Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16
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natal day of the Immortal
George Washington. February
80. brings forth annually count
less anecdotes and bits of his
tory based upon his deeds. From the vast
volume of song and story woven around
the incidents of his birth, life and death
I: IL would seem as though every act OF his
eventful career and every trinket and oie
OF furniture which had ever been in his
+; possession familiar TO the average
/. American as his pictured features.
: Though this is the 1s1st anniversary or
his birth. and ia years have passed
. since his death, there is still wealth OF
: material in one collection which has been
so secMdedly treasured that only small
proportion of the people of the land are
aware of its existence. Here. too. may be
found the only portrait painted from life
which shows the brave commander as
an old man IT is also the only picture in
existence which is not an localized por-
strayal of the artists conception of the
character of the father of his country.
instead Of faithful reproduction of his
living features.
This famous williams painting, now OF
and trinkets likewise of intrinsic worth
because of their association with Wash
ington, are the property of the Alexan-
dria- Washington Lodge. No. %, A. F.
and A. NJ. at Alexandria, Va. and line
the walls of its historic council cham
Der. whose very atmosphere is impreg-
mated with the stately dignity OF the
great soldier and craftsman. No. ~
boasts the proud distinction of having
had George Washington for its first or
charter master which Office he held In
1888 and after being elected to succeed
himself served in all about twenty
months.
In 1875 the lodge. by resolution, requested
the general then President and residing
in Philadelphia, to sit for his portrait
After his consent had been obtained the
artist William Williams of that city
commissioned to do the work
Mr.. Williams at one time lived I'm George
town, ID. c.. and was presented to Presi-
dent Washington by Gen Henry Lee
Light Horse Harry Lee). who was then
the representative from this district. by
request of the lodge. The artist, through
the influence of the fraternity and Gen
Lee. secured about thirteen sittings, most
of which were given under more or less
protest, as the illustrous subject did not
relish the idea of posing
After a years work the portrait was
completed and accepted by Washington
as true likeness of himself 1t was
then scrutinzed by committee of Ma
sons, lifelong friends and associates of
the first President. After mature DELHI
Grafton they signi1ed their satisfaction
with IT, Last OF all, as proof conclusive,
the family, the most critical of all Judges
were called upon to sit In Judgment upon
the artists handiwork, and when they
100. gave expression of approval the Dor
trait was framed and hung in a place Of
honor in the Masonic Hail. where il has
been so securely guarded all these years
When the Grand Lodge of PENNSYLVANIA
sought to procure a good portrait of
Gen. Washington, it's librarian, Nj
julius Sachse, was commissioned to make
q study of the various paintings of him,
with view to procuring the best like
ness. After investigations covering a
period of two years Mr.. Sachse selected
the Williams picture as the most correct
and authentic likeness of the general in
existence. The Alexandria lodge gave
Mr.. Sachse permission to have the pic
was subsequently, presented to the Penn
sylvania lodge by John Wanamaker
The Williams picture is an entirely diff
ferent conception from all other portraits
or Washington, and. without doubt, is
the most true to life. 1t has the double
distinction of being the only one ever
made of him in Masonic regalia and in
old age. In cast and feature it some
what resembles the original Houdon
statue in Richmond, Va. 1t is a flesh
colored pastelle. which critics pronounce
OF superior quality. and for which the
artist received about $500. / abulous sums
have been offered FOR it from time to time
the United States government has even
bid for its purchase. Needless to say,
though its valuation is now beyond $780,
100. its Masonic character and the senti-
ment of past associations preclude the
possibility of its ever being sold.
That portraiture has failed to show us