Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-02-14

More than fourteen years ago the sentiment sur
rounding the preservation of these memorabilia
was crystallized in the desire for a permanent
memorial. The movement was started by Alex
y Washington Lodge 1t was taken up by the
Masonic fraternity Of the country and national
association, known the George Washington Ma
sonic National Memorial Association, came into
being. Its frs- president was Thomas Shyrock,
who had been grand master of Maryland for thirty
two years. He remained president of the memori-
al association until his death. The present presi-
dent lis 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 series of ar
tistically planted landscapes. It will be reached
by broad walks and stone steps ascending through
seven successive terraces.
The edifice will be $50 feet in width by 260 feet
in depth and Of granite
The very heart and center Of the memorial will.
be- great atriu1n 20 feet wide and 100 feet deep.
in the archei recess of which will be set the me-
mortal itself, imposing statue of George Wash
ington.
This spacious hall will rise to height Of GA
feet, ascending by clerestory above the surrounds
ing portion of the building. It will be flanked by
great Ionic columns 40 feet high and surrounded
by 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 theIlfe Of Washing
ton.
The entrance of the building will be a. stately
sixcolumn 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
second story Of the tower will be the George
Washington Masonic Memorial Museum, so by IS
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 great Masonic library. Above this will be
covered observation platform. The three levels
will be screened by stately coonnades, 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 me-
mortal building the ground floor. Even the
wall paper used in the old lodge room where
George washington sat as worshpfu master, be-
ing reelected to the office st. Johns day. De-
cember 27, 1888, will be faithfully reproduced
There will be states memorial room, where
every state in the Union, through its lodge. may
have an exhibit tablet 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
date of December %, 1888, from Mt. Vernon re-
veals the deep affection In which he cherished
his brother Masons. The concluding paragraph
reads:
shall always feel pleasure when 1t may be IN
my power render service to Lodge No. 39 and IN
every of brothe"ly kindness to the members OF
It, being in great truth your affectonate brother.