Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
'MASONS PREPARE
FOR DEDICATION.
100000 Expected at Cere-
monies at Washington Me-
mortal at Alexandria, Va.

Preparing for the caravans of Masons
expected to converge on Alexandria, va,
May 10, for dedication of the George
Washington Masonic National Memorial,
j. Claude KEEPER, secretary of the
Executive Committee of the Memorial
Association, has appointed d. d. 1sbell
as chairman of the Transportation Com
mittee and Augustus Gumpert as chair
man of the Housing Committee, to
handle the throngs.
Steady progress has been made on the
memorial in preparation for the dedi-
cation. It's exterior and ground will be
virtually completed. but the interior
ty.u still lack several features to be IN
sailed and finished after dedication.
Numerous special trains. excursions,
bus caravans and private motor caval-
cades are expected. Already special re-
duced fares are being offered from one
section of the country, similar cut rates
are expected from others and numerous
one and two day excursions are being
planned from all parts OF the East.
Expect Crowd Of 100000.
Estimates of the crowd expected for
the dedication vary. but run up to as
high as 100000 1t was recalled that
throng of about $4,000 turned out for
the laying of the cornerstone in 1873.
on several times that number for the
dedication.
Mr.. Isbell is well qualified as chair
man of the Transportation Committee,
since he is with the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
ldfwt1 jj$I,vb :.
A representative Of one OF the
Southeastern roads recently told Mr..
KEEPER the roads in that section would
al 20 ~ fare
plus only one dollar for the round trip.
II is understood that application will
be made to passenger associations OF
the United States and Canada for q
similar rate.
Plan Special Excursions.
Many roads also are making ar
rangements, Mr.. KEEPER said, for spe-
cial excursions of one and two days at
even more reasonable rates. Special
trains are being arranged already. AS
far back as last year an organization
of Masons in Oakland. Calf, promised
there would be a special train from
that section of the country.
Mr.. Gumpert, chairman of the Hous-
ing Committee, is director of the Wash
ington Convention Bureau. Already he
is receiving applications from Masons
at a distance for housing accommoda-
tons Mr.. Gurnpert was manager OF
the old Ebbitt Hotel at Fourteenth and
r streets for 20 years. and is an ex-
perienced hotel man, well qualified, ac-
cording to MIR. KEEPER, for what will
be a big job Of housing the visiting
Masons.
The celebrations in connection with
the dedication will continue in reality
over a week, as several Masonic or
CARNATIONS are planning to hold their
meetings at the memorial The week
of May has been set aside BY the
Washington Bicentennial Commission
as Masonic week.
Many Conferences Planned.
Beginning May there will be con-
ferences and meetings of these or
CARNATIONS: Grand Masters Confer
ence, Grand Secretaries Conference,
Memorial Association, National League
of Masonic Clubs, Grand Conmandery
knights Templar of Virginia and the
Masonic Service Association Of the
United States.
The actual services of dedication on
May IL have not been arranged.
The contract for the electrical equip
ment for the memorial, including light
ing for the powerful airplane beacon on
top Of the tower, has been let to
Baldwin Stewart Co. of Hartford Conn.,,
in the sum of $4,000. It is expected
work will start in the next 10 days.
The electrical installation includes
also the chimes which were presented
by Col Louis A. Watres Of Scranton,
Pa, president of the George Washing
ton Masonic National Memorial Asso-
citation, Inc. The chimes are to be re-
moved from their temporary location
outside the building and viii be placed
inside near the top, just beneath the
pyramid, in ldcAtion from which they
NAV be heard much farther than they
now can be heard.
The auditorium walls will be finished
in ornamental plastering. trimmed in
marble, under cont'Ect Just awarded
to A. w. Lee of this city.
Statue Not Yet in Place.
The great memorial hall, which is
the main entry, will be partly finished