Show Il 4 1 celebrated on Feb I u is I old style 1782 1732 at al Richmond Va ra The Virgina Virgina Virgina Vir- Vir gina Gazette makes particular mention mention mention men men- tion of tn the event states that it was walt commemorate with with tithe the utmost demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated dem dem- joy In In- 1783 a public celebration of the the day occurred at al Tablet court house on oh the thc ea eastern shore of Maryland the inhabitants turning out en masse to do honor to o 0 othe the father of of his of-his his country A Avery Avery Avery very elaborate celebration was also held at Camb Cambridge dge the capital of Dorchester county Md the c citizens of the surrounding country p participating participating in a. a grand rand dinner T Toasts Toast were drank on this t to tn General Washington Washing on the boasted hero of liberty to Count d de Rochambeau Rochambeau Roc- Roc hambeau and the tl e French Fren h army to Loui Louis Louis' XVI th the y protector df of th the rights of mankind to the seven even united un- un i Lcd ir of Holland Qi nd province provine i 1 allies t to congress to to the and sl state te o of Maryland and t other patriotic ideas and Sentiments In 1784 the inhabitants o of NewYork New NewYork NewYork York first celebrated the day dar and it ft was observed in many other ot places until it gradually became a i national event Prior to x I 1793 73 when I the date was changed to the 22 za of February to adapt adapt- it to th the J new V e style calender all an the these thes celebrations of his birthday on the n is day of that month When in 1789 1739 W Washington first became president his birthday was the occasion of great festivities in inthe inthe inthe the form of balls bans levees and parties parties par par- ties in many nany cities dUes and towns but butmore butmore butmore more especially in Philadelphia Strange to sa say sat however these commemorations gave rise to a great deal dea of adverse criticism on the part of many persons who in their intense outward show and anything tending g to royalty looked upon them as idolatrous and a stepping stone to 0 mon mon- arch archy Among those were some who went so far faras aras as to claim clim that Washington secretly encouraged the idea ide with ultimate purpose of seizing the government and setting himself at its head bead as king The first gener general l observance of the d day y occurred on Febuary 22 1800 the iSoo-the the year following his death in accordance with a recommend- recommend tion of f congress tha that the day be set the tue day be set apart for exercises to express popular esteem for or the virtues virtues virtues vir vir- tues of this greaf and good man The Free Masons of Philadelphia took a n very prominent part in the observance of that day being the prime movers in organizing a apr pro proceSSion procession cession and ot other e elaborate fr j r on onies onie es in jn membry 1 L comp companion In th assisted by the Fi Pi the city a artillery tillery ry Hj Jj the Society of t th xh e a morial cerel oni Masons located ted t I J q I t h has I succeeding ing r r I PRESS 1 f i |