Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-19
WASHINGTON RITES
SAVED BY MASONS
Funeral Procession Arranged
Despite Desire for Privacy.
Marched in Mud.
The funeral OF George Washington

The funeral OF George Washington
would have been an obscure event II it
had not been for the citizens of Alex
andria. according to members of the
recently revived Washington Society
and Charles H. Callahan. who conduct
ed An extensive research into this event
Washington's will had said: 1T is
my express desire that my corpse be
inferred in private manner, without
parade or funeral Grafton"
Mrs. Washington, however, placed the
arrangements in the hands of the Ma
sonic Lodge Of Alexandria. only making
the request that Col. Philip Marsteller
war comrade OF her husband. who was
not member OF the order. be one of
the pallbearers. Washington died on
December IA. 1899, at 1920 pm. and
the news was known in Alexandria In
an hour or two. The funeral was set
for four days later. The roads we're
knee-deep in mud Congress was in
session at Philadelphia. so there was
little prospect of any official delegation
from that body arriving in time.
Militia In Procession.
Besides the Masonic delegation there
were two companies OF militia. infantry
and artillery. These marched over the
muddy roads to Mount Vernon and
could not be held until 5 pm. There
were four clergymen--Rev. DR.. James
Muir. Thomas Davis and William Maj
fatt of Alexandria and Walter D. Add
son Of Oxon HILL Md.
The procession, as described By Mr.
Callahan. was as follows:
The troops. horses and foot.
The clergy.
The generals horse with saddle
holsters and pistols. led by two grooms
Cyrus and Wilson, in black.
The pallbearers. all officers OF the
Revolution, Coils. Charles Simms. Den
mis- Ramsay. William Payne, George
Gilpin. Philip Marsteller and Charles
Little.
The principal mourners. Mrs Stuart
Stuart. Miss Fairfax and Miss Denni-
son. Lord Fairfax and Ferdinando
Fairfax, Mr.. Law and Mr.. Peter, MFR
Lear and DR.. Craik
The city council Of Alexandria.
Alexandria Lodge Of Masons. with g.
members in line.
Procession Described.
The procession" says Mr.. Callahan.
HiOhC HOit Va liu!II VIC kFo4 lIIo 10 tliS
north ha-fa wall. then turning to the
right. they proceeded east to the walk.
which leads in southerly direction
along the side OF the hill in front of
the mansion. down to the tomb. where
the military escort halted end formed
lines on either side of the narrow ave-
nue.. Passing between the divided COL
umns. the bier bearing the encofined
Washington was placed at the door OF
the sepulchrc. Or. Dich and Rev
Thomas Davis. rector Of Christ Church
In Alexandria. took their stations at
its head. the mourning relatives at the
foot. and the fraternity in a circle
around the tomb. while the militia
took their stations along the hill back
OF the vault
Rev. DR. Davis broke the silence by
repeating from the sacred writings:
I am the resurrection and the life:
he that believeth in Me. though he
were dead. yet shall he live Then
with bowed and revcrent heads all
listened to the voice Of the prayer
DR.. Davis closed his burial service with
short address There was a pause.
and then the master Of the lodge per-
formed the mystic funeral rites O.
Masonry.
The evening was far advanced and
deep shadows fell upon the familiar
landscape around the beloved home OF
Washington before the lodge with its
military and civic escort took up the
lonely march OF seven miles over the
snow-c!ad hills Of Virginia back TO the
little town OF Alexandria"