The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-27

to honor Washington the Mason by
building a classic shrine on the spot
where he once presided as worshipful
MASTER This shrine will house the
most priceless collection of relics OF
the first president that is now in ex.
istence. They are now in the posses.
sion of his home lodge at Alexandria,
Va, and it is there that the temple is
to be erected. H..
It is believed that this temple will
become the mecca for Masons OF the
country. To this temple will gather
representatives Of all grand lodges OF
all states for an Interchange of ideas.
The movement was started Feb. %,
$40 by the organization of the George
Washington Masonic National Memoir.
al association. This organization met
again on Feb. %. 1911 and 1912 and is
meeting again now. Since it's incep.
ton the organization has flourished
and is growing rich. At the meeting
this year some definite steps will be
taken toward the building of the me-
mortal 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 now 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 &C.
credited representative from each
grand lodge"
This allows two Representatives to a
state and two from each national body,
making up a body of some hundred
men of the very aristocracy of the
guild.
The lrst 100 contributed toward
building the memorial was given by
the president of the United States. On
Feb. %, 1910, whe nthe 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 actuality,
that he started the fund with his dona-
ito When he made this donation ne
wore the Masonic apron that had been
worn many times by Washington and
he held in his hand the trowel with
which Washington had laid the corner
stone of the national capitol building
in 1893.
The George Washington Masonic
National Memorial association intends
that the temple that it is to build
shall cost 1000, 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 earli-
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
on many a historic occa-
sion. Here he slept the night before
he started, in 1858, on his expedition
o6dluoI CAc fclCll anu uuuldIlS VI IuC
west.
In this old hostelry 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 &C.
cupied by the city hall, he marshalled
the colonial troops that were to make
part of that expedition. Under this
roof he first announced to Tight Horse
Harry Lee is espousal of the cause of
the colonies. Here in 1899 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,
wehre he lived most of his days as a
country gentleman should. The stamp
Of this dominant man is upon all the
country roundabout.-Ex.
-
p Governor Hanna in a recent inter-
view signified his desire to have the
egislature provide for an expert &C.