The Washington herald., 1911-02-23
PRESIDENT GIVES
UP RETROCESSION
Continued from Page One.

| ty, am not going to quarrel. AS I un-
! derstoOd it. that delegation came from
that part of the country where opposition
may be expected if anywhere. and il
! there are only five out of 113-fve recall
CitrantS-which the influence, and the
proper influence, of Masonry will bring
over. certainly we ought all to be encOur-
aged.
And now. my friends. on your behalf
and on my behalf, on behalf of the GAL
Int Senators of Virginia, who would
, think nothing of me unless 1 took this
step. and on behalf of your handsome
Representative. and on behalf of the
whole assembly of gallant MaSons,
wish to extend 20 these beautiful hand
. maids the thanks that we all feel for their
hospitality and their coming kindly to
our assistance in this eXigenCy. | can
readily understand why the men of Alex
, andria refuse-nOw that I am hereto
lose their identity to become part of the
! Capital"
EnthusinsticaIly Received.
The Presidents promise not to push
the retrocession plan to an issue was
enthusiastically received. Before he
could continue with his euloEy on Wash
ington, the President had to wait until
the cheers had subsided.
Several hundred residents of Alexandra
bravCd the chilly blasts to await the ar
rival of President Taft and his party
in a special car Accompanying the
President were Capt. Butt. his personal
aid; Senators Swanson and Martin, and
Representative Carlin. % Virginia, and
a committee from the Alexandria lodge
The Presidential party reached the
Elks' home in Alexandria about SO
o., s-ba %
watching the exemplifcatiOn of the Mas
ter Mason degree on William H. Pettus.
of Petersburg. Va. A team from Michi-
gan conferred the degree.
About 800 Mds)ns gathered around the
banquet board about o'clock. The large
hall was brilliantly lighted. and feature
of the decora tiOns was large oil paint
ing of Washington hanging directly back
of the Presidents seat. under which was
inscribed, Washington, the Mason"
The Business Session.
At the lodges business session yester-
day morning W. B. McCheSney, grand
master of the State of Virginia, intro
duced Judge William J. Mitchell, of Port
Huron. Mich. a past grand master, who
is ninety-four years old. Prayer was Of
fered by Rev. William ]. Morton, rector
of Christ Episcopal Church
llle tlttllOn VI OIlttTS ItSIlltu dS lOA-
lows: Thomas ]. Shryock, grand mas
ter Maryland, president: James NJ. LAM
berton. senior grand deacon. Pennsylva-
mia, first vice president; James r. john
son. past grand master, South Carolina,
second vice president; A. B. McGaffey,
grand master, Colorado, third vice pres
ideht; A. B. Ashley, grand master, Illi-
nois, fourth vice president; Lawrence Lee.
Alabama, secretary: J. a. Blake, Massa-
chusetts. treasurer; Rev. William ]. Nor
ton. Alexandria, chaplain; Henry X.
Field, grand junior deacon, and ]. Ed
ward Shinn, past master of Alexandria
Lodge. both of Alexandra,
stewards. The tiler who will serve as
tiler of Alexandria Washington Lodge of
Masons also will serve as tiler for the
association. The lodge at present is with
out a permanent tiler.
The election OF President Shryock was
made unanimous, and he was escorted
to the chair by Judge r. T. w. Duke,
ir.. and Grand Master McChesney in
stalled him into office.
President Shryock said he realized the
incident to the office.
Following the election of officers, the
delegates were given a luncheon at the
EIks'/ Home The delegates at 1:SO
O'Clock went on special trains to Mount
Vernon and placed wreath on Wash
ingtons tomb.