Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-05-29


Severa! weeks after the twenty second
Of February celebration of Alexandria
Washington Lodge No. -, at which
Prcsidcat Taft was the honored guest
Worshipful Master Callahan re-
uuested the President to pose for a
series OF pictures. wearing the Wash
ington apron and sash and holding
the little trowcI The president readily
consented and appointed Tuesday, tn"
ninth Of May at $50 p. m, as the
time aud The executive mansion as the
D ace for the sitting. Promptly to the
minute the resident made his APP
pearancc in the east room, where the
t. legation from Washington Lodge
WIS already in waiting and prepared.
There are five different views IN the
series; two Of the president standing
alone, but in different attitudes: one
sitting aud two groups. In one OF
The groups. the president forms the
center with Reverend William j. Nor.
ton. present Rector Of Christ Wash
ngton's) Church and Chaplain Of the
Lodge on his left and Charles H
'al!ahan. Master Of Washington
odge on his right. This is the first
occasion, since the death OF Gen
c-al Washington, that the apron
mas been worn by the President Of tt e
United States, and on ci'her side Of Mr..
rafl are the present representatives OF
IN" two institutions with which General
Washington was most intimately asso-
lated for years before his death; being
vestryman in the church and master
II the lodge at the same time. The
second group (Which is published in
This issue) shows the president in the
center, Mr. Lawrence Washington on
the right ard the Reverend Mr.. Morton
on the left.
Mr.. Washington is the son Of Colonel
John Augustine Washington, the last
private owner Of the Mount Vernon es-
ate. He vas killed at Cheat noun
tain, near Beverly, West Virginia, on
the 18th Of September, 1861, while
eral W. ii. +. Lee. Colonel Washing
TON had just prior to the war. in which
lie met lis untimeIy death, sold Mount
Vernon to the Ladies Association and
hardly had the transfer been made be-
fore he was called to active service in
the great struggle between the states,
losing his life in a Skirmish at almost
the beginning Of the struggle. The
subject in this picture was born at
Mount Vernon in the room in which
General Washington died and is the
only male member Of the Washington
family now living, who can claim, and
Justly claim, that unique distinction.
OF retiring disposition, like his dis
llnguiShed collateral ancestor. it can
he truthfully said that his modesty is
equal to his merits and only to those
who enjoy his intimate friendship is
his true worth known and appreciated.
Possessed Of fund OF historic informa
tou and an intimate knowledge, from
long study. of the lives Of most OF
the first great men OF our country,
when once you gain his confidence.
ike most students Of social and po
Iitical history. he becomes an
interesting and enli ghtened entertainer.
Constant contact and association with
the history and traditions Of hi. family,
his remarkable faculty for remember
ing dates and epochs emphasizes and
intensiiies his pleasing conversational
powers and altogether makes him a
charming companion Of the typical
old-faShioncd sort Mr.. Washington
i now employed at the National Ii
brary in Washington: Surrounded by
millions of books, no situation could be
more agreeable or more in keeping
with his cultured taste and literary
temperament.
The Rev. Mr.. Morton in his present
charge. as Rector Of Washington'S old
Church. succeeds long line OF emmi
ncut divines Beginning with Bryan.
Eighth Lord Fairfax, the old parish
has been favored from time to time
with the services Of such emmineut
men as Bishop William Meade, A. NJ.
Randolph and the Rev. Randolph H.
Mckim. Two OF the greatest and most
beloved repcis Of modern times, have
bee n members and vrStrymen Of this
George Washington and Rob
crt E. Lee, the latter having been con-
tirmcd in the old edilice in 1858 by
the Reverend Bishop Meade. The pews
OF both are still preserved in their orig
inal condition. 1t is an interesting
fact that from the days OF General
Washington to the present time, Christ
Church and the old Lodge have con-
tanned upon their roster members OF
the Washington family, Mr. Washing
ton, one Of the subjects in this picture,
being \ member OF both institutions at
this time.
The series OF pictures will be used as
10 a history and other
literature devoted to the Masonic Me.
mortal proposition and enc OF them
showing the President standing alone,
wearing the Washington Apron and
Sash and Holding the lttle Trowel Is
to be exclusively used for the above
purpose.
Hitch tide 800 n m. and 0:24 D. m.