The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-03-18
MASONIC CEMETERY
Reply to Letter of Or. Charles
[. Minor
FROM Pm. CLEARANCE R. HOWARD

Fredericksburg. Va. March l6. 1911
To The Free Lance
Replying to a venomous attack on
the Masons of Fredericksburg re-
garding the Masonic Temple aad
published in The Free Lance OF
March Z and written by Or. Chas.
l.. Minor. | cannot help but make a
J Few statements which DR.. Minor has
overlooked or failed to state, either
through ignorance Of the sub
ject o. through a desire to present
o the public only one side of the
case.
Possibly DR.. Minor does not recall
nat a0out ten years ago an appeal
vas made by the MasOns TO ali the
descendants OF those buried in the
.dasonic ourying groand Tor funds
o cndeaNor TO put the conc
cry and graves in good conaiiJn,
and not ono response WAS had from
any OF the descendants and MOI one
cent was contributed 10 that cause.
Possibly Or. Minor does not know
hat the article signed A Mason
vas written by a prominent attor-
aey OF this city, an eX-member OF
the Virginia Legislature and a mem
Der OF the state Normal School
8oard and one who stands we'll In
this city as Mason and a man.
No one can deny that his article
stated tacts and facts only, even
.hougn they be soft-sOaped 10y re
penlin2 descendants who nave jus.
oeen awakened TO a realization oil
,he memory OF their dear ancestors.
Sentiment which been been dor
mant for many years blooming forth
when touched by the magic wand
or pen Of sOme sentimental fairy.
IDLE sentiment. sprinkled and cuiu-
yated BY newspaper articles. spring
ing 10 over night as mushrooms fos-
cred by the gentle showers ana
warmth OF spring.
Delay caused by the illness OF
Judge Grinnan. which illness | truly
regret is offered as an excuse LOT
the NEGLECT Of the Masonic cemetery,
when 10 my knowledge the cemetery
and graves have been neglected Tor
period of over twenty years. ana
now much longer l know not. And
until the MasOns thought OF using
a norton of that old neglected GENE
terv for a memorial temple, and not
until then. did the sacred memories
Of the past awake and newspaper ar
ticles Of all sorts ana kinds were
written and requested 10 be written
and many by those who could nave
no interest in the matter other 'hah
that OF defeating the plans OF the
Masons 10 erect memorial to the
. Illus, rious Washington.
/ Far better had some of these au-
rhors looked after the graves OF
their fathers. even though their lois
be not located within the city limits
DIR Minor states that he did not
know that he had the power or
the privilege TO improve the Gene
terry and yet in the same breath
states chat he has been careful TO
preserve the graves Of his ancestors
in the said cemetery.
The writer wonders if he ever en-
ouired if he might make any I'M
provements and also wonders II Dr'
Minor or any Of the other descen-
dants ever thought enough OF their
ancestors to place even q sprlg o.
evergreen on the graves. Not So
hut most of them have allowed the
tombs to waste away. crumble ana
even fall TO the ground and one on
IN has been repaired 10 the writer S
/ knowledge and that the tomb OF Mr.
Yates
II was never the intention OF the
/ Masonic Committee TO disturb in any
way the grave or tomb of the NJ
nors. and. therefore. the writer can
not understand What objection DR..
Minor haS TO the Masons using their
oTn property as they may see ft'
unless il be the desire OF meddllng
in the affairs of others or possibly
/ his sentiment has been aroused 10
such an extent that il is FOR the
sake of others or possibly he Is
sincere when he states that he does
not wish the tomb of his ancestors
0 be an annex to a clubhouse, as
ne slurringly and scurrilous'y terms
n memorial temple TO the memory
IF Washington.
How can the public but agree that
he terms "Meddlesome." OF
ficious" and "Insincere" have been
and are being earned by those VINO
II would seem desire to NEEDLE in
the affairs Of others, stir up strlIe
and sentiment. and have proven
their insincerity without doubt 10
any who are at all familiar with the
facts regarding the old Masonic Gem
etery.
(Signed)
Clearance r. Howard,