Evening star., 1923-07-04
BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR.


Seventy-fve years ago today the
corner stone of the Washington Mon
ument was laid with solemn and i'm
posing ceremony. There are few liv-
ing today who recall this great his
toric event. although there are many
who remember the Masonic dedica-
tion. February 81, 1885.
Indeed the idea of it's erection
seems to have been Masonically in
spired and directly or indirectly COM
pleted under the orders auspices. The
corner stone was laid by the Grand
Lodge, F. A. A. NJ. of the District of
Columbia. b. B. French. grand mas
ter, and it was dedicated nearly thir-
ty-seven years later by the same
body, while Myron M. Parker was
serving in that exalted capacity.
Though more than thirty eight years
have elapsed since its completion, Col.
Parker is still hale and hearty and
one Of our most distinguished citi-
ZenS.
Although the District Grand Lodge
did not come into existence until
1911, yet fourteen years later 1t pass
ed set of resolutions commencing
the project of erecting monument
to George Washington and pledging
enterprise. Previous to this. accord
ing to an advertisement appearing
3n the National Intelligencer Decem-
ber 90, 1913. an effort was made to
erect the Washington Monument by
lottery, but this seems to have failed
entirely, and 1t remained for the Ma
sons-particularly those of the Dis
trict of Columbia-to start a fund
with which the monument was later
commenced.
National Society Formed.
In 1888 their efforts In this direction
eliminated in the formation of the
Washington National Monument So
Ciety, which still exists, and which
IS one of the most exclusive as well
as one of the most honorable organ
izations in the United States In 1887
the funds collected and in the hands
of the then secretary, George Waiter
ston, amounted to $4,000 and a year
later to S30,779 OF this society Chief
Justice John Marshall was the first
president. He was A distinguished
member of the Masonic fraternity. as
were nearly all of the original mem
bers, whose names are here given:
Judge William CranCh, John P. Van
Ness, w. w. Seaton. Samuel H. Smith.
George Watterston, Gen. Thomas S.
Jessup. Col. James Kearney. Col. Ma
than Towson, Col. Archibald Hender-
son. Matthew St. Clair Clarke. John
McClelland, Thomas Monroe, Col.
George BOm1OrQ, Roger t. " eight
man, Peter Force. William Brent, VIII
liam S. Bradley and Thomas Carbery.
OF these, both W. w Seaton and
Roger c. Weightman were past grand
masters.
Quotation from Address.
In his address at the laying of the
corner stone, with other things. Grand
Master B. B. French said:
"The fraternity of Freemasons can
recur with proud satisfaction to our
revolutionary struggle when they
remember that every general officer
of the American armies, save one. was
a Freemason-at least, the pen of
history has so made up the record
and he, whose eyes never beheld
"'That hieroglyphic bright
Which none but craftsmen ever saw
died traitor to his country.
This grand and imposing assem- :
blage is at this moment graced and
honored with the presence of the
Royal Arch apron owned and worn
by Gen. Joseph Warren. who fell at
the battle of Bunker Hill. the first
herpic martyr of high rank who
American liberty.
Zen Warren was grand master of
Freemasons of America. The apron
to which I have alluded is now in
the craft, who has journeyed from
Boston to this city to join in these
ceremonies, and has brought with
him that sacred relic Of the past, that
the name of Warren, immortalized by
his patriotism, his valor and his early
but glorious death, might be asso-
ciated here in the never-to-be forgot
ten ceremonies of this day with the
name of Washington"
Historic Apron Worn.
On this occasion Grand Master
French wore the apron and sash
worn by Washington while laying
the corner stone of the United States
Capitol, and used. as well, the same
gavel used on that historic occasion.
The chair occupied by the orator of
the day. Robert c. Winthrop, Speaker
of the United States House of Renre-
sentatives, was the property of Alex
andria Washington Lodge of Alexan-
dria, Va. 1t was purchased for that
lodge by Washington himself, and
was occupied by him during the time
in which he presided over it's delib-
erations. The gavel was first used
by Cen Washington in laying the