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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1922)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAOT, JTTLT 9, 1922 MASONS' MEMORIAL TO GRANDEST MASTER--WASHINGTON Marble and Bronze Will Perpetuate, in Stately Splendor, the Deeds of the Father of His Country Members of the Craft Raise Tribute to Their Greatest Brother and His Activities in the Fraternity - i ; -. ... ' ,:N Iff -k , - -v V I 1 " - , iff'", I I ' u f'f r v . I if ' 'vi'VJi4- ' I ill ; V! f- kXiiii if: lit : i r ci - I I - ! If It i I s Locking out (hrovgh the entrance portico of the memorial. BY HAMILTON WRIGHT. ON FEBRUARY 22,. 1822,' the 190th anniversary c the birth of George Washington, news iraa. flashed from Washington that the Masonic orders ef the United Statea h1 aeeepieJ plans for a magnificent .memorial edifice to be constructed under the direction ef the Georg Wa&hinffton &8&&Ble ffatleaat Me morial association fit Alexandria. Vs., and involving an outlay et $,000,000,, The important, details ef these plans have now beoosne .available. There has also developed In connection with the movement for the. memorial which has been under wayfor more than 12 years it sequential narrative embracing histori cal, details of George Waahinjton life in the region in which the memoral building Is to be constructed. In this work Aiexari dria lodge, No, 23, F, and A. M which was lodge No. S9 In Washington s time, has been foremost. The lodge hag, more ever, a priceless eelleetion of relies asso ciated with George Washington's eareer, and also a number ef personal possessions which were treasured by him. These historical incidents, the descrip tion of some of the relics, as well as the details of the Geerge Washington Masonic national memorial itself, blend Into a (single story. The local traditions ef Wash ington in this region and the relies eon-, slitute a part of the atmosphere with which the imposing memorial to the father of his country will be Invested, After Washington's death numerous relics, many of which have been associ ated with his Masonic life, passed into the possessfon of the lodge to which he belonged. Such was his Masonic apron worn by the general when master, and at the laying of the cornerstone of the nation's capitol. These memorabilia were carefully treasured by the lodg and con Btituted one of'the Important nuelei which helped to keep alive many Intimate anec dotes of the life ef the great adminis trator. More than 12 years ago the sentiment eurrounding the preservation ef these me morabilia and arising frem the peculiarly intimate nature of the traditions ef Wash ington In this regon, where he had pasted bo large a part of hla youth, were crys tallized in the desire for a permanent memorial. , The movement was started by Alesan-dria-Washington lodge. It was taken up by the Masonio fraternity of the country, and a national association, known ai the George Washington Masonio National Me morial association, came Into being. Its first president was Thomas Shyrook, whe tad been grand master of Maryland for 82 years. He remained president ef the memorial association until his death. The present officers of the association are; Louis A, Watres of Pennsylvania, presi dent; directors, including Mr, Watres, Melvin, N. Johnsoti, Massaohusetts; W, L, Daniels, New Jersey; W, S, Farmer, New York; George L. Schoonover, Iowa; Wal-. ter L. Stockwell, North Dakota; Andrew L. Randall, Texas; Charles O, Homer, Maryland; George M. Napier, Georgia; secretary-treasurer, J. Claude Keifer, The enthusiasm with which' the move ment has been received and. the Bolieiteua care with which the plant for the memo rial have been perfected give assuranea that In the historlo community ef Alexan dria, rich with the most Intimate asso ciations oi Washington, the Masenie orders will erect for the benefit of pos terity a memorial worthy ot the reverence with which Washington It held, ef the hallowed traditions ef a century gene and of the fond memories which gather around him and his neighbors, This pur pose will be evidenced in many ways, The George Washington Masenie na-i tlonal memorial Is primarily a memorial to George Washington, the man and. the Mason. Its form It Inspired! by the great towers built In the ancient days ef Greece end Rome to mark the entrances to the harbors, and from whose summits ever burning flares that could be seen fer miles at sea guided the mariner on his way, The very heart and center of the build? Ins will be a great atrium, 70. feet wide and 100 feet deep, which will form the memorial hall already referred to, in an arched recess of which will be set the memorial itself, an imposing statue of George Washington. This spacious hall will rise to a height of 64 feet, ascending by a clerestory above the surrounding portion of the building. It will be flnaked by great Ionic columns 40 feet high and .surrounded by a number of roomsdevoted to Masonic interests. Clerestory lights above the roofs of these environing rooms Another view of will admit the light ef day Into the main memorial hall. The entranee of the building will be expressed In a sia-column. portico ef pure Greek Doric, design, contrasting interest ingly with the plain unbroken aide walla of the Masonic reoma, The memorial ball will be reached through the portico by gradual steps, Frem behind these mighty -fluted eelumna aa he prepares to leave the building the visiter will behold the country spread for miles in a panorama beneath him, Rising above the imposing memerifcl hall and forming a teeond tory of the tower will be a museum room to house the many memorabilia ef Washington and his time, including the interesting