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

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Moreover, Alexandria,, like Mount Vernon, is so
loosely associated with George Washington that
ne several memorials of the Potomac Valley seem
PARTS of d harmonious whole.
In the near future there will be six of these
Observation-Disclosures City itself; the Washing.
on Monument; Mount Vernon, with It's sacred
omb; the National Cathedral on Mount st. Alban.
which George Washington specifically provided for
n his directions to Major LEnfant when he and
he young French engineer laid out washington
n 1880; the George Washington National Audi
orium, Of which the foundations are completed.
md the George Washington National Masonic Me-
nor1al. Nowhere in the world is such a collection
If truly magnificent memorials to the memory of
| human being. And this $4,OOO,OOO Masonic Me-
norial is by no means the least of these. Here is
is purpose:
The George Washington Masonic National me-
ngton. the man and the Mason. 70 It's GeG fogm M is ih-
spired by the great towers built in the ancient
lays OF Greece and Rome to mark the entrances
30 their harbors and from whose SUBMITS perma-
At sea guided the mariner on his way. The great
!, ,fT large Of the the e,i memo sparit represents eF res mt to the world
manship and his revered precepts which for all
may direct it's course. ~
1t will be indeed a landmark and the good Amer
can may catch afar it's pharos glow. For it will
Use 200 feet high from Shooters Hill on the Ar
.ington Ridge. From a distance it will appear as
a massive and lofty tower rising from a terraced
u Nidu DdcC ilOlH It's lODI1OSI cOlO0n0Ga
he visitor may view the Potomac Valley from
Washington to Mount Vernon, in which Washington
passed most of his life. Indeed, the thirty-two
acres of its grounds were once owned by WASH
ington himself.
The corner stone of this Masonic Memorial and
shrine for American Freemasonry was laid last
fall. President Coolidge, though not a Mason,
spread the first mortar with the trowel used by
George Washington September Is, 1893, in laying
the corner stone of the capitol building at Wash
lngton. Members of the cabinet, official person
ages, Masonic dignitaries and an army of repre-
sentatives of Masonic organizations throughout
the country participated in elaborate ceremonies.
Rev. James Edward Freeman, Episcopal bishop
If Washington, delivered an eulogy to the nations
president
George Washington became a charter member
If Alexandria Lodge in 1778, shortly after the ap-
,lication for a charter had been made to the grand
odge In Virginia. Upon the walls of the lodge
IT'LL hangs the document containing his name,
igned by Edmund Randolph, governor of Virginia.
He served as master for twenty months, being
e-elected to succeed himself. But for years prior
that time he had been associated with the lodge
nd had been elected as honorary member shortly
fter his return from the Revolution, when the
odge was within the jurisdiction of the provincial
rand lodge of Pennsylvania.
After Washington's death numerous relics. many
f which have been associated with his Masonic
fe, passed into possession of the lodge.
II has been the great pride of the Alexandria
Lodge to have assembled so MANY me-
Ientoes Of the public and private life of the first
and by inheritance, tradition and afflia-
on it is peculiarly equipped to have inaugurated
lie movement for the memorial.
A disastrous fire, however, occurred in May,
in which were lost many valuable relics as
with the generals public career, with his
with notable men of the day and with
S family life.
Although Alexandria came into possession of the
forces during the Civil war, no article
as touched. For forty years thereafter the COL
elton was closed to the public. But in 1907 the
splay was placed under the custody of a member
the lodge and thrown open to the public. In
10 the city council Of Alexandria set apart the
tire third story Of the west wing of the city hall
the Alexandria, Washington Lodge Museum.