Alexandria Gazette

MONDAY
LOCAL MATTERS.
Sun rises tomorrow at 7:31 a.m. Sets at 4:43 p.m. High water at 3:22 a.m. and 3:55 p.m.
WEATHER PROBABILITIES.-For this district: Warmer at night; fresh to brisk southerly winds.
THE MASONS.
Next Thursday will mark the centennial of the death of George Washington, and the anniversary will be commemorated in a fitting way in all parts of the country. Arrangements for the observance of the day in Mount Vernon are completed and will be carried out according to the programme published in Saturday's Gazette. Many distinguished Masons from all parts of the country will be present and the occasion will be an epoch in Masonic history. As heretofore stated the Grand Lodge of Virginia, under whose auspices the observance of the centennial will be held, will meet in this city at the Opera House on Wednesday evening at six o'clock and after the session will be tendered a banquet at Armory Hall by the Masons of this city. The hall is now being beautifully decorated for the occasion under direction of Dr. Wm. M. Fuitr, chairman of the banquet committee, and the Opera House is being arranged for the meeting of the Grand Lodge. Already many Masons have arrived and one train will bring more. J. F. Pleasants, grand treasurer, and Dr. G. W. Carrington, grand secretary, have arrived and have rooms at the Opera House restaurant, convenient to the meeting place of the Grand Lodge. Grand Master Duke and the other grand officers are expected tonight or tomorrow. Senators Daniel and Martin are also expected to be present. On Thursday morning at 7:30 o'clock special services will be held at Christ Church-the old church which Washington attended. The descendants of the Washington family, a number of whom reside in this vicinity, have received special invitations to attend the ceremonies at Mt. Vernon. The grand working committee will meet in the commandery rooms in the Masonic Temple at 10 a. m., 2 p. m. and 7 p. m. on Tuesday, 12th inst., and at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. on Wednesday, 13th, for instruction. Alexandria-Washington Lodge will open at their lodge rooms on Thursday morning before proceeding to Mt. Vernon and will close on their return. The Grand Lodge will meet at the Opera House on Thursday morning previous to their trip to Mt. Vernon. The Masons of Washington and the representatives of the Grand Lodges who are in that city will meet at the Ebbitt House in that city on Thursday morning at 8:30 and march to the boat. The Grand Lodge of Virginia with the Alexandria and Fredericksburg lodges will form at the Opera House at 9:30 and will march to the steamboat wharf and embark for Mt. Vernon. On disembarking at Mount Vernon wharf, the procession will be formed in the following order: Third United States Cavalry band; Tiler of the Grand Lodge of Virginia; master Masons of the District of Columbia; visiting master Masons; master Masons of Virginia; Federal Lodge, No. 1, of Washington, D. C.; Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, of Fredericksburg, Va.; Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, of this city; grand masters, grand officers; grand representatives of jurisdictions outside of the District of Columbia; officers of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia; officers of the Grand Lodge of Virginia; Grand Master of Virginia. In procession, as thus formed, will then move way of the mansion, where the President of the United States will enter the column, when the line of the funeral procession of one hundred years ago will be followed. On arriving at the old vault, the ranks will be opened, facing inward, and the Grand Master of Virginia and invited guests- Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22; Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, and Federal Lodge No. 1-will pass between the ranks, which will then be closed. The Grand Master of Colorado will make his address from a platform at the old vault, after which the procession will then form, and the grand master of Virginia, grand officers and invited guests with the three lodges named, leading and proceed to the present tomb, the Grand Master of Virginia and other grand officers taking position in front of the tomb, as assigned by programme of the Grand Lodge of Virginia-Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22 on the right; Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, on the left, and Federal Lodge No. 1, in rear of Grand Master of Virginia. Ranks will again be opened, facing inward, and the master Masons in rear will then move forward between these ranks, thus reversing the column and will then move in a circle to the right around the tomb, enclosing the Masonic bodies above mentioned. After the ceremonies at the present tomb, the procession will again be formed, and proceed in the original order to the mansion, where the President of the United States will make an address, after introduction by the Grand Master of Virginia. Aides and assistant aides assigned for duty in Alexandria will report to grand marshal at headquarters in this city at 8:30 a. m., December 11. MEMORIAL WREATH.-During the Masonic services at Mount Vernon on Thursday, two wreaths of oak and evergreen-one in the shape of a square and compass-from Londesborough Park, East Yorkshire, Eng., will be placed at the tomb. These tributes were sent by the Earl of Londesborough, the past grand senior warden of Masons in England, and officers of Constitutional Lodge No. 294, of Beverley, East Yorkshire, and come from the vicinity of the home of John Washington, in England, great grandfather of the president. The wreaths reached this city last night by express, consigned to Mr. J. S. Douglas, secretary of Alexandria-Washington Lodge, and will be well cared for till Thursday. Today they were photographed and a copy will be hung upon the walls of the lodge room. The wreaths are very handsome, the larger one They will be on exhibition in Messrs. Ruben accompanying the wreaths were cards bearing the following inscriptions: LONDESBOROUGH PARK. A humble token of respectful admiration for one of the greatest architects the world has known, whose work every Englishman prays may endure and prosper through all time. From LONDESBOROUGH, An English born member of Liberty Lodge, Beverley, Mass., U. S. A., And Past Master of Constitutional Lodge, No. 294, Beverley, Yorkshire, England. The Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren From of the Constitutional Lodge, No. 294, Of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, of Beverley, East Yorkshire, England.