The Washington herald., 1914-02-24
.MASONS HONOR
NATIONS FATHER
Spirit of Washington Pre-
sides Over Banquet in
Alexandria.
VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
Says Men of ALI Political Beliefs Can
Meet on Common Ground of
Free Masonry.
VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
By STAFF CoRREsPoNDENT.

/ Alexandria, Va, Feb. 23.-The spirit Of
George Washington presided over :he
banquet of Alexandria Washington Lodge,
No. 2, +. A. A. NJ, at Masonic Tenn
pie, tonight. The Father Of his Country
was first master of this lodge. The elite
OF Alexandria, men and women, gathered
around the festive board to do him
honor Women OF the local branch of the
Eastern Star, attired in colonial dress,
served the banquet in good Old Dominion
style.
| Vice President Marshall. the guest of
honor, and principal speaker. who is
Mason of high degree, made a speech.
in which those present noticed an un-
wonted warmth. At the beginning the
Vice President let 1t be known mat tie
blood of the Old Dominion flowed in
the veins of grandfather of his, who
went West many years ago. The patriotic
sent gbent was evident in almost every
word Of his speech.
New View of Human History.
"Today's occurrences have given me a
new view of human history" he said.
Looking on the ashes Of the Father
OF his Country today has awakened in
me an entirely new interest and, must
say, a rather new point of view.
you will understand how glad am
| to be with you good people of Alexan-
dria when / tell you that a grandfather
of mine carried the blood of this dear
Old Dominion out of here in his veins
many, many years ago"
Again did the Vice President take a
fling at his job, as II he were more than
sick and tired of 1t all.
Nobody ought to object TO the Vice
President growing" he continued. "If
he can't do that. what on earth can de
do? There must be something to go with
| the office. Most OF US are like the colored
soprano in the choir. He had a dream.
in which he dreamed he had sung 469
songs and woke up saying to himself
that he wasn't going to be 'bossed by
nobody any more.
Mr.. Marshall probably had some high
official in mind when he said: This
new idea in the republic that the man
is equal to anything. that he needs no
advice, that there is nothing higher or
better than himself, 1 protest against.
All over America you are hearing Of
men standing up and saying i did this
| and 1 did that; / cleaned up this, or
1 cleaned up that.
Tribute to Masonry.
The Vice President followed this with
a tribute to Masonry.
THE nation, through George Wash
| inEton, owes a debt OF gratitude TO free
Masonry" he said "one hundred and
thirty years ago Democracy was almost
unknown in the world. Washington was
of the bIuest blood of the Old Dominion.
Thank God. there is one place where a
Democrat and = Bull Moose now can
| meet on common ground and shake
hands. There's no politics in Free Ma
sonry.
"Another Moses might come along at
any time with another law such as that
promulgated on Mount Sinai, but with
| ont the American people behind IL IL
would not amount to thing. Ger
tainly it is a bad Virginian who would
not lay a wreath on the tomb OF Rob-
ert Z. Lee, as well as on that or George
Washington"
The members and guests. numbering
more than 500, gave Mr.. Marshall
rousing reception and applauded his
speech enthusiastically.
worshipful Master Charles Britton
Swan presided and made a short
speech.