Evening star., 1921-11-14
VICTORY MEMORIAL
SHRINE DEDICATED
BY THE PRESIDENT
Many Distinguished Guests at
Exercises Held in National
Museum Because of Rain.
FULFILLMENT is BEGUN
OF WASHINGTON's WISH
Mr.. Harding Draws Inspirational
Lessons From Life of Nations
First Chief Executive.

Before distinguished audience in
the National Museum, in which were
many representatives of the arms
parley delegations. President Harding
this afternoon dedicated the Victory
Memorial building, at 9th and B
streets. the corner stone Of which is
TO be laid later in the day, as "a
gathering place for Americans. where
American minds can meet in fruitful
exchanges"
Erection Of the building. said the
chief executive. would begin the full
fillment of one of the striking pro-
! visions of the last will of Washing
ton. which set aside a bequest for the
founding of IAN institution to dis
seminate learning. culture and a proper
understanding of right principles in
government.
Other Notables Take Part.
Upon the conclusion of the exer-
cises the President. assisted by Sec
retary of War Weeks, Gen. Pershing.
Admiral Coontz and other officials
and Mrs. Henry F. Dimock, president
VI tHC HSoISC w hSHOTldl
Association. will lay the corner stone
of the s1o.oo0,o0O edifice. Gen. Per
shing and Admiral Coontz will speak.
The PRESIDENTS address was de-
voted largely to an analysis of some
Washington, those rejecting his
character as a citizen. husband and
kinsman, rather than as a soldier and
statesman. From Washington's last
will and testament. copy of which
he placed in the corner stone of the
memorial building, President Harding
drew largely the inspiration for his
remarks.
Pays Tribute to Washington.
The President said washington's
| farewell address and his last will and
! testament should be studied as COM
plemeuts of each other. since the first
was the final adjuration of the SOL
dier, the statesman. the founder" and
| the other the last word of the Chris
| tian citizen, the loving husband. the
devoted kinsman and the provident
| man of business"
II am prone to believe" he said.
| they contain a chart by which the
captains and pilots Of world in dis
tress, seeking harborage from bat
l6TluR SIOrENS anu raging, uHhHO"H
+! deeps, might well lay the course OF
civilization itself"
President Harding's tribute to the
republics first leader appropriately
memorialized the sentiments that led
to the formation of the George Wash
| ington Memorial Association. under
| whose auspices the victory memorial
| project has been developed. De-
ment to washington and the SOL
diers of the revolution. out of whose
sacrifices the nation has sprung. the
proposed building, since the world
purpose-that of serving as the ma
| tons shrine of patriotism, where the
deeds of American heroes of all ages
| may be commemorated
! Articles Preserved in Box.
Evidence of its larger mission will
be furnished when the President places
| in the corner stone box, along with
the copy of the last will of Washing
ton, a program of the services of Amer
ica s unknown dead of the world war and
copies of The Evening Star Of November
| 10, II, IL and 13. 1921, giving the COM
plete history of the tribute paid by the
| world to these heroes who died for the
| worlds freedom. and accounts of the
opening of the epochai arms confer
ence.
There also will be placed in the metal
| container picture OF the gavel used
by Washington in laying the corner
stone of the Capitol. September l8.
1898; a brick from the house in which
| Washington was born and other arti-
| cIes of historic interest. forming in
| themselves tribute to the deeds OF
great Americans from the earliest days
| of the republic.
Secretary OF War Weeks presided at
| the exercises. which were opened with
| an invocation by Rt. Rev. Alfred Hard
| ing, d. D.. Bishop of Washington.