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George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Alexandria, Va.

George Washington was an ardent Mason. He was Master of Alexandria Lodge while he was president of the United States. This lodge, now known as the Alexandria-Washington Lodge, has many priceless Washington relics. His Master's chair, his Masonic apron embroidered by Madame Lafayette, an original portrait of Washington, his hour glass, his wedding gloves, etc.

The memorabilia will be housed in this memorial which is being erected by the Masons of United States at a cost of three to four million dollars.

It is appropriate that the memorial be erected on Shooters Hill, overlooking the Potomac. It was on this hill that it was advocated the capitol of United States be built. It would have been a beautiful site. Washington objected because he had a property adjacent to the place. He did not want to even have it appear that he was trying to profit by the location of a government building. What a lesson this is for us! People to-day seem to think it is all right to over-charge the government for property, or to use the means of government to further their own selfish ends o[?] to furthur the prosperity of their locality. We praise our representatives who secure large appropriations for government buildings in our community even though the expenditure is unnecessary or extravagant. Washington considered public occife a public trust and in dealing with the government citizen should be honest, unselfish, and just to all. Public funds should be even more carefully safeguarded than private monies.

Mr. George T. Bryan, of Greenville, and Mr. James R. Johnson, of Charleston, have been members of the Washington Memorial Association from the beginning. The stone for our building was kindly given to us by Mr. Johnson.

[Photograph of Washington Memorial]
AIRPLANE VIEW, FEBRUARY 16, 1931, SHOWING SOUTHERN EXPOSURE OF MEMORIAL.

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