The Washington times., 1923-11-01
MEMORIAL WILL
TELL Of POWER
Of MASONS
History Shows George Wash-
ington. Was One of Leaders
Of Freemasonry of Day:

The student of Masonic history
must acknowledge that George
Washington was the most revered
Freemason Of his day. Masonic
constitutions were dedicated to him;
lodges were named in his honor
and wherever he journeyed, whether
in a private or public capacity.
distinguished consideration was &C.
corded him by the most eminent
leaders Of the fraternity acting In
their capacity as such, and by the
grand and subordinate lodges from
the Canadian border to the southern
limits of this nation.
This feeling, 1t must be remen1-
bered, prevailed at a time when
nearly all his renowned contempo-
raries were Jealous and active work
ers in the cause o. the institution,
at time when such men as Paul
Revere, of Massachusetts,; Gen.
John Sullivan, of New Hampshire;
Robert Livingston and Gen. Jacob
Morton, Of New York; James Mill.
inor, Of Pennsylvania; Edmund
Randolph and John Marshall, of
Virginia; Gems. Henry Richardson
Davies and Richard Caswell, of
North Carolina; Gen.. Modica Gist,
of South Carolina: Con. James Jack
son, of Georgia, and others Of their
type, as grand masters of their
respective jurisdictions, wore direct
ing the affairs end shaping the
destinies Of the fraternity in
America.
Declined High Office.
Washington was selected as the
first grand master Of Masons in
Virginia upon the Organization of
that grand lodge in 177S, but he
declined the important office" be-
cause of duties in the tented
field" When the subject Of or
ganizing a general grand lodge was
proposed during the revolution, his
was the only name considered for
the exalted station of general grand
master. Upon his death not only
did the MsSonic bodies in the
United States drape their temples
and rooms in mourning, but those
of Canada and even England also
put on this symbol Of grief as a
token Of respect for their most
illustrious brother"
For a hundred years we have
carelessly guarded our rights. We
have permitted with only feeble |
opposition, and that In a sporadic
and individual sense, the discrim-
iuation Of libelous propaganda, the
object OF which was and still is
pervert the great truths OF Ma
sonic history and to cloud in doubt |
he fealty of it's most illustrous
yotaries. It has been persistently |
stated az different periods that
Washington, Marshall Clinton, |
Jackson, Randolph and others either |
openly renourced Masonry or were
not members of the fraternity at
all.
win Typify Masonry.
The covert object of all such
claims-which have been disprovcd |
in every case-nust be obvious to |
every thoughtful member Of the craft |
and should be rebuked by the whole |
institution In the most convincing |
and determined manner possible. |
But, let It oe done in a way con-
sistent with the dignity and high |
purpose Of our venerated fraternity. |
NIL ny HI0lSCECGI N1LupeTdClOO
through the public press or boast |
full claims to superiority from the |
rostrum, but by the more endur-
ing and effective process of sym.
boliZing in granite and in marble |
7 he achievements OF the great mas
er builders Of the fraternity for
he welfare and the happiness Of all |
mankind.
The memorial of Washington in |
its colossal form will typify the |
power and strength of Masonry, in |
It's graceful outlines and proper |
ions 1t will symbolic the beauti- |
FIJI tenets of our institution, but |
above 1t all it will express the un |
feigned loyalty and devotion OF
the American Mason to the" ideals |
If Washington and his Masonic |
rompatriots.