220 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
220 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
SHORT TALK BULLETIN - Vol.X May, 1932 No.5
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DEDICATING THE WASHINGTON MASONIC MEMORIAL
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by: Unknown
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Freemasonry is the only Fraternal Order for which the United States
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George Washington Bicentennial Commission has set aside a whole week
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for participation in the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary
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of the birth of the First President.
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The week of May 7th to 14th inclusive will go down in Masonic history
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as the most impressive of all periods of Masonic celebration. The
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peak of the National Observance will be reached on May 12th, when the
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great George Washington National Memorial in Alexandria will be
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dedicated to Masonic use buy the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
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Every Freemason in the country is concerned, as every Grand
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Jurisdiction has contributed to the erection of this, the mightiest
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memorial ever erected by any man, by any order, people or nation.
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Begun twenty years ago with the simple idea of providing a fireproof
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repository for the priceless relics of Washington, the Freemason, in
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the possession of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, before long the
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plans changed, and the project was for a monument to George
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Washington the Mason, as well as for a fireproof structure to keep
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safe forever those objects which Mason and profane like hold in
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veneration. As time passed on and interest grew, the plans were
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again enlarged, so that the huge building which now towers four
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hundred feet above the surrounding country might be not only a
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Memorial to the man and the Mason, but a monument to Freemasonry.
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To this great undertaking the Grand Lodges of the United States
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pledged the Craft. As their representatives in the Memorial
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Association brought home reports of the progress of the work and the
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enlargement of the plans, the Craft enthusiastically backed up these
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pledges.
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The great structure is now much more than either monument or
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memorial. It is the living embodiment of the faith and patriotism
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and practice of Freemasonry; it is a demonstration both to the world
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at large and the world of the Craft, that fifty Grand Jurisdictions
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can labor unitedly to a common end. East, and West, North and South,
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have engaged in friendly rivalry to see which would soonest complete
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its per capita contributions.
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Written into the constitution of the association is the proviso that
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no contract for any work may be made until money to pay for it is
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actually in the treasury - hence this imposing pile of imperishable
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granite, its decorations, its lighting, its heating, the thirty-six
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acres of land on which it stands and its landscaping, are all paid
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for. Not a dollar of mortgage or indebtedness of any kind stands
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against this shrine of the ancient Craft.
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The exterior of the building is completed; the beacon light on top
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shines every night; the permanent roadway from King Street is
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finished; heating, ventilating, electrical wiring, lobbies and
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adjacent stairways and the auditorium are finished. But, much
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remains to be done inside and furnishings have yet to be bought and
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placed. It is not a complete and perfect whole which will be
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dedicated and consecrated to Masonic use on May 12th; the task is not
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yet finished. But the end is in sight. The last dollar of the four
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million required will be speedily raised, following the demonstration
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to the two hundred thousand Masons expected at the dedicatory
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exercises, of the magnificence of the structure and the sacredness of
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the trust to finish it immediately and completely,
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The influence of this monument cannot be estimated.
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Unlike many memorials, this will serve many practical purposes as
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well as those altruistic and patriotic. Lodges will meet in it.
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Ceremonial of all proper Masonic character will be held in it - have
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been held in it. Masonic bodies will travel long distances to
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perform some ritualistic observance within its portals. The nucleus
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of a magnificent Masonic Library is already in hand. Masonic leaders
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with vision of the future see the Memorial as a great center of
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Masonic learning; they envision it as a central source of Masonic
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light and knowledge, as well as shrine, a meeting place, a monument
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and a Memorial.
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It belongs to American Freemasonry; to every Craftsman of every
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lodge. On page 11 is a table showing (as of December, 1931), the
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contributions of the forty-nine Jurisdictions, and the relative
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standing of the several States. These figures are taken from the
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Masonic Reviews of J. Edward Allen, noted Masonic statistician, and
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Fraternal Correspondent of North Carolina.
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Plans for the dedication program contemplate a parade which will
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being at 9:30 o<>clock on the morning of May 12th, the ceremony of
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dedication to follow immediately after the parade has been dismissed.
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The dedication program will include an invocation by Bishop W.
