Evening star., 1922-02-22

2,3U,uUU |EMP[E
PLANS APPROVED
Masonic Memorial to Wash
ington at Alexandria to Be
Started Soon.
ALEXANDRIA,, Va. February "a
Plans for the magnificent temple to
be erected here by the Masons of the
United States. as a memorial to
George Washington, were formally
approved yesterday afternoon at the
twelfth annual meeting of the George
Washington Memorial Association.
The structure and surrounding
grounds will cost approximately 81
100000. The temple is to be erected
on ridge. in Washington Park, on
the edge Of this city, commanding a
splendid view Of the capital, and is
to be SO situated that it will be pass
ed by all who make the pilgrimage
from Washington to Mount Vernon,
the home of Washington
The association voted to have D. ].
Howell & Son OF Alexandria imme-
diately start borings and soundings
in George Washington Park for the
proposed temple. This association has
thirty acres at that place. which will
be the site of the temple.
1t also was decided by the asSoc1a-
tion to procure a charter from the
state corporation commission at once.
Pilgrimage to Mount Vernon.
The session of the association will
end this afternoon. Early this after
noon the delegates made pilgrimage
to Mount Vernon, and in accordance
with an established custom placed
a memorial wreath on WaShington'S
tomb and a wreath also was placed BY
Alexandra -Washington Lodge of Ma
sons. Washington being first master
of the Alexandria Lodge.
The delegates were accompanied by
a number of local Masons, headed by
Charles H. Callahan. local secretary
of the association. who is the author
The structure. which will rank with
the great Lincoln memorial will be
erected by the MaSonS of the United
States, the plan being to raise 81 per
capita for every member of the fra
ternity throughout the country.
The present officers of the associa-
tion are: Louis A. Watres. Pennsyl-
vania. president; directors. Melvin NJ.
johnson. Massachusetts,; w. L. Dan
iels,. New Jersey; w. S. Farmer. New
York: George L. Sehoonober: Iowa:
Andrew L. Randell. Texas; Charles c.
Homer. Maryland; George NJ. Napier.
Georgia.
Tonight the delegates attending
the sessions Of the association will
ington Lodge of Masons at its an
nual birthday celebration. which will
be held in the Elks' lodgeroom.
Among those scheduled to make
speeches are the following: James
H. Price. grand master Of Masons
dent of the association; Melvin NJ.
Johnson, past grand master Of
Massachusetts,, and 6. NJ. Napier. past
grand master Of Georgia.
ner stone November 4 next, the an
niversary of the initiation Of Amer
ica's first President. 1t has developed
at the meeting Of the memorial asso-
citation that there Is approximately
100000 cash on hand for the me-
mosiaL moral 81. Besides side nm this there are
More than 200 delegates from all
sections Of the country have been
in attendance at the annual meeting
of the association.
The delegates last night attended
special communication Of Alexandria,
Lodge of Masons. when
the master Mason degree was con-
ferred by the officers of the local
lodge.
The members of the city council and
city officials and others yesterday
fa nf he
citation and viewed the model Of the
temple. All expressed themselves as
highly pleased with the model. The
were on hand, and prior to
the viewing of the temple explained
in detail the plans for the affair.
Movement Started IL Years Ago.
The proposed memorial, with it's
collection Of Washington heirlooms
and memorabilia, is to be the result
twelve years ago by the Masonic
lodge at Alexandria of which
at one time was master.
The lodge. now known as Alexandria
Lodge. No. %. A. F. and
A. M. was Lodge No. 80 in Wash
ington's day. Among Its souvenirs Of
the first President Is a letter in his
own hand. written at Mount Vernon.
Primarily, the building is to be a
to George Washington. the
man ana lne mason. Inc plan OF Its
form was inspired by the great me-
mortal monuments built in the an
cient days of Greece and Rome at
harbor entrances and from whose
SUBMITS burning flares pointed the
way to incoming mariners.
The dimensions over all will be 100
feet in width by 230 feet in depth, ex-
OF steps, terraces and ap-
proaches. The height to the summit
Of the covered observation platform,
from which visitors may view for
miles around the country where
passed the greater part
Rooms for Masonic Order.
In the center is to be an atrium,
seventy by one hundred feet, to form
a memorial hall in which will be set
a statue of Washington. This hall,
feet in height, will rise, by
a clerestory. above the surrounding
it will be a number of rooms dedi-
Gated to the use Of Masonic interests,
wherein every Masonic organization
In the country may have space.
Rising above the memorial hall will
be a museum room, forming the Sec
ond story of the tower. To the mu-
scum will be transferred some Of the
treasured possessions Of the Alex
andria Washington Masonic Lodge.
Among these are Washington's old
bedchamber clock. On the death OF
master of the lodge and one OF the
physicians, cut the pehdu-
lum cord and stopped the timepiece.
Other relics include an old hourglass.
the chair occupied by Washington as
Worshipful master OF the lodge, which