ceptiou given by the Grand Lodge OF Nir-
+ glnia and the representatives Of the other
grand Jurisdictions present probably in
the large Convention Hall Of that city, to
/ which not only cur brethren and all
Masonic brethren viii be welcomed, but
as no Masonic occasion OF tlis kind would
be complete without the presence of the
wives. sisters, mothers, friends, and sweet
hearts of the Masonic fraternity an op-
rortunity viii be given at that time and
in that way for this most interesting and
proper feature in the Concluson OF the
whole affair"