The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-15
BY MASONS AND RED MEN
MCKINLEY AND OTHER DIsTIN.
GoISHED PERSONS PRESENT.
THE PRESIDENTS EULoGY OF WASHINGTON
He Quotes From His Contemporaries to Show
the High Admiration and Honor in
Which the Great Warrior
Statesman Was I'D.
Statesman Was

Washington, Dec. l. = i solemn
pomp and circumstan ceremon-
les beautiful impr:> . and appro-
assemblage. and 8 ull splendor OF
ideal autumn we ne centennial of
the death of Washington was
commemorate5 at Mount Vernon.
Todays cereh $ 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
ceremonies incident to today's commem-
oration was placed in the hands of the
Masons of Virginia, it being in the Old
dominion that Washington was obliga-
ted as a Master Mason and there that
he participated enthusiastically in Ma
sonic work and observances. The Of
ficers Of the Grand Lodge of Virginia
and the membership of Fredericksburg
Lodge, in which Washington was made
Mason, and Of Washington-Alexan
lodge, over which he presided as Wor-
shipful Master, had the Grief part in the
duty of seeing that today's obseryances
we're appropriate.
The visiting Masons, many accom-
panied by the ladies of their families,
congregated in Washington early today,
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 Washington
Alexandria lodge, as bodies, proceeded
to Mount Vernon also by boat. At 10
o'clock President Mckinley, himself an
enthusiastic Mason, accompanied by
Secretary of State Hay, Secretary of
the Treasury Gage, Secretary 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; Major General Miles.
left Washington on special electric
train for Mount Vernon, arriving ,here
at liza. III. The Presidential party was
greeted by Grand Master Duke, of Vir-
ginia, and by him was escorted to the
Mansion.
After the President and his Cabinet
had reviewed the Masonic bodies fror,
a platform nthe east front Of the
Mansion, Il procession WAS formed ond
moved. as on the day OF General Wash
ington's funeral, December 18th. 1899.
to the old vault, where the remains were
first deposited There in the immediate
presence of the Grand officers of fine
various States and the assembled Ma
sons, solemn funeral rites were con-
Quoted.
A solemn dirge by the Third cavalry
band was followed by the invocation
pronounced by the Rt. Rev. A. NJ. Ran
dollsh, Bishop Of the Southern Episcopal
Diocese Of Virginia Grand Master A
A. Burnand, of Colorado, delivered an
Grafton on the life and work of Wash.
ington
The procession reformed and moved
then to the tomb where the remains OF
Washington and those of his family now
he. The tomb was magnihcently deco
rated with flags and festoons of ever
greens and flowers Prayer was offered
by the Rev. g. II. Ray, ID. D., grand
chaplain Of the Grand Lodge of Vir.
ginia
Then the grand master OF Virginia
called upon each of the Jurisdictions OF
the thirteen original States the jurisdic.
tions of the Western States, and those
Of Canada, Belgium and Nova Scotia
for messages and tributes sent by them
and all responded.
Then the grand master of the District
of Columbia deposited within the tomt
the lambslin apron as a token of inno
cence; the grand master of Missouri de-
posted the white glove as a token OF
friendship; and the grand master of
California deposited the evergreen as
an emblem of the Masonic faith in the
resurrection of the body and the inn
mortality Of the soul
Scores of beautiful wreaths and
punches of eyergreens were then de-
posted within the tomb, one Of the
most beautiful tokens an immense
wreath Of ivy, immortelles and acacia
blossoms being offered by President Nc
Kinley.
The procession returned to the east
front of the mansion, where President
Mckinley was introduced by Grand
Master Duke, delivered the following
Grafton as his tribute to Washington:
MIR. McIlTNLEY'S ADDRESS.
(McKinley's address at Mount Vernon
insert in story to follow:)
I'VE have just participated in a servic,
commemorative of the one hundredth an
niyersary of the death Of George Wash
ington Here at his old hone, which b