Evening star., 1939-04-16

ton Of Virginia, April %, 1888, and
of which Gen. Washington became
the first worshipful master, and the
President of the United States on
April 80, 1789-just one year and two
days subsequent to the first date.
This lodge is now known as Alexan-
dria- Washington Lodge, No. %, and
thousands of tourists annually visit
its lodge room to see the Masonic
relics connected with the life Of the
first President.
Some folks do not look upon the
number "13" and the week day Fri
day" with favor and avoid both
when possible, feeling that they are
associated with i'll luck or failure,
or both. However, our fathers were
not so superstitious, as indicated by
the fact that they were willing to
start the Nation off with 13 States
and even to lay the corner stone OF
its national territory on a Friday the
day upon which the fifteenth day OF
April, 1791, happened to fall. 1t was
the second occasion upon which
lodge No. % was called upon to per-
form similar ceremony, the first
being the laying of the corner stone
Of Alexandria Academy.
There is not an abundance Of
literature extant regarding the lay
ing of the Districts corner stone,
and just what sort of day 1t was
can only be assumed. Evidently it
was a clear and pleasant April day,
such as We are accustomed to have
in this vicinity, for otherwise the
chronicler would likely have men,
toned it. Indeed, such is the atti-
tude of our visitors even today, for
If they should encounter, upon COM
ing here, one bad day in month,
they usually return home and speak
of the rotten weather they have in
Washington, where, as matter OF
Weather Bureau statistics. it is one
of the finest and most dependable
climates in the world.
Friend of Washington's.
DR.. Elish Cullen Dick, who was
worshipful master of the lodge, and
who officiated as such at the corner
stone laying, was close friend OF
President Washington, attending
him in his last illness, making ar
rangements for his burial and even
finally performing the interesting
ceremonies of the Masonic order at
mis- funeral.
Accompanying DR.. Dick to Jones
Point, upon this memorable occasion,
were, in addition to the officers OF
the lodge, the Mayor and Common
Council of Alexandria and a large
number of citizens and strangers"
A thoughtful writer who happened
to be present, contributed to a Phil
sdelphia paper what little mforma-
ton there is to be had regarding
this historic event.
After the corner stone was laid,
50 other stones were later placed IN
position along the boundary lines OF
the District, at an approximate dis
tance of one mile apart. A 40-mile
lane was also cleared of tree OBJ
structions on all four sides of the
surveyed territory-20 feet inside and
20 feet outside the line. AS all the
stones on the Virginia line were
dated "179l" it is evident that they
were placed during that year, and as
the Maryland stones are reported to
bear date of the following year, the
conclusion is reached that they were
not placed in position until 1892.
When the condition of land, at the
point where some particular stone
should be placed, was not suitable
for the purpose, perhaps being
marshy, or even-as it happened IN
one or two cases-covered with
water, the stone was either placed
forward or backward and the differ
ence in distance noted.
Retrocession.
AS you are no doubt aware, the
Independent City of Alexandria and
Arlington County, Va, was, until
1846, a part of the District Of Co.
tumbia. Prior to the retrocession,
which occurred during that year, all
that part of the District lying south
Of the Potomac was known as Alex
andria County, D. c., and, incl
dentally, any one born in that part
of Virginia between 1881 and 1916
when it was part of the District of
Columbia, was obviously born in the
District, and not in Virginia as Sc
frequently stated. However, while
Alexandria was in the District, it
had just as much franchise as we
have today and no more. True, they
had their own separate mayor, but
the National Government controlled
their finances and to an extent die
tated just what they could do and
what they could not do.
Alexandria was port of entry
prior to being merged into the Dis.
trict. It was very old town, anc
though originally known as Hunting
Greek Warehouse, its name was latel
changed to Bell Haven, even before
becoming Alexandria.
1t had enjoyed many privileges
which were taken away from it wher
1t became part of the District. In.
deed, few of the golden eggs it wa!
promised were ever laid, and If laid
according to its belief, went to thai
part Of the District of Columbis
north of the Potomac. Burdened with
a debt nearly reaching a millior
dollars, on the brink of bankruptcy
with its frequent appeals to Congress
for relief usually falling upon dea
ears, poor Alexandria was at las
forced to beg to be permitted agail
to become a part of Virginia, ant
Congress acquiesced, after the resi-
dents had voted 1853 for retrocessiol
and 222 against.
The death of President Lincoln
which also occurred on April is, 1