The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-02-25

sonic memorial to George Washing
ton took its first definite form today.
when President TAFT. General ]. NJ.
Dickinson. secretary OF war and the
grandmasters OF many masonic grand
lodges met here with other distIn-
guished men OF the fraternity to form
National Masonic Memorial associa-
ton. Perhaps no masonic celebra-
ton ever held anywhere In America
has been more elaborate.
In this quaint old town OF iyy-cov-
cred walls and rambling gardens, up
on street laid out by the young sur
veyor near the spot where in 1854
Braddocks 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. It viii be the
purpose OF this association to erect a
temple to George Washington. a Ma
son. Set apart In the structure will
be a hall OF fame IN which space will
be allotted to all the grand jurisdic-
tion In the country TO place tablets
TO the memories OF their distinguish
ed 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-
man On a field not far of be held
his last military review Across a
shaded green in the stately old court
house he cast his last vote. and there
his will Is fled
Alexandria. by undisputed consent,
is the natural site for the memorial.
Washington moved to Mount Vernon
when he was sixteen with bis half
brother Lawrence. and until the chill.
raw day OF his death It was his home
and Alexandria was his home town
he became a member Of its council
represented It in the house OF Bur.
gesses, endowed IFS schools, establish.
ed It's fire department and was master
Of its lodge.
The men who will form the asso-
citation met today in the same Alexan-
dria in Washington lodge room,
where Washington occupied the mas
ters chair. While no fixed plan
could be announced prior to the as
sembly Of all the grand masters, II is
In short the purpose Of the lodge to
raise sl000,000 to build and endow
the memorial. The institution will be
unique among the memorials Of the
world and will permit every grand
jurisdiction to honor every Mason It
esteems TO be deserving with leaf
in its hall Of fame, a photograph and
a biography
The gathering Of such men Of
prominence In the old lodge was i'm. /
pressiye. Alexandria Washington
Lodge No. % made Washington It's
worshiptul grand master in 1888. At
his request In 1871 it laid the corner
stone OF the District OF Columbia and /
two years later assisted IN laying the /
corner stone of the national capital. /
In 1899 it performed the masonic /
at his funeral.
IN its halls. crowded with precious
mementoe@, his memorial was organ. /
lied today. There hangs the old char.
ter granted by Edmund Randolph.
grand master Of Masons in Virginia.
In l7SS. lose by. its pendulum cord
cut and It's hands pointed 10 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 case is the
little trowel he used at laying the
capitol cornerstone. In another are
bis wedding gloves, his pocket com.
passes, farm spurs, a piece OF his tent
used at yorktown, his old fashioned
medicine scales and an eloquent to-
ken OF bis reverence for his mother
a little knife she gave to him "a re.
ward for his obedience and which he
treasured for sc years.
The Williams picture. painted from
life In 1894, hangs on another wall II
cannot escape the eye, for II IS much
unlike the accepted lIkenesses OF
washington. Il shows the man in his
old age and is the only original life ,
picture extant, In masonic regalia
His masonic apron embroidered n ,
gold with French and American aags
sntsined, presented to the lodge N
1872 BY bis nephew Lawrence Lewis
hangs nearby The only original !