. History of the Washington arch in Washington square, New York, including the ceremonies of laying the corner-stone and the dedication. . ber of his staff. At that time Major Billingswas Worshipful Master of a lodge located at or nearNewburgh and had frequently received General Wash-ington as a visitor. A gavel, which I had hoped to use upon this eventfuloccasion, but an unforseen circumstance has prevented,was expressly prepared for presentation to Washington,used by him as President, and also as acting GrandMaster of Masons in laying the corner-stone of theCapitol of the United States. Afte
. History of the Washington arch in Washington square, New York, including the ceremonies of laying the corner-stone and the dedication. . ber of his staff. At that time Major Billingswas Worshipful Master of a lodge located at or nearNewburgh and had frequently received General Wash-ington as a visitor. A gavel, which I had hoped to use upon this eventfuloccasion, but an unforseen circumstance has prevented,was expressly prepared for presentation to Washington,used by him as President, and also as acting GrandMaster of Masons in laying the corner-stone of theCapitol of the United States. After the ceremonies he presented it to PotomacLodge, No. 9, F. and A. M., District of Columbia, andit has been carefully guarded by that lodge as aprecious treasure since that time. It was used by the Grand Master in laying thecorner-stone of the great monument at Washington;also at tbe laying of the corner-stone and dedication ofthe equestrian statue of Washington at the NationalCapital. It was likewise used at the laying of thecorner-stone of the Yorktown Monument, and upon manyother occasions in laying tbe corner-stones of public 56. buildings and monuments in several States of the Union. Fitting it would be to make the present ceremonythe more interesting and memorable by using thatemblem of authority once wielded by him whose mem-ory we hold sacred and this day further perpetuate. There are now in existence twelve different medalswhich were struck, in the early days of the Republic,to commemorate the Masonic virtues of Washington. At the close of his earthly labors, the lodge overwhich he presided as its first Master buried him withMasonic honors. I now conclude this hasty sketch by strongly com-mending to the Craft the following beautiful words ofWashington, spoken while President of the UnitedStates. Replying to an address from some Rhode IslandBrethren, he said: Being persuaded that a just appli-cation of the principles on which the Masonic Fraternityis founded must be pro
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