Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-11-04
TUESDAY EVENING, NOV. 4, 1902

To-Day IS the sesgui-centennial ami
versary of the initiation of George
Washington as Mason, which event
took place in Fredericksburg Lodge, No.
a. ON November A. 1852. A delegation
from Alexandria Washington Lodge and
other Masons of this city went to Mount
Vernon this evening and placed a
wreath upon Wasbington's tomb. The
day was observed by Masons in other
cities in the country A big celebration
of the event is to be held by the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
tomorrow, today being election day,
which would have prevented many from
taking part in the exercises. The Presi-
dent of the United States will be pres
ent as will also prominent Masons from
many of the States including the Grand
Master ofVirginia and some ofthe other
officers of the Grand Lodge and also some
of the officers and members of Alexan-
DRAW Washington Lodge. The celebra-
ton will be held in the Masonic Temple.
President Roosevelt is expected to make
an address. General Woodford, Minis
ter to Spain, will deliver an Grafton on
"Washington as Citizen" and james
M. Lamberton, of Harrisburg, one on
''Washington as a Free Mason" Capt
j. Quinn will deliver an address on
Washington's relations to his mother
lodge. II. Oscar Kerns, Grand Master
of Virginia, will deliver an address
on Washington's relations with
the Grand Lodge of Virginia. A
medal has been struck to commemorate
the anniversary, and copies will be given
to those attending the exercise in the
Grand Lodge. A picture on satin of a
Masonic apron, said to have been made
by Nine. de Lafayette, and presented to
Washington by the Marquis, when he
visited Mount Vernon in 1884, and
which is now in the library of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, will be sent to
each lodge in the jurisdiction. OF this
apron Mr.. Hayden in his book, "Wash-
ington and His Masonic Compeers,"
sys:
The apron presented by Lafayette was |
brought by the marquis when he visited this |
country in 1884. 1t is Of satin, with numer- |
Gus Masonic ornaments worked in colored |
silks. This, with the other Masonic emblems,
was enclosed ia "a handsomely finished rose
wood box, also embel6shed with Masonic
symbols. The apron remained at Mount
Vernon for some time after its owners death,
but was finally presented TO the Washington |
Benevolent Society, by whom in turn IL was /
given to the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge. The |
box became the property of Alexandria
Lodge Another historic apron was present
ed TO Washington ON August 10, 1882, by
Watson d Cassoul, a Franco-American mer-
camille firm doing business in France. The
apron and Masonic sash were made at the
firms order by some nuns at Nantes, and are
of satin wrought with gold and silver tissues,
and having the flags of the United States and
France mingled with various Masonic
symbols The latter is now in the possession
Of Alexandria-W Washington Lodge, and is
kept in box in which the Lafayette apron
was originally placed. The Lafayette apron is
worked in silk, and has upon the front the
masters circle and secret letters, with bee
hive as a mark in the centre.
Mr.. HAYDEN secured much of his in
formation from the records of Alexan-
dria- Washington Lodge but his version Of |
the apron story is believed by all Alexan-
drians to be wrong. The real Lafayette
apron is believed to be the one now in |
the lodge room in this city where the box
in which the real apron was brought to |
this country certainly is. This apron
was presented to the lodge years ago by a
member of the Lewis family, a near
relative Of Washington, and its genuine
ness was never before questioned. OF
this apron the book, 'The Lodge of
Washington a most reliable history of
Alexandria Washington Lodge says:
October Is, 1881, the Lodge, on invi.
tatlon, accompanied the Grand Lodge of
Virginia, upon the occasion of the lay
ing Of the corner stone of the monument
at Yorktown, Va, and when performing
the ceremonies incident thereto, during
the centennial celebration of the capitu-
lation, Grand Master Peyton, S. Coles
was clothed in the apron and sash pre-
scented to Washington by Madame La
Fayette.
Saturday, February 81, 1885, the
lodge attenocd tbo dedicatory services
of the Washington National Monument,
Washington, d. c., as a guest of the
Grand Lodge of the District of Column
bia. The apron worked by Madame
La Fayette was worn by Grand Master
NJ. NJ. Parker, during the ceremonies of
dedication.
Grand Lodge of Virginia, A. Y. NJ
Grand Masters Office,
Estouteyille, May 9th, 1884,
Worshipful Master and Wardens of Alexan-
dria-Washington Lodge, No. %:
Worshipful Sir and Bros: The commune