The Washington times., 1923-10-31
MEMORIAL
HAS LONG
HISTORY
Movement Not Entirely Orig
nal With Alexandria Masons.
Project Once Abandoned.

dition and not entirely original
with Alexandria Masons, declares
Charles II. Callahan, in 'sThe
] Memorial to Washington.
The need Of q fireproof structure
TO house the priceless Masonic
relics OF George Washington had
been frequently discussed. At one
time a sum OF $40, 900 was subscrib.
% toward erection OF such q build
ing.
Old Project Abandoned.
Sentimental attachment to the
ed home predominated. The under
taking was finally abandoned.
This effort was entirely local,
confined to local interests, and con-
6ined none Of the national features
OF the present more comprehensive
plan.
Establishment of the electric rail-
road to Mount Vernon and the open
ms Of the lodge to the public
brought many influential members
Of the craft to the institution and
produced q national interest in the
eeollection.s
This resulted in an appeal from
Most Worshipful Oscar Lawler, past
grand master Of California. OBJ
serving the lack of fire protection
he advocated erection OF the
memorial and urged. prompt action
by the lodge.
/, The lodge appointed eleven mem
bers to compose the local memorial
temple committee.
National Organization.
Most worshipful Joseph w. Eg.
gleston, grand master OF Masons
IN Virginia, in the fall of 1903.
invited grand masters of the
United States to meet in Alex
andria on February %, 1910, to
mortal Association with the object
Of erecting a memorial to Wash
angton, the Mason. Eighteen repre-
sentatives of grand lodges were
present and the organization was
effected.
In its constitution the association
provided that the temple was TO
have one floor to ''be set apart for
ever as memorial hall to be un-
der the control OF the several grand
jurisdictions in the United States or ;
America =
Permanent Ufganization was ef-
1ected Washington's Birthday, 1911.
with President Taft as speaker.
Constitution and bylaws were adopt
ed at the second annual meeting,
Washington Birthday, 1912,
The bylaws provide that the me.
mortal building is to be in the form
Of temple and that each grand
jurisdiction, sovereign or supreme
rand body. members of the asso-
citation, is to be allotted space in the
Hall OF Fame in which to erect sym
eols of COMMUNICATION to its dead.
Fraternal Bond
In addition to fits other aims and
duties the memorial association acts
80 q conferential tie to bind every
rite and element OF the diverging
branches of the Fraternity.
The site selected for the memo
rial Is one Of especial interest to all
Americans. and reflects an incident
which throws q strong sideliRht nm
one Of the striking phases OF the
Washington character.
The site, hilltop on the Wash
acknowledgements road. just this
side Of the present Temple Station,
Alexandria, was that originally Sc.
lected by Monroe and Jefferson as
the site for the United States Capt.
toll. The town Of Alexandria wac
then a densely wooded wilderness.
The Monroe Jefferson site. com.
nnands q magnificent view Of the
Potomac river, the beautiful roll.
ing country Of Virginia and the Dis
trict of Columbia and of ancient
Alexandria, which was to have been
the nucleus Of the Capital CITY.
Washington Opposed.
Though it was so eminentlyl
cd frV. k1n -sk
rejected at the earnest plea OF Wash.
1ngton. He objected that the factI
that he held enormous property inI
the vicinity would lead many mi
later years to believe he han been
instrumental in selecting the site as
q means for increasing the value
Of his lands.
His friends reluctantly consented
TO have the Capitol erected across
the Potomac. Washington himself
selected the present site Of the CapI.
toll, nearly ten miles distant from
the first point selected.
The memorial will be one oI
the most impressive nonumenrs
Of its kind On its commanding
site 1t will be visible from all part
OF Washington and Alexandria, ana
Win be one Of the first of the ma.
1estic structures in and around
"ASAhhSIOh NlGlDlo W the Traveller
coming up the river or approaching
Washington from the South.
The huge structure will contain
. room for each grand lodge in
America. 1t will be a truly Masonic
memorial to one of the greatest
of Masons, erected by contributions
from Masons over the entire coun.
try.
Sacred Shrine.
This will eventually become tio
most sacred shrine to all Masons
next to Mount Vernon itself. :.
will be the housing place of all fos
sacred relics Of George Washington
the Mason. 'u'
The memorial will become N,
permanent resting place of the coI
lection Of Westinghouse now house,
IN the ancient Alexandria asbins
ton Lodge.
Among these relics is the nr,o.
less Williams portrait of Wass
1ngton. Washington consentad
sit for It only on the urgent 70
quest OF his fellow lodge membsrs
The grand lodge of Pennsyivsaia
has made standing Offer
100000 for the painting. It Il n I
on view in the Alexandria Inv NV
rooms. se
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