Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-21

monies, beautiful, impressive and ap-
prorriate. I'M the presence of dis
tinguishcd assemblage and in the full
splendor of ideal autumn weather, the
centennial of the death of George
Washington was commenlorated yes
terday at Mount Vernon. That Mount
Vernon should have been selected as
the scene of the exercises was peculiar
Nv fitting. There it was that the hap
piest incidents of Washingtons life oc-
Cured In other parts he endured his
trials. on other fields he won his tri-
imphs, but there. surrounded by those
whom lie loved best, We're spent the
restful. quiet, studious hours of his
life. There it was, too. that he sick
ened and died; and there all that was
mortal of him was laid to eternal rest
in a mausoleum, overlooking broad
sweep of the picturesque Potomac.
The ceremonies were elaborately
planned and successfully carried TO a
conclusion. They were conducted by
the Masonic fraternity and later by
the Red Men of the United States.
Charge of the Masonic ceremonies, i'll
cident to the commemoraticn. was i'll
the hands Of the Masons of Virginia.
it being in the Old Dominion that
Washington was obligated as Mas
ter Mason and there that he particl-
pated enthusiastically in Masonic work
and observances. The officers Of the
grand lodge of Virginia and the mcm-
hership of Fredericksburg lodge. in
which Washington
Was Made Mason.
and of Alexandria-Was lodge,
over which he presided as Worshiplul
+In o1,i nf o,ti tha 11ltv
of seeing that the observances were
anproprate That that duty was we'll
nnrfol1ned was evidenced by the So
lemni!y and beauty of the ceremonies
and by the vast concourse Of Masons
present Members were in attendance
from all parts of the country and al
most every jurisdiction in America and
a few from foreign countries we're
represented by some of their grand Of
ficers and members.
The visiting Masons. many accom-
panied by the ladies of their families,
congregated in Washington and were
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 Alexandria
lodges, in body preceded to Mount
Vernon, also by boat.
At 10 o'clock President Mckinley,
himself an enthusiastic Mason. accom-
panied by Secretary of State Hay,
Secretary Of the Treasury Gage. Sec
rotary Of the Navy Long, Secretary of
the Interior Hitchcock, Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson and Postmaster
General Smith, of the cabinet; Assis-
tant Secretary of the Navy Allen. Maj.
Gen. Miles, Adjt. Gen. Corbin, Secre-
tary Porter, Assistant Secretary Cor
telyou, Maj. John A. Johnson and
Senator w. A. Clark of Montana, past
grand master of his state, left WASH
ington on a special electric train for
Mount Vernon. arriving there at II
o'clock.
Greeted the President.
The presidential party was greeted
by him escorted to the mansion. 1t
was Yearly an hour and half after
ward before all of the steamers bear
ing Masonic bodies arrived. After the
president and his cabinet had reviewed
them from platform on the east
front of the mansion a procession was
formed. and moved, as on the day of
Gen. Washington's funeral, Dec. IS,
1919, to the old vault where the remains
were first deposited. There, in the i'm
mediate presence of the grand officers
of the various states and the assem-
bled Masons. solemn funeral rites were
conducted. After music Grand Master
A. A. Burnard of Colorado delivered
an address on the life and work Of
Washi1 gton. laying particular stress
upon his Masonic life and accomplish
luents. The procession reformed and
moved, then to the tomb where the re-
mains Of Washington and those of his
family lie now. The tomb was mag
nificently decorated with flags and
festoons of eyergreens and flowers.
Here the beautiful and impressive,
comprehensive Masonic ceremonies
were conducted. The grand masters
of the thirteen original states formed
in lire facing the representatives Of
the other jurisdictions, the grand lodge
of Virginia at the head, the two lines
Joining Hands
facing the tomb of Washington. Prayer
was then offered. Their the grand mas
ter of Virginia called upon each Of
inal states. the jurisdictions of the
other states, and those Of Canada,
Belgium and Nova Scotia for messages
sent by them, and all responded. Then
the grand master of the District Of
Columbia deposited within the tomb
the lambskin apron as token Of in
nocence; the grand master Of Missouri
deposited 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 i'm
mortality Of the soul
Scores Of beautiful wreaths and
punches of eyergreers 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
Mckinley. The procession returned
to the east front Of the mansion, where
President Mckinley, introduced by
Grand Master Brooke, delivered an ell
oquent Grafton as his tribute to Wash
ington. The president was interrupted