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Betrand Stevens, of Los Angeles, a short address by the President of
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the Memorial Association, Past Grand Master Louis A. Watres, (Penn.)
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a special ceremony prepared for the occasion by the Grand Lodge of
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Virginia, an address by Past Grand Master Melvin M. Johnson, of
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Massachusetts, the principal speaker, and a benediction by Reverend
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Brother William J. Morton of Alexandria, Chaplain of the association.
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Two Masonic Glee Clubs will sing.
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The President of the United States will arrive at one o<>clock for the
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dedication exercises. He will be saluted with twenty-one guns from
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an Army Battery, and as the first gun is fired, the salute will be
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taken up by five Naval Vessels which will at that time in the harbor
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off Alexandria.
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The Secretary of the Navy has ordered the Frigate Constitution, <20>Old
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Ironsides,<2C> to Alexandria for all of <20>Masonic Week.<2E>
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An unusually complete outfit of loud speakers is being installed, so
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that, no matter how great the assemblage before the platform on which
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the dedication exercises take place, all may hear in comfort. The
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ceremonies will be broadcast over both the great national hook-ups.
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The parade will be both large and colorful. Many large delegations
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from Grand Lodges from all over the country will participate, and
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uniformed bodies of the Templars, Shrine and Grotto will take part.
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Many Masonic bands and the Army, Navy and Marine Bands will be in
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line, and forty-nine Grand Masters will first lead, then review the
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procession.
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The dedicatory exercises will be conducted by the Grand Lodge of
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Virginia, but all the Grand Masters will participate. The special
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ceremony arranged for this occasion includes individual responses
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from the Grand Masters of the thirteen original States of the Union,
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and the District of Columbia, and group responses from other Grand
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Masters.
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The gavel used at the laying of the corner stone of the United States
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Capitol will be in the hands of the Most worshipful Grand Master of
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Virginia. The Bible from Fredricksburg Lodge, on which Washington
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was obligated as an Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master
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Masons, will be present on this historic occasion, as will the Bible
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from St. John<68>s Lodge, of New York City, on which Washington took the
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oath of office when he became the first President of the united
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States. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts will bring to the
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dedication its famous urn, in which is a lock of Washington<6F>s hair.
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This urn, the handiwork of M.W. Paul Revere, is the most precious
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possession of the Grand Lodge of the Bay State, and is handed from
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Grand Master to Grand Master at the St. John<68>s Day Communication.
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The center of <20>Masonic Week,<2C> the very climax to the nation-wide
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celebration of the Bicentennial, this dedication of the Memorial
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carries in its train many other Masonic observances of noteworthy
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importance. These are, in brief:
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May 7 Saturday, (7:30 P.M.) - Special Communication, Harmony Lodge,
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No. 17, F.A.A.M. Lodge Room No. 1, Masonic Temple, 13th and New York,
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Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. Entered Apprentice Degree.
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May 8 Sunday, (9:30 A.M.) - Religious services, Kallipolis Grotto,
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M.O.V.P.E.R., Sylvan Theatre, Monument Grounds, Washington.
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May 9 Monday, (10 A.M.) - Annual meeting of the Masonic Service
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Association of the united States, Raleigh Hotel, Washington.
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May 9 Monday, (3 P.M.) - Special Communication of the Grand Lodge of
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Texas, in the Memorial at Alexandria, Va.
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May 9 Monday, (6 P.M.) - Annual Conference of the Grand Secretaries
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of the United States, Raleigh Hotel, Washington.
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May 9 Monday, (7 P.M.) - Annual conclave of the Grand Commandry of
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Knights Templar of the District of Columbia, Masonic Temple,
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Washington.
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May 10 Tuesday, (9:30) A.M.) - Annual Conference of Grand
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Masters of the United States, Willard Hotel, Washington, Dinner in
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the Evening.
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May 10 Tuesday, (8 P.M.) - Thirty-Second Degree, A.A.S.R.
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Scottish Rite Cathedral, 433 Third Street, N.W. Washington.
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May 11 Wednesday, (9 A.M.) - Annual Convention of the George
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Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, in Memorial at
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Alexandria.
