Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-06-05
Louis A. Watres and Chas.
A. Callahan Dig First
ShOvelful of Earth
SIMPLE EXERCISES
Prayer Offered by Rev. DIR. W. J. Nor
ton and Short Address by President
Watres.

With simple yet impressive services
ground was broken at noon today on
Shooters Hill, George Washington
! Park, for the erection of the George
Washington Masonic National Memo
rial Association Temple in memory of
George Washington. first master of
Alexandria ashington Lodge of Ma
sons of this city.
The breaking of the ground was
done by Louis A. Watres, Scranton,
Pa, president of the George Washing
ton Masonic National Memorial Asso-
citation, and Charles H. Callahan,
Alexandria, one of the vice-presidents
of the asso, iation.
Just previous to the breaking of the
ground a foreman employed by the
Crawford Paving Company, Of Wash
ington, loosened the earth about and
simultaneously both Messrs. Watres
and Callahan dug down into the soil
and removed several spades of earth
which marked the first formal removal
of the earth for the temple which
when completed will cost S2,500,e00.
President WatreS said: This occa-
sion is entirely spontaneous but It's
Importance to the city and to the fra
ternity we represent and the country
we live is such that the occasion ought
not to pass without the slightest OBJ
servance. | shall therefore call upon
the Rev. DR.. Morton, chaplain of the
George Washington Masonic National
Memorial Association, for prayer.
Rev. DR.. Morton tkereupon delivered
short but fervent prayer as the aud
ience, numbering less than two dozen,
stood reverently with barred heads and
n steady rain came down. 1t was in
deed a solemn occasion, and it marked
the first step i'm the building of a mag
niffcient temple which will stand on
commanding site with an elevation OF
$50 feet at George Washington Park
with its main entrance facing the east,
directly parellel to King street.
The decision to formally break
ground for the temple was not arrived
at until this morning when Mr.. Wa
tres came here and consequently there
were but few persons present, apart
from Mr.. Watres and Mr.. Callahan,
practically all of the others present
being local members Of the Masonic
fraternity.
Among those IN attendance were
Louis A. Watres, Charles H. Callahan,
J. f.. w. Timberman. c. c. Batcheller,
George ". Zachary. Mayor James NJ
Duncan, Urban s. Lambert, David j.
Howell, Rev. DR.. W. J. Morton, Thom-
as w. Robinson, c. Aubrey Callahsp,
w. Fl. Thomas, George f. Warfield,
Llewellyn Dyson, Clarence j. Robin
son. DR.. Thomas B. Cochran. John T.
Cochran. the last named of The Plains,
Va. and Mrs. Charles H. Callahan.
Miss Mildred Callahan, Miss Virginia
Callahan. Mrs. J. f. ". Timberman,
Mrs. w. S. Risdon.
Percy l.. Crawford of the Crawford
Paving Company, which concern has
the contract for the excavating for the
the building of the foundation. was
also present. The shovel and pick that
we're used in connection with the
breaking of the ground, following the
brief ceremony. were turned over to
George w. Zachary. tiler Of the local
lodge. and they will be carefully placed
away with the archives of the lodge.
Mr.. Zachary also kent four small
stones taken from the first earth, two
being dug by Mr.. Watres and two by
Mr.. Callahan
They too will be placed away with
Continued on page four