Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-18

The Washington Society of Alexan-
fria. named for the first President OF
he United States. which has been vir-
uallv out Of existence for more than a
';aif century. is to be revived by the cit
Ems Of Alexandria, This old society
nee numbered among its members
Many OF the founders and early leaders
VI the United States.
Al a meeting Saturday night. Just 1913
Years after the founding of the society,
10 prominent citizens took the first step
'Cward reviving the ancient organiZa-
ton. They gathered at GadSby'S Tav-
orn and went to the old Presbyterian
Meeting House. where they recalled the
i:fe Of George Washington and his as
sociationS in Alexandria.
The society has not funCtioned since
lS43 The history of the organization
from 1900 10 the time Of its decline
contains many references 10 the lead
.Iig men Of the Nation of that period.
This valuable historical data VIII be re-
stored and an effort will be made TO
bring the records up to date.
Founded in IS00.
The society was organized January
II 1900. few days following the death
:: the first President. William Fltz-
',vrh was chairman OF the organization
committee and John c. Herbert was
named secretary. Others who took part
:, Organizing the society we're: Col.
George Deneale, Col Charles Simms,
-honas Marshall. Rev James Muir,
y. Elisha C Dick. Jonathan Swift,
William Herbert. Roger West. Rev. VII
IN Maf.Nt Walter Jones, James
Keith. Rev. Thomas Davis. Thomas
7crter. Davsi Hoffman James Dunlap,
'ohn Marshall and Edgar Snowden,
William Flt2hugh. first president OF
ne society was one Of the famous men
=, Colonial and Revolutionary history.
George Deneale, another Of the found
*. was a colonel in the Revolution and
master OF The Alexandria Washington
odge O. MaSons, which ofhciated al
ho funeral Of George Washington.
Col Charles Simms was one o. Wash
.-gtoas pallbearerS.
Rev. James Muir was the Revolution
ary DAY pastor OF the Presbyterian
Meeting House. who, although Wash
lngton was not a member OF his flock
vas one OF Gen. Washington's closest
personal friends. and was the chaplain
Of the andria-Washington Lodge
81 MaSons and oticiated in that capac-
it, at the funeral of Gen. Washington.
Or. Elisha C Dick was one of three
physicians who attended Gen. Wash
ington in his dying moments and was a
past master of the Alexandria WASH
ington Lodge Of Masons. John c. Her
bert. secretary pro tenn, was grandson
OF the famous John Carlyle, quarter
master 10 Gen. Braddock in IT'S in the
French and Indian War He it was
who built the famous Carlyle House
one OF the most famous landmarks Of
15V,so Eo sc t1ari eI in
churchyard OF the old Presbyterian
Meeting House in Alexandria.
David Hoffman. another OF the
founders. was the first professor OF law
u the University Of Maryland, a very
distinguished man Of his time.
Key Was a Member.
Francis Scott Key. author OF THE
Star Spangled Banner" while not one
Of the organizers of the ancient So
ciety, became member few years
after its organization and was a MEM
Der up 10 the time of his death.
The meeting was arranged BY VIII
liam Buckrer McGroarty. authority on
Colonial ard Revolutionary history OF
Virginia. and Charles Callahan. pas,
grand master OF Masons Of Virginia
and author Of the book Washington
the Man and Mason
II was by accident that Mr.. Nc
Groartv discovered that such society
ever existed and he Immediately deiyed
into its history and made plans 10 re-
we the organization
Mr.. McGroariy. in his researches, dis
covered In the will Of Elizabeth Wash
trgton Of Hayheid. Va, placed on rec
ord IN Fairfax County. Va. in 1912, a
becuest 0. securities and cash to The
Washington Society OF Alexandria -
He vas much astonished 10 find that
absolutely nothing was known by any
OF those Of whom he made inquiry con-
cerning the identity or nature Of The
Washington Society Of Alexandria -
There was no written trace TO be
found Of such a society. no history
which contained record Of il and no