The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-15
WASHINGTON AS a MASON
Col. Ehlers Replies 70 virginian.
Grand Lodge of Free and >cccptci

Grand Lodge of Free and accepted
Mnrun- of \cW ork.
Masonic Hall. New York June II. 1901.
To 1nE FRrE LAME
someone has kindly mailed mc copy
of TINS IRrl LtN,f ol Thursday June
9Th. containing criticism 10y Irg.nan
of my address at the dedication oi ihr
Buttcriicd monument un Memorial day
That part oi tine address which Dr.
gmian states to bee inaccurate is 800 thc
following words. Acting for the Mas
ter of Alexandria Lodge \o. Do. Ui
which hc was then % member. Washing
ton came before the world as Mason
and laid the corner stone oi the Nation
Capitol
III " Nirginian viii turn o. page l"l
of the History of rccma-unrt u Mary
land he will nud unquc-tiuncd evidence
that Washington and not Clark. land the
corner stone ol the Capitol The ccre.
mony az matter OF course was under
the direction ol Joseph lark. Master coz
Lodge 40. H.. oi Annapolis and JUNIOR
Grand Warden. acting for the Nrand
Master of Maryland. and said bark ALSO
being the orator of thc occasion. hut
that Washington laid thr cornerstone is
clearly Indicated iu these words. hc-c
ceremonies took place ou tine lNth OBJ
September. l1g3. aud General Washing
ton. then President of thc uitcd states.
Joined iu them a- Mason WAS honored
with the chief place 300 the Masonic pro
ccssion took thc square and GaNil in his
hnnds. and laid thc STONE according tu
the ancient form prescribed 10y Masonic
rites 4 silver plate. having upon 10 an
mSrriutiuu. wa. ordered tu hr read hy
the commissioners. and was az follows
This southeast corner OF thc Capitol of
the nitrd States oft america. 100 thc city
ni Washington. WAS laid ou the 18th
dav of September. 1g3. in the thirteenth
wear oi American independence, iu the
first wear 0i the second term obi Tine lrcsi
dcucy of George Washington. whose Nir
tues IN the civil administration of DIS
country have been as conspicuous aud
beneficial. as his military Nalor and pru
dcnce have been useful in establishing her
liberties and in the year of Masonry
J7g3. by tine President of thc ] mtcd
States In concert with the Grand Lodge
of Maryland. several Lodges under it's
jurisdiction. and Lodge \0. %. rom
Alexandria. Virginia.
Again by referring Co page H' ol ihr
History of lremasonry m Maryland.
"Nirgiuian will find that Washington.
of AN the Na~ons present on that day.
bore the most distinguished part Tor as
hc crossed the Potomac with his Suite
from bis home at Mount Vernon. hr WAS
met nn it, Northern shore hy thc officers
and Brethren of Lodges go. Sand $40. Do.
i'm full Masonic form and costume. to-
.ecthcr with the Grand Officers pr" tenn.
of the Grand Lodge oi Mary land, and
was assigned the chief Masonic post "i
honor. having thr Grand Master pro
tenn un his left and the Master 0i NO. 30
ON his right. 10 was % goodly sight that
day. ior america IS nohr-i son. and most
beloved Mason wac "a CHIEF craftsman in
having the foundation stone oi "tr 'apl-
toll
Alexandria Lodge SO. 3D. under ii-
Master and iu iull r.aIia being present
IL is no stretch OBJ Imagination Washing
tom being member oi chat Lodge. To-
saw that he acted for the Master. AMI
laid thccorucr stone. because 300 thc ethics
Of Masonry the Master alway- Gomez
first.
do not at 40 question the iart ihat
Washington irom thr time oi hi- militia
tion iu Frrlcrirt-hu Lodge. NO. b. un-
tn the time of his death rcmaindrd q
member thereof. but certainly at the
time of laying thr rornrrSt"ne oi the
Capitol uf thr Nation. Doc was also
member oi \IcNaudria Lodge. No. -.
and therefore. WAS fully justified 900
making the statement said t0 hr moor
rect 10y lirginian.
While in america especially during the
War of Independence. if WAS bu"wn that
Washington Nas mcmhrr OBJ thr lrn-
tcrnity and while -urh membership was
doubtless known BOO other lands Doe did
not como before the world a- % Mason
until clothed with the regain oi hi~ ruuh
hc laid the corner stone OF the Nation
Capitol on the 18th Day of September.
1893
may be- permitted to add that there
il mo record anywhere showing That
Washington appeared in public ln the
earb Oi n Mason prior 90 thr laying ul
tine cornerstone oi thc Capitol that ]
amnot lahOring neutrality-suspicious.
oi lacts connected with bis Masonic his
tory 20 far as sIrh history has been
written and preserved that the permits
sibilitv of dual membership in Virginia Is
as WeH known here as there. and that by
substituting the word also Tor the
word then ia the paragraph criticised
by " Nirginian the reference To Washing
ton in that address is absolutely correct
Very respectfully.
l.. NJ. J.. EULERS.
Grand Secretary.