The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-02-21

more than fourteen years ago the sentiment sur
rounding the preservation of these memorabilia
WAS cryStall1zed in the desire for a permanent
memorial. The movement was started by Alex
anorla-Washington Lodge. 1t was taken up by the
masonic fraternity of the country and a national
association, known as the George Washington Ma
sonic National Memorial Association, came into
being. It's frs president was Thomas Shyrock.
VINO had been grand master of Maryland for thirty
TWO years. He remained president of the memorf-
al association until his death. The present presi-
dent is Louis A. Watres of Pennsylvania, and j..
Claude KEEPER, Washington, D. c., is secretary
and treasurer. For this great memorial 100000
is being subscribed. This will include an endow-
ment, the interest on which is to provide for up
keep for the centuries to come. There are now
about 100000 Freemasons in the United States,
belonging to 1900 blue lodges.
The edifce will be surrounded by a series of ar
tistically planted landscapes. 1t will be reached
by broad walks and stone steps ascending through
seven successive terraces.
The edifce will be $50 feet in width by 26O feet
in depth and of granite.
The very heart and center of the memorial will
be a great atrium, 70 feet wide and 100 feet deep,
in the arched recess of which will be set the me-
mortal itself, an imposing statue of George Wash
ington.
This spacious hall will rise to a height of "a
feet. ascending by a clerestory above the surround
ing portion of the building. 1t will be fanked by
great Ionic columns 40 feet high and surrounded
by a number Of rooms devoted to Masonic inter
ests. On the walls, mural paintings, executed by
some of the most famous artists Of the present
day, will be representative Of the life Of Washing
ton.
The entrance Of the building will be a stately
six-column portico of pure Doric design, contrast
ing Interestingly with the plain, unbroken side
walls Of the Masonic rooms. The memorial hall
will be reached through the portico by gradual
steps.
Rising above the memorial hall and forming a
second story of the tower will be the George
Washington Masonic Memorial Museum, 80 by rs
feet, with lofty ceiling and fine light. 1t will be
reached by both stairs and elevators. The third
level, which is above the museum, will be devoted
to a great Masonic library. Above this will be a
covered observation platform. The three levels
will be screened by stately colonnades, and rising
above the main hall each will be smaller than the
level beneath it.
There will be Incorporated In the building an ex-
act replica of the original room in which George
Washington occupied the chair as master. 1t will
be located in the southeast corner of the new me-
mortal building on the ground floor. Even the
wall paper used in the old lodge room where
George Washington sat as worshipful master, be-
ing reelected to the Office on st. Johns day, De
cember 81, 1888, will be faithfully reproduced.
There will be a states memorial room, where
every state in the Union, through its lodge, may
an exhibit, a tablet or some display charac-
teristic Of the Masonry of the state and also OF
Washington.
The building will contain many memorabilia In
timately associated with Washington. One OF the
priceless relics, a letter in his own hand, under
Of December %, 1888, from Mt. Vernon re-
reals the deep affection In which he cherished
ais brother Masons. The concluding paragraph
I shall always feel pleasure e when II i may "a sD Dd In
every act Of brothcrly Kindness to the members OF
t, being in great truth your anectionate brother.