San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21
Masonic Orders to Lay
Cornerstone of Imposing
Edifice November | in
Memory of Father Of His
Country.
BY HAMILTON VI. WRIGHT.

! of the United States will lay the cor
/ ncrstone of a great memorial building
dedicated to George Washington, the
man and the Mason.
The memorial, superb. outstand
| ing edifice, will be of permanent in
tercst and value. not only 10 every
member of the Masonic orders in the
United States. and in the world. but
will also be regarded with sympathetic
love and affection by every citizen OF
America and III every land where the
love of liberty is cherished. For il
Will house a priceless collection OF
relics of the nations first President
Its halls wi abound with memories
of the life OF the MaSons' Grandest
Master, George Washington. Father
Of His Country, and with traditions
of that epOchal period when America.
under his guidance. formed the char
ter of her independence. by which her
destinies will be directed for all time.
The laying of the cornerstone will
be 4 magnificent, imposing. and sig
nificant event. Members of Blue
Lodges from every state in the Union
will attend by thousands. The ccre-
mony will be in charge of Charles III.
Cailaghan, deputy grand master of
Virginia. and he will be assisted.
among others by Chief Justice Taft
and former Vice President Marshall.
The trowel used by Washington in
laying the cornerstone of the National
Capitol at Washington will be used,
and a replica of it will be employed
by those assisting the Grand Master
in the ceremony. 1t is not, however.
the intention to forecast in this arti-
Gle the forthcoming exercises in Alex
andria. They will be amnly covered
in the news columns of the ncwspa-
pcrS. Rather let us turn our atten-
ton to the important background of
those exercises. 10 the fascinating,
little-known anecdotes of George
WaShington's life as revealed by the
many priceless mementOes cherished
by the Masonic orders. to the growth
of the movement to place these relics
in suitable memorial to Washington.
and TO some outstanding details of the
magnificent memorial itself.
Stories of the Relics.
All Of these events blend into a sin
gle consecutive narrative. one of the
most inspiring histories ever told. The
story begins ms far back as Washing
tons bOyhOOd. when his mother.
moulding the character of the future
statesman. gave him for good con-
duct. a pen knife which is today con
tanned among the priceless Masonic
memorabilia Of Washington. 1t in
cludcs WashingtOn's recruiting Of his
first command. his career rs a soldier.
his induction into Washingt0n-Alex-
andria Lodge No. 80. of which he was
Il first or charter member. his admin
iStraticn as President. his later years,
and. finally his death. 1t vas, in
deed. but few seconds after his death
on the night of December II. 1799
that DIR. Elisha Cullen Dick. Wash
ingtOnS lifelong friend. physician
and Master of AlexandriaWa Washington
Lodge No. - to-day No. 22D cut the
pendulum Of the old clock that stood
in Washington's bed chamber. Its
hands still point 10 the minute and
hour 1920 y. m. that marked the
close of that inspiring life. This clock
was subsequently presented to the
lodge Of which Washington had been
a BELOVED and devoted member. 1t
formed the nucleus of Alexandria
lodges collections of momentocs of the
great statesman which. as will be seen
further ON. was to result in the i'm
posing George Washington Masonic
National Memorial cdifice whose cor
nerStone will be laid November LIST.
After Washington's death the num-
erOuS relics. many of which have been
associated with his Masonic life.
passed into possession Of the lodge 10
which he belonged. Such. was his Ma
sonic apron worn by the general when
and Mt the laying of the cor
nerstone of the Nations Capitol. 1t
is heavily fringed and embroidered in
gold. of cream cOlored satin. with the
French and American flags inter-
twined. A beehive and fairies adOrn
the center. The apron was presented
to the lodge in 1872 by Lawrence
Lewis, nephew Of the general and hus-
band Of his adopted daughter Nellie
Gusts
During the laying Of the corner
stone. President Washington delivered
to the grand marshall protein. sill
Yer plate bearing the following in
scription. which was laid upon and
scaled with the cornerstone:
This Southeast cornerstone OF the
Capitol of the United States of Amer
lea. in the city of WASHINGTON. was
laid on the 18th day of September
1888. in the thirteenth year of Ameri-
ran Independence. in the first year of
the second term of the presidency of
jfeorgc Washington. whose virtues in
the civil administration of his country
have been as conspicuous and bcnc-
fetal as his militarwy valor>and pru-
lencc have been useful. in establishing
her liberties. and in the year of Ma
.onry JT93. by the President of the
| ni;ed States. in concert with the
Grand Lodge of Maryland. several
lodges under its jurisdiction and
Lodge No. ~ from Alexandria. Va.
Thomas Johnson. David Steuart and
Daniel Carroll. commissioners. Joseph
clark. X. W. G. VI. protein. James
tectS. Collin Williamson, Master Ma
SON.
Beginning of Collection.
The MacOnic apron. the old clock. q
silver trowel and many other memora
bilia were carefully treasured by the
lodge and constituted the beginning Of
the collection which helped to keep
alive many intimate anecdotes of the
III 81 the great admlnlStf3t Tor.
More than fourteen years ago the
sentiment surrounding the preserva-
ton Of these memorabilia and aris-
ing from the peculiarly intimate ma
tGrc Of the traditions Of Washington
in this region where he had passed
81 LARGE part OF his youth were
cryStalized in the desire for a rer-
manent memorial.
While the idea has now grown be-
yond the housing of the collection and
the construction of the great Memoir
lal Monument. still there will he in