Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-16
To FIRST
PRESIDENT To COST
MASONS S2,500,0OO
Edifice to Stand at Alex
andria, Overlooking
Capital.

Alexandria, Va.-(Correspondence of
The Associated Press.)-With the
turning of the first sod on a beautiful
spot on the outskirts of Alexandria.
overlooking the national capitol. work
has begun on a memorial to George
Washington, which viii be a fitting
companion piece to the Lincoln memo
rial at Washington.
The edifice. a stately temple inspired
by Greek and Roman architecture, IS
being erected by the combined efforts
Of all the Masons and Masonic orders
in the United States, and will be a
tribute to Washington, the man n
Mason. 1t will be 200 feet from por-
tico to observation platform on the
top, and viii be surrounded by an ex-
tensive handicapped garden. to be known
as George Washington park. 1t Is ex-
pected the memorial wifi be completed
in from four to five years. The cost
will be approximately s 2,5O0.0O0.
Constructed of snowy marble n
white concrete, the columned structure
will tower high above the river and viii
stand out from a background of densely
verdured hillsides. a fitting tribute. Wis
ible for miles, and within a short dis
lance of the nations shrine, Mount
Vernon.
Every Mason has been asked to IN
tribute a dollar toward the fund, and
already more than 100000 has been
collected. Additional pledges bring the
orders and individuals contributing 81
toward the fund will be placed upon the
honor charter roll to be kept among
the temple archives.
Greek Roman Style
The building, according to architects.
will be after the style of hero memo
rails placed at the harbor entrances of
ancient Greek and Roman cities. II
will be erected on a ridge $50 feet
above the Potomac, and from its tower,
200 feet higher. a grand panorama of
the city of Washington will lie under
the observers feet. as wen as of the
country bordering upon Mount Vernon.
Pilgrims to the patriots former
home and tomb viii pass under the
shadow of the temple, going either by
land or river.
The first floor Will be given over
largely to a memorial hall, the COM
manding feature of which will be a
heroic statue OF Washington. How
ever, as the memorial as a whole will
be dedicated also to the memory of
other great Masons of the country.
there win be available to the grand
lodges Of each state space in the memo
rial 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 9th
ers have been suggested to be remem
bered thus as prominent history-mak-
ing Mssons.
The temple will be the active lodge
quarters Of Alexandria Washington
lodge. No. %, A. F. and A. NJ, Of
which Washington was the first master
when 1t was lodge No. 80. Other rooms
surrounding the atrium will be given
over to the uses Of grand national
cept when used in ritual by the Alex
andria lodge, the entire temple will be
open to the public.
Plan Art Gallery
Above the hall, which will rise in e
clerestory from the ground floor, will
be a museum and Masonic art gallery.
Here viii be placed Masonic portraits
and the many historic relics of Wash
ington and the several other noted Vir-
ginians who from time to time have
been members of the Alexandria lodge.
A 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 Washington's
bed and the pendulum cord which was
cut at the moment Of his death; q
pocket knife given Washington by his
mother and which was carried by him
as a boy and man; his old hour glass;
the chair he occupied a worshipful
master and which was used for 122
Washington, of which he approved
with these win also be placed the
spade used in the ground breaking
ceremony by Louis A. Watres, prssi-
dent of the Masonic National Memorial
association. As this simple ceremony
was planned hastily, and completed en-
an hours notice, no special tools were
provided, but a workman's spade lying
nearby at the time vas utilized.