Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-22
MASONIC MEMORIAL
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
pathy and promising cooperation from
the following states: Florida, Indiana,
Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New York, South
Carolina
Permanent Masonic Memorial.
The movement to erect a permanent
Masonic memorial to George Washington
took its first definite form today, when
Gen. J. NJ. Dickinson. Secretary of War.
and the grand masters of many Masonic
grand lodges met here with other dis
tinguished men Of the fraternity to form
National Masonic Memorial Associa-
ton.
Perhaps no Masonic celebration ever
held anywhere in America has been
more elaborate.
In this quaint old town OF UNCOVERED
walls and rambling gardens, upon a
street laid out by the young surveyor,
near the spot where in 1854 Braddocks
young colonel quartered his troops be-
fore the fateful march to the Ohio, near
the historic old lodge where he was
master and in the midst Of a field rich
in testimonials of his life. 1t will be the
purpose of this association to erect a
temple to George Washington the Mason.
Hall of Fame.
Set apart in the structure will be
hall of fame. Space will be allotted here
in to all grand jurisdictions In the coun-
try to place tablets to the memories OF
their distinguished sons.
The memorial would stand on Wash
ington street. Close by is the old Ghrist
Church. where in his mature years wash
ington served as a vestryman.
On field not far off he held MS last
military review. Across shaded green,
In the stately old courthouse, he cast his
last vote. There his will is filed.
Alexandria. by undisputed consent. Is
ington moved to Mount Vernon when he
was sixteen, with his half-brother, Law
renee. Until the chill, raw day OF his
death it was his home.
Alexandria was his home town. He
became a member of it's council, repre-
scented it in the house Of burgesses, en-
dowed its schools, established its fire de-
partment and was master of its lodge.
Meet Where. Washington Presided.
The men who will form the association
met today in the same ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ington lodge room where Washington &C.
cupied the masters chair. While no fixed
plan could be announced prior to the
assembly Of all the grand masters, 1t is.
in short, the purpose of the lodge to
raise 81 900 to build and endow the
memorial :.
The institution will be unique among
the memorials of the world. 1t will per-
NIT every grand Jurisdiction to honor
every Mason 1t esteems to be deserving
with a leaf In It's hall of fame, a photo
graph and a biography.
-
nence in the old lodge was impressive.
Alexandria washington Lodge. No. %.
made Washington its Worshipful grand
master In 17SS. At his request In 1891 1t
laid the corner stone of the District of
In laying the corner stone Of the ma
tionaI Capitol. In 1893 it performed the
masonic ceremonies at his funeral.
In It's halls. crowded with precious
mementos his memorial was organized
today There hangs the old charter
granted by Edmund Randolph. grand
master of Masons in Virginia in 17Ss.
Clock Marks Time of Death.
Close by. its pendulum cord out and it's
hands pointing to twenty minutes after
ten In the evening-the hour and the
minute of his death--stands the old bed
chamber clock. No money could buy this
silent old tale bearer.
Nearby In a case is the little trowel he
used at laying the Capitol corner stone.
In another are his wedding gloves, his
pocket compasses. farm spurs. a piece
fashioned medicine scales and an elo-
quent token Of his reverence for his
mother-a little knife she gave him as q
reward for his obedience. and which he
treasured for fifty-six years.
The Williams picture. painted from life
in 1874. hangs on another wall. It can
not escape the eye. for 1t is much unlike
the accepted likenesses OF Washington.
1t shows the man in his extreme old age
and is the only original life picture ex-
tant In Masonic regalia.
His Masonic apron, embroidered in gold
with French and American flags en-
twined. presented to the lodge in 1872 by
his nephew. Lawrence Lewis hangs near
by. The only original painting of Lord
Fairfax. Washington's early patron and
friend. is also there
The masters chair occupied by Gen.
washington In presiding over the lodge
stands in a glass case. from which it is
removed only on extraordinary occasions.
1t Is 10 years old and was In constant
use for 1T years.
Scores OF other things Of his day which
have come from relatives and friends
the old chairs and benches of the lodge
still In use. the front door key Of the
Bastile, presented in 1898 by Lafayette
are valued beyond estimate.
Masons Visit Mt. Vernon.
There had been a sentiment against
choosing q new site for the memorial,
but for q great many reasons the one
proposed on Washington street is better
fitted to the purposes Of a national un-
dertaking. The necessities have out
weighed the patriotic sentiment and have
won a graceful consent to the new site.
County Treasurer Threatened.
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio, February d.
Harry Bennett. treasurer Of Meigs coun-
ty. has received a letter threatening his