The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-02-22
FEB. %, 1918.
WASHINGTON, THE MASON.

The Masons of the United States ary
to honor Washington the Mason by
building a classic shrine on the spot
where he once presided as w~orshipfu'
master. This shrine will house tbs
most priceless collection of relics of the
first president that Is now in existence,
They are now in the possession of his
home lodge at Alexandria, Va, and it
is there that the temple is to be erect
cd.
1t is believed that this temple Will
become the mecca for Masons Of the
country. To his temple will gather
representatives Of all grand lodges of
all states for an interchange of ideas.
The movement was started Feb. %,
1910 by the organization of the George
Washington Masonic National Memoir
al association. This organization met
again on Feb. 30, 1911 and 1912 and is
meeting once today. Since its inCep-
ton the organization has nourished
and is growing rich. At the meeting
today some definite step will he taken
toward the building of the memorial
temple.
The active membership. according
to the constitution, shall consist OF
the grand masters of the several
grand lodges. the grand high priest Of
the general chapter Of the United
States Of America, the grand high
priest of any grand chapter not owing
allegiance thereto, the grand master
of the grand council of the royal and
select masters, the grand master Of
the grand encampment of the United
States, and the sovereign grand COM
manders of the supreme councils Scot
fish Rite Masons, and one properly ac-
credited representative from each
grand lodge"
This allows two representatives to u
state and two from each national body,
making up a body of some hundred
men Of the very aristocracy of the
guild.
The first 500 contributed toward
building the memorial was given by
the president Of the United States. On
Feb. %, 1910, when the meeting of the
association was held at which the con-
stitution was finally adopted. President
Taft was among the distinguished
men present. 1t was then, after the
movement had become an actually,
that he started the fund with his dOna-
ton. When he made this donation he
wore the Masonic apron that had been
worn many times by Washington and
he held in his hand the troweI with
which Washington had laid the corner
stone of the national capitol building
in 1898.
The George Washington Masonic
National Memorial association intends
hat the temple that it Is to build
shall cost 81, 200. 900. 1t is to be erected
in the heart of Alexandria on ground
that is the most historic of any in the
nation. Old Christ church will be just
across the street and there the pew in
which Washington sat is still intact.
The street that runs past it was sur
veyed by him when he piled his EARL
est profession.
The present Masonic lodge is in the
ancient market and city hall. This
property was granted to the city in
colonial times and it's purposes speci-
fed. The lodge owns no ground but
possesses a building that begins above
the market house. Across the street is
an ancient structure that sheltered
Washington on many a historic occa-
sion. Here he slept the night before
he started, in 1853, on his expedition
against the French and Indians of the
west.
In this old hosiery two years later
he received his commission in the En-
glish army headed by Braddock and
destined to come to a tragic end.
Across the street on the land now oc-
eupied by the city hall, he marshalIed
the colonial troops that were to make a
part of that expedition. Under this
oof he first announced to Light Horse
Harry Lee his espousaI of the cause OF
the colonies. Here in 1893 he held his
last review and cast his last vote. The
citizens of this town were his pail
bearers. Alexandria is half way be-
tween Washington, where he laid down
the capital city, and Mount Vernon,
where he lived most of his days as a.
country gentleman should. The stamp
of this dominant man is upon all the
country roundabout.