Evening star., 1932-09-15
MASONIC ANTIQUES
TO Be BROUGHT FOR
CAPITOL Ceremony
Masons Will Use Cherished
Possessions of Washington
and Nearby Lodges.
MEMBERSHIP WILL WEAR
GAY COLONIAL COSTUMES
Re-enactment of Corner Stone Lay
ing Will Be Held Saturday
Following Parade.

Masonic relics that harken back 139
years, to the time when George WASH
ington laid the corner stone CT the
United States Capitol, will be brought
forth from their display cases in the
oldest locges in the washington area
Saturday to take part in a re-enact-
ment of the ceremonies OF Septem-
her 18, 1898.
Eighteenth Century Brilliance.
Furnished to their eighteenth cen
tury brilliance, the silver trowel, the
marble gavel. the square, level, the
apron and sash that the first Presl-
dent used will be welded by high dig
nitaries of the present-day Masonic
fraternity.
The relics are among the cherished
possessions of the lodges OF WaShmg-
TONS day which have continued in eX-
istence until today Their members
mony incident to the re-enactment OF
the corner stone laying, which IS being
made a part of the George Washington
Bicenterr1ial observance in the Capital
Rugged out in the MASONIC regaha,
members of the fraternity Will portray
anew George Washington's journey
from Mount Vernon TO the banks OF
the Potomac, where, arrayed in Colonial
costumes. they will bsg!n the march
to Capitol Hill.
Saturday Selected.
Although the actual anniversary date
falls on Sunday, the MaSonS selected
Saturday for their re-enactment cere-
monies. This date is also the ami
versary of the signing Of the Constltu-
ton of the United States and OF Wash
ington's farewell address.
Seeking to make the festivities Satur-
day as nearly authentic as possible, Brig.
Gen Amos A. Fries, chairman OF the
celebration, has conducted extensive re-
search. The parts of George Washing
ton will be taken by two men-Tefft
johnson of the United States George
washington Bicentennial Commission,
who has assumed the role on the stage
many times under David BelaSco and
others. and A. Ernest Tate of the local
Masonic order. Mr.. Johnson will take
the part in the parade and other cere-
monies preliminary to the corner stone
relaying, but because he is not Mason,
he will relinQuish the role as the mo-
ment arrives for the actual task of set
ting the stone.
History Of Capitol.
Gen. Fries has made public accounts
of the beginning OF the Capitol Build
ing.
Contemporaneous accounts described
as "one of the grandest Masonic pro-
cessionS' Washington's suite, travel
ing in splendor from Mount Vernon. 1t
was met ''on the southern banks of the
grand river Potomac" by 'one of the
finest companies of volunteer artillery
that has been lately seen." The Masons
were wearing "all their elegant badges
and clothing" The President was pre-
ceded by a band of music" The pro-
cession took place amidst brilliant
crowd Of spectators of both sexes"
Plans have been completed to dupli-
cate all the definite description of the
old annals-Masons marching in open
lodges" with aprons, ibles, candles and
charters; Colonial, military, civic and
patriotic groups participating, and for
the finest artillery" the White Horse
Battery, commanded by Capt. Frost.
Capital Plaza Chosen.
The Capital Plaza has been chosen
for the chief ceremonies, the stone
Washington laid, and from which his
historic gavel was Clipped, being now
secluded by steps.
1t was located at the southeast cor
ner Of the old Senate wing, now near
the center of the building.
The four lodges which took part In
the original ceremonies, and which are
still in existence, have their locale in
Georgetown, Washington proper, Alex
andria and Fredericksburg. The George
town lodge owns the gavel, the Alex
andria group, of which Washington was
master, has the other cornerstone lay
ing relics; while Fredericksburg still
boasts the Bible used in his initiation.
1t also will be loaned for the celebration.