relies eon-' nected with Washington's service at mas ter of Alexandria-Washington lodge, The George Washington Masonio Memorial museum will be 50 by 76 feet, with lofty ceiling and fine- light. It will be reached by both stairs and elevators, The third level, which ia abeve the museum, will be for future assignment, ' Above this will be a eevered observa tion platform, The tbree .levels wi?l be screened by stately colonnades, and rising above the main hall each will be smaller than tl)e level beneath it, These four elements will farm the huge tower inspired by toe classie tewers that guided the mariners ef eld. The -broad steps and grassy terraces adorned with shrubs will add te the imposing and beau tiful effeet of the memorial building. From a distance the monument will be geen, therefore, as a massive and lofty tower rising from a terraced, verdure-clad base on the summit ef a commanding emi nence. The tewer er upper portion of the monument will be clearly . visible frein Washington, d, G., while at a distance ef several miles even the lever parties eea- " j .v, --.,...,,- ; 1 i-,,.,,. .I..H..I..- .i.--'- 1 l. ' " " ' ' 'J , -r s. --"m tx-- t'i-.JK , !f!iii?f'5J' frSh Iff flue, j! Wi I WA p ' ' r XLjJx-' X,-''Z,. Jilted, m ' ' W-V-x- 51 J nenar o itfemarurf Hatl, a part of ' - i 71jJ " fc "I rfce nemoriaZaf Alexandria. ' L "4" I t-iL ' taining the great memorial hall will stand cut prominently. Scarcely less valuable than the memo rial itself in the perpetuation of Wash ington's memory is the old colonial town of Alexandria, which has preserved much of the quaint appearance that character ised H In Washington's day. This city of the"future memorial edifice Is located on the west branch of the Po tomac river, six miles south of Washing ton, D. C. It is one of the oldest cities in Virginia, having receved its charter in 1749. For more than half a eentury it was the county seat of Fairfax county, in which Mount Vernon is located. Among its trustees in Washington's day were many of his friends and relatives, includ ing Thomas Lord Fairfax, by whom, in 1749, Washington, then a youth, was engaged as a surveyor; William Fairfax, at whose home, Belvoir, Washington lived while pursuing his studies; Lawrence the $2,000,000 temple as it will appear Washington, his halt brother, and John Carlyle and others, Washington himself became a member of the town council in 1766 and served until 1779, when the city was Incorporated. George Washington surveyed Alexan dria's streets and founded and endowed its first free school. This was the Alex andria academy, the first permanent tree school in Virginia. The building in whloh it was established is still occupied as a public school. The direction ot the academy was placed under a board ot trustees and General Washington's cor respondence with them is a part ot the publio school records of the city, The . general guaranteed a yearly payment of 50 pounds sterling, a much larger sum in those days than now, to maintain the school for the children ot indigent par ents. The endowment wat suff latent to add to the yearly income after Washing ton's death. In this old building General Robert 3. Lee, who became commander-in-chief of the Confederate forces, re ceived his primary education, . It was years later, in 1779, that Christ church, in Alexandria; was completed. Bhortly thereafter General Washington purchased a pew in the ehureh at the round figure of 88 pounds and 10 shill ings, and he became a .regular attendant when in Alexandria, This eld ehureh still stands in the heart of the little old colo nial city, The pew eecupied by Washing ton and, now marked with his name has been restored te its original design. An-r pther pew bears the name of General Robert E. Lee, who was confirmed into the Episcopal church ia this edifice in .1858. On the vestry register are te be found many names famous in colonial history, The memorial will be set ' upen the commanding Arlington ridge, rising 860 ill liv ; Kii - --xj: when finished. feet above its surrounding pediments. It will be in plain view of Washington, D. C. It will be passed by all who travel be tween the city of Washington and George Washington's old home at Mount Vernon. The edifice itself will be surrounded by a series.of artistically planted landscapes. It will be reached by broad walks and stone steps ascending through seven suc cessive terraces. From the topmost colon naded tower of tbe memorial visitors will view over an expanse of many miles the region in which the Immortal Washington passed a great part of his life. As readers will recall, the National cemetery at Ar lington is also situated on the beautiful Arlington ridge. " The dimensions ef the edifice over all will be 160 feet in width by 230 feet in depth. This is exclusive of the steps, terraces and approaches which it will sur mount, but which from afar will be seen as a part of a stately and beautiful archi tectural scheme. Its height to the summit" of the covered observation platform crowning the tower, will be 200 feet. General Washington maintained a town office in Alexandria, which was torn down in 1857. But the Cltyhotel, for merly Gadsby's tavern, still stahds. While quartered in th older of the two build ings comprising the City hotel, Washing ton, in 1754, recruited his first command. From there he began his march which resulted In the battle of Great Meadows. A year later he received his commission as major under Braddock, the English general, and there he first announced his espousal of the cause of the colonies. In 1789, when starting te his first Inaugura tion, he delivered a farewell address to bis neighbors from the steps of this build ing. Shortly before he did so he