The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-23
PLAN MEMORIAL
TO NA5H|NGT0N
Masons Consider Erection OF Ma
tional Temple at Alex
andria.
MANY PUBLIC MEN PRESENT
Purpose Is TO Raise S1,ooo,ooo to
Build and Endow
Enterprise.

Alexandria, Va, February 2.,-Tne
movement to erect a permanent Ma
sonic memorial to George Washington
took its first definite form to-day,
when General j. NJ. Dickinson. Secre-
tary of War, and the grand masters
of many Masonic Grand Lodges met
| here, with other distinguished mon or
the fraternity, to form National
| Masonic Memorial Association. Per-
haps no Masonic celebration ever held
anywhere in America has been more
elaborate. Governor William II. Mann,
of Virginia, was present. and he de-
livered the address of welcome.
In this quaint old town OF 1vy-cov-
cred walls and rambling gardens,
upon a street laid out by the young
surveyor, near the spot where In 1864
Braddock's young colonel quartered
his troops before the fateful march
to the Ohio, near the historic old lodge
where he was a master. and in the
midst Of field rich in the events of
his life and memory. 1t will be the
temple to George Washington. Ma
son. Set apart in the structure will be
a hall OF fame, In which space will be
allotted to all the grand jurisdictions
in the country to place tablets to the
memories Of their distinguished sons.
The memorial would stand on WASH
ington Street. Close by is the old
Christ Church, where in his mature
y ysga we6S 81 lisa n sefv fr o Re Se
his last military review. Across a
shaded green, in the stately old court
house, he cast his last vote, and there
his will Is filed
Natural site for Memorial.
Alexandria. by undisputed consent
Is the natural site for the memorial
Washington moved to Mount Vernon
when he was sixteen. with his half
brother Lawrence, and until the chill,
raw day OF his death it was his home,
and Alexandria was his home town. He
| became q member OF it's council. rep
resented 1t in the House OF Burgesses,
endowed its schools. established its
Fire Department and was master OF
It's lodge.
The men who will form the associa-
ton met to-day in the same Alexan-
/ Washington occupied the masters
chair While no fixed plan could be
announced prior to the assembly Of all
the grand masters, it is in short the
purpose OF the lodge to raise $1,000 ,OOl
to build and endow the memorial! The
lnStitutlon Will he unique among, til,
memorials OF the world, and will per
/ 49, WY A0'3o 70 uOuO
every Mason 1t esteems to be deserv
} ing with leaf In its hall OF fame,
photograph and q biography
The gathering OF such men of prom
thence in the old lodge was impress
i sive. AleXandria-W Washington Lodge
No. %. made Washington its worship
full grand mater in 1888. At his re
1 quest. in 1871. it laid the corner-ston
OF tho District of Columbia, and tw,
/ years later assisted In laying the cor
4 ner-stone of the national Capitol. II
1893 it performed the Masonic ceremo
1 MES at his funeral.
Many Memories OF Washington.
In its halls crowded with precious
faed to-day. There hangs the Ole
charter granted by Edmund Randolph
grand master of Masons in Virginia
In lIss, Close by, It's pendulum cor,
cur and its hands pointing to twcnt,
minutes after 10 In the cvening--th
hour and the minute OF his death
stands the old bed chamber clock. Il
lsmoncy could buy this silent old tale
bearer. Nearby in a case is the littl
trowel he used at laying the Capito
cornerstone. In another arc his wed
ding gloves, his pocket conpasse;
farm spurs, a piece OF his tent use
at Yorktown, his old-fashioned med
cine scales and an eloquent token 3
his reverence for his muthel--a littl
knife she gave To him as q reward IL
his obedience, and which he treasure
for iifty-six years,
i The Wllllams picture. painted frol