Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-22
MASONIC MEMORIAL
FOR Washington
FORM AT NOTABLE GATHER
Ing TO-DAY.
PLAN FOR TEMPLE AT
HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA
Secretary Of War Dickinson and 9th
er Grand Masters Of Craft esther at
Famous spot-Pian to Raise $1,ooo,-
600 Endowment Fund and Erect Me-
mortal at Alexandria, Va.


Alexandria, Va, Feb. 22.-The move
ment to erect a permanent Masonic
memorial to George Washington took
its first definite form today when Gen.
the grandmasters Of many Masonic
grand lodges met here with other dis
tinguished men Of the fraternity to
form a National Masonic Memorial
Association. Perhaps no Masonic cele-
bration ever held anywhere in Am
erica has been more elaborate. Presi-
sent TAFT was expected to attend but
vas unable to do so.
In this quaint old town of ivy-cov
cred walls and rambling gardens, upon
street laid out by the young sur
feyor, near the spot where in 1854
Braddocks young cononel quartered
lis troops before the fateful march to
he Ohio, near the historic old lodge
where he was master and in the midst
Of field rich in the events of his life
and memory, it will be the purpose Of
This association to erect a temple to
George Washington, a Mason. Set apart
N the structure will be a hall of fame,
which space will be allotted to all
The grand jurisdictions in the country
20 place tablets to the memories of
heir distinguished sons.
The memorial would stand on Wash
ington street. Close by is the old
Christ church where, in his mature
Years, Washington served as a vestry-
nan. On field not far off he held his
asst military review Across q shaded
green in the stately old court house he
.ast his last vote, and there his will is
sled
The men who will form the associa-
ton met today in the same Alexandria
Warrington lodge room where Wash
tnxton occupied the masters chair.
while no liked 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,O0O,000 to build
and endow the memorial. The insti-
tuition will be unique among the me-
MORALS OF the world and will permit
every grand jurisdiction to honor every
Mason 1t esteems to be deserving with
leaf in it's hall Of fame, a photograph
and biography.
The gathering of such men OF prom
inence in the old lodge was impressive
Alexandria washington Lodge No. ~
made washington its worshipful grand
master in 1888. At his request in 1891
it laid the corner stone Of the District
of Columbia and two years later as
sisted in laying the corner stone OF the
national capitol. In 1893 it performed
the Masonic ceremonies at his fu-
neral.
In Its halls, crowded with precious
momentoes, his memorial was organ
lied today. There hangs,the old char-
Ter granted by Edmund Randolph,
grand master OF Masons in Virginia, in
1888. Close by, it's pendulum cord cut
and its hands pointing to twenty
minutes after 10 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 case is the little
trowel he used at laying the capitol
corner stone. In another are his we'd
ding gloves, his pocket compasses,
farm spurs, a piece of his tent used
at Yorktown, his old fashioned med
icine scales and an eloquent token OF
his reverence for his mother-a little
knife she gave to him as a reward
for his obedience and which he treas
ured for ffty7six years.
The Williams picture, painted from
life in 1894, hangs on another wall. It
u the only original life picture ex-
tant, in Masonic regalia. His masonic
apron, embroidered in gold with
French and American flags entwined,
presented to the lodge in 1912 by his
nephew, Lawrence Lewis. hangs near
by.
inI Hyy
General Washington in presiding over
the lodge, stands in a glass case, from
which It is removed only on extra
S-a;nsry occasions It is 122 years old
and was in constant use for 1T years.
Scores Of other things OF his day, the
old sShairs and benches of the lodge
still in use, the front door key of the
bastile, presented in 1925 by Lafay-
cite. which have come from relatives
and friends, are valued beyond esti-
mate. \
Todays first meeting. held in the
lodge room, adjourned at noon and all
went to Mount Vernon, by a special
train. The party of distinguished men
walked along the blum that overlooks
the majestic river and laid wreath
upon the. tomb. They then returned
to the lodge at Alexandria for the
ronferring OF degrees.
Tonight, at the annual banquet Of
the old lodge, Secretary OF War Dick
lnson, James D. Richardson, sovereign
grand commander, Scottish Rite Ma
sons, Representatives Charles c. Carl
ing and Champ Clark, and the Rever-
end John Wesley Hill. DID,, of New
York, win speak.
SAVE NATION soo,oooooo yEAR7