The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
MASONS PREPARE.
 FOR B|G EVE N I
Washington Memorial To House Relics Of First
 President

Greatest of all memorials ever erected to any man will be the George Washington National Ma sonic Memorial, now being built in Va, just outside the na- ttonal capital. The cornerstone of this beautiful and extensive struc- ture, to cost s4,O00,00O, will be laid on Thursday, November 1, and Hasons of the United States are planning upon making this great occasion the most impressive in the history of the order. It is expected that every one of the 17,000 Blue lodges In this country will have one or more repre- sentatives at the November 1 festivi- ties. In addition, there will be pill grimages from every state. Rail- roads are already preparing to handle the enormous number of travellers to Washington, which Is expected to reach into the hundred thousands. There are approximately 5000, 900 Masons in the United States, and every one of them will want to be present at this momentous cere- mony A large delegation Is to go from tiis city.
 The George Washington National Masonic Memorial project was de- termined upon at 8 meeting of promi- nent Masons from several grand juris- dictions in Alexandra on February 22, 1910. This meeting was held in the historic lodge room of Alexandria lodge, No. 22. of which the first president was the first master and over whose deliberations he presided when he was chief executive of the nation. The plans at first were fairly modest, but as they were discussed year after year the plans were enlarged until at present they have a12umed gigan- tic proportions.
 The memorial. is being erected on Shooters Hill at Alexandria, on the Arlington Ridge, which commands view of the city of Washington. The Memorial association has acquired in all 32 acres of land surrounding shooters Hill, which will be passed 1y all those who travel from the na- tional capital to Mount Vernon, W Washingtons home. The edifice will oe surrounded by artistic landscap- ng and will be reached by broad walks and stone steps ascending through seven terraces. From the opmost collonaded tower of the me norial, ~isitors will vie-v for miles lround the region in which Washing on passed a great portion of his life.
 The dimensions of the edifice over LII will be 230 feet in depth by 160 eet in width, exclusive of the steps, erraces and approaches. It's height 0 the summit of the observation over will be 200 feet. The main masses of the building comprise a ,ase In which will be located the treat Washington Memorial Hall and Tarious Masonic rooms, and above his base will rise a form of tower. | )ne of the most stately features will 'e an imposing atrium, 70 feet wide nd 100 feet deep, which will form he Memorial Hall, and in which it is to set a statue of George This hall will be GA eet high, rising by clerestory above he surrounding portion of the build ng. It will be flanked by great onic columns 40 feet high and sur by a number of rooms de- -oted to Masonic interests, above the oof of which clerestory lights will Ldmit the light.
 The entrance of the building will ,e expressed in a six-columned por- ico of pure Greek Doric design, orming an interesting contrast to he plain unbroken side walls of the Masonic rooms. Rising above the Memorial Hall, and forming the sec md story of the tower. will be a museum room to house the many me- norabilia of George Washington and
 
 with Washington's service Ls Master of Alexandria w ashington odge. There will be third level Lbove the museum, above which again here will be a covered observation all three levels screened oy stately collonades.
 In addition to housing the priceless 'elics of Washington possessed by the Alexandria lodge, the memorial will ,e the center and rallying point for Masons of the United States and of Ill the other countries. One of the most prized of the relics is the trowel Ised by General Washington Septem- )er IS, 1795. to lay the cornerstone of he capitol of the United States at D. c. Another priceless possession of the Alexandria lodge o be housed in the memorial is the Williams portrait of Washington, In 1794-the truest likeness If the Father of His Country In existence, for the artist was in- 'tructed to paint him as he is," which he u4d.
 A large delegation of Masons will ourney to Washington and Alexan- lria, to be present at the laying of he cornerstone of the Washington Memorial on November 1. The event without doubt will be one of the most in the history of the na- ional capital, city used to large and to momentous and inspiring scenes.