The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-03-02
BYORUM ATTENDS MASONIC
MEETING AT ALEXANDRIA. VA.

Henry E. Byorum, cashier of the
Second National bank, returned We'd
nesday from Alexandria, Va, where
he went two weeks ago as North Da-
kota's delegate to the George Wash
ington Memorial Association. As
Grand Master of the North Dakota
jurisdiction, Mr.. Byorum was the reg
ular delegate while w. l.. Stockwell,
of Fargo, :yas also a delegate by rea-
son of his being a member of the Ex-
ecutive committee. The delegates
from the west assembled at Chicago
enroute and from there travelled by
special observation coaches thru to
their destination. The object Of the
Memorial Association, is to erect at
Alexandria a suitable memorial to
the Father of His Country, who
was a member of Alexandria Lodge,
at one time being Master of that
Lodge. There were over 200 dele
gates this year. For the past ten
years annual conventions have been
held at Alexandria, the project orr
ginating in 1905 when steps were first
taken looking toward the erection of
a suitable memorial. The old Ma
sonic Hall at Alexandria was Destroy
ed by fire in 1872 and many valuable
relics pertaining to Washington's life
were destroyed in the confiagration.
This fire gave decided impetus to a
determination on the part of Masons
turnout the United States to provide
for the preservation Of the Washing
ton relics and few years later a
project was fostered whereby Masons
all over the United States were called
upon to contribute $1.00 each toward
fund to be used in the erection of a
memorial. The jurisdiction of Vir-
ginia was the first to lead off. Mary
land and the District of Columbia
soon followed and later every juris-
diction of. the United States was rep
resented
For years the selection Of a type
of building has received the earnest
consideration of the delegates at their
annual convocations. This year it
was decided to adopt a type of build
ing known as the Greco-Egyptian.
This building will be 100 feet by 230
feet in size and three stories or 200
feet in height. This building will
stand on the south side Of the Poto-
mac river six miles from the Capitol
in Washington and will occupy an en-
inence in plain view from any point
of the city. The plat of ground
which the memorial will occupy con-
tains 25 acres of grounds to which
has been added tract Of six acres
purchased at a cost of $4,000 per acre.
1t is expected that the building and
site will cost approximately $3,000,-
900. The original intent being to ex-
pend but two and half million dol
lars but as many of the states have
exceeded their quota it is expected
that the cost will be closer to the
three millions mentioned. North Da-
kota has contributed 80 per cent Of
her quota, the delegates this year
carrying drafts Of $4,000 to apply
on the states quota.
For seven years engineers and ar
chitects have submitted their plans
but it remained for the 1922 assembly
to decide definitely as to what form
the memorial would assume.
On the fourth of November. next
the cornerstone of this structure will
be laid before what will probably be
the largest assemblage Of Masons
ever held. This will surely be red
letter day in Masonry. Mr.. Byorum
stated to a representative of the In
dependent that he was already max
ing preparations to attend this meet
ing.