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May 11 Wednesday, (1 P.M.) - Special Communication of King
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Solomon<EFBFBD>s Lodge, No. 31, F.A.A.M., Masonic Temple, Washington, Master
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Mason Degree.
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May 11 Wednesday, (7:30 P.M.) - Special Communication of the
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Grand Lodge of Missouri, in the Memorial at Alexandria.
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May 11 Wednesday, (7 P.M.) - Semi-Annual Communication of the
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Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Masonic Temple, Washington.
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May 12 Thursday, (9:30 A.M.) - Dedication of the George
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Washington Masonic National Memorial at Alexandria. Parade -
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Dedication immediately following parade.
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May 12 Thursday, (7:30 P.M.) Stated Communication of Alexandria-
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Washington Lodge, No.22, in the Memorial at Alexandria.
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May 12 Thursday, (8 P.<.) - Stated Communication of Temple-Noyes
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Lodge, No.32, F.A.A.M., Masonic Temple, Washington, Fellowcraft
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Degree.
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May 12 Thursday, (9 P.M.) - Reception and Ball, Willard Hotel,
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under Auspices of Circle Club, Washington.
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May 13 Friday, - Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights
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Templar of Virginia, in the Memorial at Alexandria.
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May 13 Friday, (10 A.M.) - Meeting of the Masonic Librarians and
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Students of the United States, in the Memorial at Alexandria.
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May 13 Friday, (8 P.M.) - Grand Chapter O.E.S., District of
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Columbia, Pageant, <20>Washington<6F>s Vision of a Triumphant Nation,<2C>
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Auditorium, Washington.
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May 13 Friday, (7:30 P.M.) - Banquet, National League of Masonic
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Clubs, Willard Hotel, Washington.
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May 11-14 - Annual Meeting of the National League of Masonic Clubs,
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in Washington. Saturday morning session in Memorial at Alexandria.
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May 14 Saturday, (all day) - Special Convocation of Mt. Vernon
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Chapter, No.3, R.A.M., of Washington, in Memorial at Alexandria,
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Royal Arch Degree.
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While Commanderies, Royal Arch Chapters, Eastern Star Chapters,
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Masonic Clubs, Librarians and Students, etc., all have a part in this
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week of Masonic celebration, the dedication of the Memorial is
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strictly and exclusively an Ancient Craft observance, except for the
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participation in the parade by allied Masonic Bodies. Planning for
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this celebration last year, the Memorial Association decided that
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while certain assistance from allied Masonic bodies would be gladly
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welcomed, the ceremonies should be wholly in the hands of the
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Freemasons of the United States who have erected the building, just
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as the dedication should be wholly in the hands of the Grand Lodge of
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Virginia, in which Jurisdiction the mighty Memorial is erected.
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Alexandria is but six miles by road or rail from the Nation<6F>s
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Capital. Alexandria is a small city, and will be taxed to its
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capacity during this week. The majority of delegates and visitors
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will live in Washington during that week; some will use their
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railroad cars as sleeping quarters.
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Transportation between the two cities is by bus, automobile, railroad
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and boat. The United States Government has just completed and opened
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to traffic the magnificent Memorial Highway, passing through
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Alexandria. The Washington end of this boulevard begins at the
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Memorial Bridge, due West of the Lincoln Memorial.
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Because of the enormous number of visitors expected, automobiles and
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buses will be barred from Alexandria after 9 o<>clock in the morning
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of May 12th. Twenty-five to fifty thousand automobiles, all trying
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to reach Alexandria at the same time, would jam even the new Memorial
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Boulevard, and there is no place in Alexandria to park so many cars,
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even if they could all arrive safely at the same time. Visitors to
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Alexandria on May 12th should plan to go from Washington by
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railroad; steam trains will leave all day long at five minute
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intervals. The railroad authorities promise ample accommodations, no
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matter how large the crowd.
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The dedication of the greatest Memorial ever erected to mortal man
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will write important Masonic history. All Masons who can make the
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trip will be present; for those who cannot participate in the flesh,
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the radio offers an opportunity to hear, and, thus. to be present in
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spirit while the ancient Craft, with solemn ceremony and joyful
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hearts, consecrates its wonderous Memorial to Washington the Mason,
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and to Freemasonry.
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