Evening star., 1932-05-12


4 i Watres, president of the mel
right: Another view of the par
to offer When this stage of the cere-
mony was concluded, the grand mas.
ters of the remaining States each de-
hvered message.
In the name of universal Masonry
dedicate this building to the memory
| grand master pronounced in conclusion
In his dedication grafton, Mr.. john
son compared the temple to the great
symbol Of light erected 1000 years age
in Egypt, pronouncing the structure "a
| Pharos to blaZon the light of Freema-
sonry to all the world"
| Before you stands a tangible SYM
Dol of intangible ideals" he said. This
! solemn ceremony of dedication is a
| proclamation to the world that millions
| of American FreemasonS are deter
mined to preserve in our civic struc-
ture those primary postulates basic IN
Masonry, basic in Washington's life
which are and must remain basic tr
our Government and in the lives OF its
citizens if our Nation, indeed our civi'
lization, is to endure"
| Reviews Masonic History.
Mr.. johnson reviewed Masonic his
| tory in this country, beginning with
! the opening Of the first lodge in Fred
| ericksburg, Va, on September l, 1852
| On November 4 of that year. its first
candidate. George Washington, was
made a Mason at the age of 20 years.
The following month he came into pos
| session of Mount Vernon and in the
next year he had been raised in rank
to the Sublime Degree OF Master Ma
| son.
From the day of his making to the
day of his death, Washington was
loyal and jealous Mason" Mr.. johnson
declared
washington would have been the
| grand master of Virginia, the speaker
said, had he not declined for the reason
| that he had not served as master OF q
| lodge at that time and Furthermore be-
(! cause his military duties precluded add
| ed responsibilities. Thrice, at least
he was proposed as general grand mas
| ter, an Office which has never existed
| but might have come into being II ne
had consented" johnson added.
| Mr.. johnson then traced the contln-
uance of FreemaSonry in Virginia and
the establishment of the Alexandria
| Lodge. No. 80, in which Washington
accepted honorary membership. On
April 80, 1789, while actually master
| of the Alexandria Lodge, Washington
was inaugurated President OF the
United States, taking the oath on the
Bible of st. Johns Lodge, No. l, OF New
York City.
States have been Masons, Mr.. johnson
said. 49, ,,,,.,
ington owed his greatness Of character
solely to Freemasonry" the speaker
added. "Naught but prejudice, how
ever. would deny the influence OF Free
masonry. Amazing, almost beyond De-
lief, is the exemplification of Washing
tons life of principles and teachings OF
our fraternity"
Doors Open to All.
| Johnson declared that widely her
aided biography of George Washington,
published within the past year, states
That in his time Freemasonry had al
ready begun its campaign against Ca
tholicism."
This statement is utterly false" he
declared. mo authoritative spokesman
of legitimate and recognized Symbolic
Freenasonry has ever engaged In a
Campaign against or antagonized any
religion. Freemasonry never has been
is not now and never will be party to
the reyiling of any faith, creed, theology
or method of worship.
This memorial, with its doors open
to all, symbolizes Freemasonry which
welcomes and bids Godspeed to all
who worship Him in spirit and in truth
by whatever name they call Him,
johnson continued.
"Freemasonry, however, is unalter-
ably and unequivocally opposed to az
tempts by any man or body OF men
any authority, civil or ecclesiastical
any organization, religious or bolsheVls-
| tic. to abate by one jot or little tht
rights of others to their own beliefs
to their own methods of manifeStine
their devotion to the Deity of theh
consciences.
IF within the power Of Freemason:
TO prevent it, no sect, atheistic, agnostiC
or supremely religious, will be permit
ted to dominate, dictate or control civi
government. FreemaSonry has never
attempted to do this, and would not i
it had the power"
Parade Drew Thousands.
Band concerts filled the interim be.
tween the close of the parade and tht
beginning of the dedication ceremony.
But 1t was the parade itself tina
focused mainly the attention OF thu
visitors who lined the route Of march OF
South Washington street, winding it.
way to King street and thence west fo
one mile to the temple.
Contrasting in striking fashion to thu
blue uniforms of the military detach
nents. the colorful regalia of the thou
sands of Masons, of all affiliated orders
struck the fancy of the crowds 1t re
Iuired an hour or more for the head
of the column to reach the official re
viewing stand near the temple. At tina
point, the grand marshal and other!
high in the ranks of Masonry quit tn,
ranks to review the passing divisions.
The parade line Of march was as fol
lows:
Dignitaries March.
Led by the Marine Band. a platoon O
Alexandra police and the two marshals
Gen. Lejeune and Mr.. Barrett, tn
parade swung into marching stride
The first division comprised the higl
dignitaries of the Masonic order. aug
, , mented by the DeMolay Band of Scran
] ton. Pa; the Boys Band of the Rich
mond Masonic Home. President Watre
of the Memorial Association was es
corted by Pennsylvania dignitarie.
Ranking Virginia Masons and tn
grand masters. Grand Lodge officer
and past grand masters of the 40 juris
dictions in the United States and thos
. ! Of Porto Rico and Canada made I'D tn
: rest Of the division.
!. Next followed approximately 500
sseu1ase - tne m1ntaxy DIVISION. th