Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-01-05
MASONIC PORTRAIT OF WASH
INGTON.

Judge Norris s. Barratt, Past Master
OF Lodge No. 2. of this city, per
formed recently Masonic function
in accepting in behalf of the Masonic
Museum the Masonic portrait o
George Washington, presented by john
Wanamaker. who is member OF the
lodge and chairman OF the committee
on library and museum. The original
OF the portrait was painted from life at
Alexandria, Virginia, while Washing
ton was president, at the request oi
his lodge in that town, and the copy
OF it, which Mr.. Wanamaker presented
to his brethren of the lodge, is said
to be the only one in existence. The
notes which Judge Barratt prepared
concerning the canvas and also the
museum, embody information of in.
terest not only to Masons but to gen
eral readers, are as follows:
An interesting fact is that Brother
Washington was induced to sit for ;li-
portrait by his personal friend, tn"
then worshipiul master OF Alexandria
Lodge. Brother DR.. Elisha Cullen
Dick, who, just before he sailed for
France on visit, was made q Mason
September %, 1779, in lodge No. . 81
Philadelphia, OF which I am a past
master and representative in this Grand
Lodge, Brother Dick moved to Alex
andria prior OF 1888, where he resided
upwards of forty years. He was an
eminent physician, and, as consulting
physician, attended Brother Washing
ton in his last illness and opposed
bleeding him as was done.
In 1874 Dr. Dick commanded 4
company Of cavalry, raised in Alexan-
dria to suppress what vas known as
the Whisky Insurrection in Pennsyl-
yania.
He attended the first meeting of
Alexandria Lodge, February 25, 1888
(then No. 39) for organization, and
acted as secretary He served as wor-
shipful master from December p,
1857, to April IS, l7SS, when Brother
Washington became worshipful rhmster.
He succeeded Brother Washington on
the 9th of December, 1889, and served
uutil December q, 1875; and again
from December p, 1897, to December
p, 1909"
The cornerstone Of the United
States Capitol at the city Of Washing
ton, District of Columbia, was lald on
the eighteenth of September. 1893,
with Masonic ceremonies by Brother
Washington in the presence Of the
Grand Lodge Of Maryland and several
lodges under its jurisdiction in the first
year of his second term as president Of
the United States, as past master Of
Alexandria Lodge No. 22, by invitation
of Worshipful Master Brother Dick,
who acted rs grand sword bearer.
Brother Dick presided at the Lodge
OF Sorrow convened on Monday, De-
cember 16. 1899, to make arrange
meuts for the funeral OF Brother Wash
ington, and on the following Wednes-
day (Sth) performed the impressive
ceremonies OF the fraternity at the
grave.
st. Johns Day, December q, 1899,
Brother Dick before proceeding to in
stall his successor, Col. George Deneale,
as WorShipful Master, addressed Alex
andria Lodge as follows:
Our great and good master is no
more! He who hath SO often united in
our annual celebrations, is gone to
return not again! He whose presence
was wont to inspire surrounding multi
tudes with reverence and admiration );
he who was but lately the boast of
his own country, and the wonder Of
the world, now lies cold and PROSTATE
in his tomb! Thus my brethren is lost
from the treasury OF the Universal
Lodge its brightest jewel. Feeble is the
language OF eulogium when applied to
a character Of such uncommon worth.
Statues OF marble will prove the love
and gratitude OF his survivors; but his
own virtues and his services have al
ready implanted monument far more
durable than these in the bosoms OF
his countrymen. May it be particularly
nurtured by the Fraternity of Free
and Accepted Masons to the end of
time. So mote it be-
"On the 22nd of February, 1900,
the anniversary of Brother Washing
tons birthday, Brother Dick delivered
at the First Presbyterian Church,
Alexandria, Virginia, an Grafton on
The Day and Decease OF Washing
ton.
On this occasion Alexandria Lodge,
No. A, were escorted to the church by
the military of Alexandria, and citi-
zens of the town.
A few years before his death,
Brother Dick made his residence at his
farm in Fairfax county, Va, near
Alexandria. He died in Alexandria in
1925, and was buried in the Friends
burial ground. "
1T must not be forgotten that Alex,
andria Lodge No. 80, of Virginia had
been warranted originally byt his Grand
Lodge, February 81 1888, and that
Robert Adam, the master named IL
the warrant, was entered, GRATED and
raised in Lodge No. 3, and that il
worked from the organization of Alex,
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