Evening star., 1932-05-12

conditions, however, the Alexandrians
faced the situation cheerfully.
Hundreds of top silk hats were ruined
by the rain which started early in the
morning and increased in intensity as
the parade began. Due to the strag-
Cling arrivals, Gen. Lejeune was forced
to wait a half-hour overtime, the parade
starting at 10 o'clock for its march of
mile to Shooters Hill.
Washington was expected to send its
full strength of 22,700 Masons of 48
lodges to Alexandria. But Grand
Master Reubin A. Bogley was unable
TO marshal the total membership.
Arrival Was Timely.
The arrival of President Hoover and
his party was timed with dramatic eff
feet to connect the ending of the ia
rade with the actual beginning of the
dedication ceremonies.
Six Marine buglers stationed in front
of the huge columns of the temple
sounded four quick hourishes at 1855
O'Clock. This was the signal for the
doors OF Memorial Hall to open Two
by two, the highest officers of the or
Ger marched down the center aisle OF
the main steps, bearing small model
OF the temple and symbols used in the
special ritual for the ceremony.
AS they took their places. another
flourish Of bugleS signaled the arrival
Of the presidential party. Instantly
the Marine Band struck up the strains
of the Presidents March" The sharp
boom OF cannon sounded ssimulta-
neously as a battery of the 18th Field
Artillery, stationed behind the memo
rial, started firing the presidential sa-
lutte of 2l guns. From the direction OF
the Potomac, guns aboard the historic
frigate Constitution echoed an answer
Likewise doomed the Saluting guns of
the five Coast Guard vessels docked
nearby.
Back of the audience of high officials
spread vast panorama of waving ban
ners and thousands of upturned faces
crowding the great open space about
Shooters Hill. Before them reared the
great height of the new temple of Free
masonry, "a tangible symbol of intan-
gible ideals"
Unusual precautions had been taken
by the Alexandria police last night to
guard the temple and the routes into
the city. All automobiles on the streets
marked mo parking" after 8. am. were
towed by police to the nearest garages
and towing charges placed against the
owners.
Three Post Grand Masters There.
The procession down the steps of the
temple was led by Grand Marshal
Barrett. 1t started Immediately after
the conclusion of a special communi
cation Of the Grand Lodge of Virginia,
attend only by the grand masters and
invited guests.
Conspicuous in the procession were
three past grand masters of Virginia,
carrying symbols of the ritual. First
came James H. Price, bearing a gold
pitcher containing corn. Next was E.
L. Cunningham, with the silver pitcher
of wine and John S. Bottimore bore
the silver pitcher containing oil.
Others in the procession included
the committees of the Fredericksburg,
Va. lodge, the mother lodge in the
United States; the Alexandria-Wash
ington Lodge of Virginia, the Potomac
Lodge of the District of Columbia, st.
Johns Lodge of New York City and
the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,.
These bore the historic Washington
relics which the new temple will house,
priceless associations of Washington's
membership in the Masonic order. The
Bible, Square and Compass, on GRIM
son cushion, were carried by past
grand master of Virginia, supported by
two deacons with their rods.
Next came the president and officers
of the George Washington National
Patriotic Association, followed by the
grand masters of jurisdictions other
than Virginia.
Right Rev. W. Bertrand Stevens,
Bishop of Los Angeles, delivered the
invocation at the ritual, and at the
close of the solemn ceremony, Rev. DR..
William j. Morton, rector Of Christ
Church, Alexandria, where Washington
worshiped, gave the benediction.
After the formal delivery Of the
Memorial, Grand Master Green OF Viz
ginia dedicated the structure.
Tribute to Washington.
As the solemn ritual continued, Mr..
Green pronounced: This building Is
not only dedicated to Masonry. Virtue
and Universal Benevolence. but to the
memory of Americas greatest son and
Masonry's brightest star-Washingto
Virginia honors him because he Is her
child, born on her soil and raised to
Masonic light in one of her lodges. We
present the Bible on which he was in
itiated, the charter of the lodge over
which he presided and the trowel used
by him in laying the corner stone Of
the nations Capitol.
But it is not for Virginia alone to
speak of the virtues of Washington.
From every corner Of our great land
we have those who have come to give
him honor"
Then, in turn, he called upon the
grand master of each Of the thirteen
original States to state what each had