reviewed the local t?oeps, ' But the tavern was net aiena tie' start- George Washington national Masonic memorial at Alexandria, Va. ing place for wars or great events, for in its handsome ballroom on the second floor George and Martha Washington trod to the measures ot many a stately colonial dance. ' Indeed, it was in Alexandria that Wash ington cast his last vote, and there- on January 20, 1800, Colonel George Den eale, master of the Masonic lodge and clerk of the court, recorded his will. It has been -the great pride of Alexandria-Washington lodge to have assembled BOmany mementoes of the public and private life of the first president." And by inheritance, tradition and affiliation it is peculiarly equipped to have inaugu rated the movement for the memorial. General Washington's fondness for the lodge and the Masonic order undoubtedly' had inipelled his widow, shortly after his death, to present to the lodge the old clock that had stood in his bed chamber. At the time he died one of the attending physicians, General Elisha Cullen Dick, who was master of the lodge, cut the pen dulum and stopped the old timepiece for ever. Its hands still point to the minute and LOCAL SCHOOL LEADS ALL AMERICA (Continued From Page 2.) moved and the boys taught to make their own calculations. For example: -On a lathe with an eight-thread-per-inch-lead screw, to produce a four-thread-per-lnch screw the cutting tool must travel twice as far at each revolution as the lead screw! To produce a 16-thread to the inch, the tool must travel halt as far at each revolution as the lead screw. "If you are chasing a thread the same pitch as the lead screw, the work and the lead screw make the same number of revolutions. If you are chasing a thread any other pitch, you must gear accord ingly. The students are taught to make many other calculations along these lines tor milling machines, grinding machines and for machinery that produces finer grades of work. . "To have a course In foundry practice in cast-iron only is a mistake because of the fact that cast-steel is being specified more and more and fast taking the place of drop forgings and cast iron. Ben son's foundry is up to date with a three ton cupola and the boys are taught metal lurgy from a standpoint of foundry prac tice. They are shown that smelting is a chemieal action of heat and fluxes that refine 'the Iron, and are taught to pro duce the, different grades ot gray iron, east steel, brass, bronze and many of the Birdseye view of the national Masonio memorial. hoar that marked the close of that inspir ing life. General Washington became a first or charter member of Alexandria lodge in 1778, shortly after the application for a charter had been made to the grand lodge of Virginia, Upon the walls ot the lodge still hangs the document containing hts name, Bigned by Edmund Randolph, gov ernor of Virginia, He served as master tor 20 months, being re-elected to succeed himself. But for years prior to that time he had been associated with the lodge and had been elected an honorary member shortly after his return from the revolu tion, when the lodge was within the Juris diction of the provincial grand lodge of Pennsylvania. One of the prioelea relies of the first president, a letter in his own hand, under date of Deoember 28, 1778, from Mount Vernon, reveals the deep affection in which he cherished his brother Masons. The concluding para graph of the letter reveals this spirit of love and desire for service: "I shall al ways feel pleasure when it may be In my power to render service to lodge No. 89, and In every act of brotherly kindness to the members of it, being In great truth your affectionate brother." The friendship existing between Wash ington and the older residents of Alexan dria was life long. From 1765 until the Incorporation of Alexandria in 1779 he had served as a member ot the famous town council of the village. As he grew in public reputation and experience his obligations to the colonies constantly in creased. But despite the historic and momentous nature of the events into which Washing ton was drawn and in whose direction he was foremost, he ever maintained, with that fidelity which was characteristic of his life, the contacts and associations of his earlier years. Upon the conclusion ot his active service to the nation he was happy in resuming many of his earlier associations. alloys that are used in the industries in a practical way." Leaders in industry, pacemakers in the trades, experts able to cope with the most intricate of problems, the Benson record Is becoming a proud one and the fame of the school carries Portland along with it. A consistent flow of successful gradu ates forces recognition of the school in a national way, no other establishment can duplicate It. A success? Yes, a marvel ous one, an encouraging possibility for . the boy who wants to perfect himself as a tradesman or enter a mechanical pro fession. Contrast this modern method of making mechanics with the old shop sys tem of apprenticeship where the boy was usually made into a machine capable of doing only one thing, not an all-round mechanic but a one-motion specialist. In soldier rehabilitation Benson can train men at approximately one - eighth he cost of other northwest schools and train them better, the school board claims. Many a professional man can be found In the night classes studying some fascinating angle of a favorite trade, and many mechanics come here and take up some puzzling phase of their work. NTow, after digesting some of the facts about Benson, the local resident can get some Idea of the reason why the young gradu ates step forth and often 'jeat the old master mechanic at his own game.