Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-02
tBy Associated Press.l


the turning OF the Grst sod on a
beautiful! spot on the outskirts OF
Alexandra overlooking the national
capital. work was begun on a me-
mortal 10 George Washington which
VIII be fitting companion piece to
the Lincoln Memorial at Washington.
The ed!ticc. stately temple in
spired by Greek and Roman archI-
lecture. is being erected by the com
bined efforts OF all the Masons and
Masonic orders in the United states.
and vii! be tribute 10 Washington.
the man and Mason. 1t Will be 100
feet from portico TO observation
platform ~ the top. and Will be sur
rounded ~ an extensive Handicapped
garden to be known as George
memorial VSil be completed in from
four TO five years, The cost will be
| approximately s2,500.00o.
Bull, of Marble.
Constructed Of snowy marble and
white concrete. the columned struc-
ture Will tower high above the river
, and Will stand out from n back
ground OF densely verdured hillsides.
| n fitting tribute. visible for miles.
| and within a short distance OF tho
nations shrine. Mount Vernon.
| Every Mason has been asked to
contribute Il dollar toward the fund.
and already more than 100000 has
! been collected. Additional pledges
tring the figure TO almost sl.60o.O00.
Masonic orders and individuals con-
tribut.ng 500 toward the fund Will
be placed upon tho honor charter roll
to be kept among the temple ar
| chives.
The building, according to archi-
T. b. IL ..f !,
memorials placed at the harbor en-
frances OF ancient Greek and Roman
cities. 1t will be erected on ridge
$50 feet above the Potomac, and from
it's tower. 200 feet higher, grand
pauarama OF the city OF Washing
ton will lie under the observers feet.
as we'll as OF the country bordering
upon Mount Vernon, SO loved ty
Washington himself
Pilgrims to the patriots former
home and tomb will pass under the
shadow OF the temple. going either
by land or river.
First Floor n Memorial Iinll.
The first floor will be given over
largely to a memorial hall, the COM
manding feature OF which Will be
heroic statue OF Washington. How
ever. as the memorial as whole
Will be dedicated also 10 the mem
cries OF other great Masons OF the
country. there will be available 10
the grand lodges of each State space
in the memorial hall in which they
may enshrine portraits or other
tributes to Masons whose deeds place
them beside the first President.
Such men as Paul Revere, repre-
senting Massachusetts; De Witt Gin
ton. New York: Benjamin Franklin.
Pennsylvania. Henry Clay, Lewis
and Clark. Blair, Randolph and
many others have been suggested TO
be remembered thus as prominent
history mak!ns Masons.
The temple will he the active lodge
quarters Of Alexander-W Washington
which Washington was the first
master. when il was Lodge No. 80.
Other rooms surrounding the atrium
will be given over to the uses of
grand national bodies of the order.
At all times. except when used in
ritual by the Alexandria lodge, the
entire temple will be open 10 the
public.
Includes Museum and Art Gallery.
Above TIE hall. which will rise in
l clcrestory from the ground Hrnr,
will be u museum and Masoni, art
gallery. Here will be placed Masonic
portraits and the many historic
relics OF Washington and the several
other noted Nirginians who from
time 10 time have been members of
the Alexandria lodge.
replica of the first lodge house
used by Alexandria Lodge. and which
was dedicated by Washington. will
be included. Other souvenirs include
the clock which stood beside Wash
inEtons bed and the pendulum cord
of which was cut at the moment of
his death: pocket knife given
Washington by his mother and which
was carried by him as 4 boy and
man; his old hourglass: the chair no
occupied AS worshipful master. and
which was used for lee years. and
the Williams portrait OF Washing
ton. OF which he approved.
With these will also be placed the
spade used in the ground breaking
ceremony by Louis a. Natres. prcsi-
dent Of the Masonic National Me-
mortal Association. AS this simple
ceremony was planned hastily and
completed on an hours notice, no
special tools were provided. but n
workman's spade lying nearby at
the time was utilized.
Land Has Hcen Obtained.
Tho thirty-two-acre tract sur
rounding tho temple has already
,heen obtained by the association.
The larger portion. about twenty
two acres. valued at moro than ST.
100000. was bought OF tho city OF
Alexandria at nominal figure
which made It a gift
Ceremonies Of corner-stonq layirS
.,t -