Evening star., 1933-02-19


handed to President Roosevelt for his 1nEpec-
tion the gavel that was used by Washington
and the Bible that was used by Freder1ckA
burg Lodge, No. 4, of Virginia, when President
Washington became a member of the ira
ternity. The President turned over the pages
of the venerable and sacred book and expressed
his satisfaction"
His speech was brief but conveyed mach
food for thought. He said:
"I have but a word to say to you, and that
word must always be appreciated in any Ma
sonic meeting where the name of Washington
Is mentioned. ask of each Mason, of each
member Of each brother, that he shall remem-
Der ever that there Is upon him peculiar OBJ
legation to show himself in every respect good
citizen; for after all, the way in which he can
best do his duty by the ancient order to which
he belongs is by rejecting credit upon that
order by the way in which he performs has
duty as citizen of the United States.
Let me also point out that it is well not
to wait for times of unusual crises before you
become q good citizen. We are all Of US aware
Of the temptation to think what a splendid and
heroic part, we would play if the times de-
manded it, while at the same time it Is not
always easy to do the work-a-day, hunndrum
duties of the moment
II remember down in the village where i've
there was very decent, but rather dreamy
young fellow, little bit apt to spend his time
in thinking Of how exceedingly well he could
have led his life under other conditions His
mother was very hard-working woman, and
one day he was reading in the paper an &C.
count of fire in New York and the heroic
deed OF q fireman in rescuing certain people
from that burning building. His mother was
very busy about the roomA. Pretty soon he put
down the paper and said with sigh: oh! but
I would like to rescue somebody from burn
ing building! His mother answered: Wen,
I'll tell you. This building amt on fire. but
If you will get in the kindling wood I'll be
obliged to you"
Previous to this President Theodore Roosevelt
participated in the laying of the corner stone
of the House Ofice Building, April H. 1906.
Vice President Charles w. Fairbanks and the
Speaker OF the House of Representatives, j. q.
Cannon, were also among the distinguished
guests. It was upon this occasion that the
distinguished Teddy" delivered his celebrated
address, 1.-THE Man With the Muck Rake"
IA LILLIAN HOWARD TAFT, when Presi-
w dent-elect, received all three Masonic de-
grees in one day in Kilwinning Lodge No. 385,
Cincinnati, Ohio on February 18, 1909, Grand
Master Charles S. HoskinSon of Ohio being
present and exercising his prerogative of max
ing Mason at sight. This should not be con-
strued into the belief that Mr. Taft was made
Mason by merely saying so many words; but
it does mean, in this case, that the ceremony
was shortened SO that the President could take
all his degrees on one occasion.
Few men were ever loved and respected more
by members Of the Masonic fraternity than
was Warren G.. Harding-a man of tender af-
fections and sympathies a man greatly i'm
posed upon by his friends; q man unjustly
abused and malgned, seemingly alone for mer-
cenary purposes.
The writer is sorry he cannot record here
In detail speech he heard few years after
Mr.. Hardings death at a banquet of the So
ciety Of Natives of this city The Hon. Brooks
Fletcher, a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives from the eighth Ohio district, was
the speaker for the occasion. He was Demo-
crat, and the editor of Democratic newspaper
In Marion Ohio, the city where Mr. Harding
lived SO many years and conducted and edited
a rival political newspaper-the Marion Sta