Show TRIBUTE TO A MOTHER dedication of the mary washington monolith great crowds assemble at the cere gonles the well chosen words of dent clerina Cle rInd fredericksburg va slay 10 the special train with the presidential party for the ceremony of unveiling the mary washington monument left washington at 9 in the party were president cleveland in a pullman car with secretaries gresham carlile lamont bicell Bie ell morton private secretary thurber mrs gresham mrs carlisle waite widow of the late chief justice waite president of the mary washington memorial association chief justice fuller and the alexandria infantry boarded the train at that city immense crowds surrounded the station here when the train arrived the presidential salute boomed from the guns of the richmond and the band played hail columbia president cleveland and cabinet came to the platform of the car where they were greeted by the reception committee one of whom was justice ll arlan the richmond light infantry kept back the crowds with fixed bayonets the procession was cheered by ands as it wound ita way through the little town from the station to abe green knoll topped with wooden stands hidden in patriotic bunting where the son and daughters of the revolution and distinguished were assembled A number 0 ladies on horseback led the way then camo the grand marshal adjutant char es anderson and staff followed by william J crofford the architect of alie monument then president cleveland vice prisident stevenson and of the cabinet in carriages followed by the governor and staff military organizations and secret societies conspicuous among them being abe members of the and alexandria lodges of masons the dedicatory exercises included an address of welcome by mayor A P row and governor Cli arles ferrall masonic ceremonies an address by law mary washington and an oration by sanator john W daniel orator of alie day senator john adaniel WD aniel of virginia the orator of the day said george washington was abe noblest figure that ever stood in forefront of a nations life we BM gathered today around his mothers grave all that I 1 am I 1 owe to my mother all that we are as a nation wo owe to him his debt is ours it is many times multiplied muli plied itji ever growing as the ever growing republic illustrates in its virtues and in its faults alike the merit of ills example and the wisdom of his teachings beholding the monument we rejoice that the debt is acknowledged and we realize that no limitation of time can bar the rendition of justice to a noble name our gratitude goes forth to our country women who have so worthily achieved this work men attempted atte it and left it liala accomplished the elate and federal government alike discussed and then postponed it our noble women undertook it and it is done CLEVELAND president cleveland responded to governor oferrall saying speak for those who am today greeted as the official guests of virginia and fredericksburg icks burg when I 1 return sincere thanks for the hearty welcome that haa been extended us on behalf of both state and city our appreciation 0 the warmth of your reception is by the thought that in the ligat of the highest meaning belonging to this occasion there are no guests here we have assembled on equal terms here to at abe cached national shrine nothing can be more important to those who have assumed the responsibility of self government than alie cultivation and stimulation among theme elvea pf sentiments which ennoble elevate and strengthen humanity As a dear and wholesome stream must bavo its flow from a pure fountainhead must a clean beneficent beneri cent and popular government have ita source in pure and morally healthy men this purity and mural are in nothing better exemplified than n the love and reverence for motherhood the who eaid he cared not who made the peoples laws f he could write their bonga might said with boxe moxe truth that bo could gauge the strength and vigor of the people and choir alnese lor belf government if he knew the depth and 0 their love for their mothers the fredericksburg Frederick eburg free masona gave a banquet at the opera house after the ceremonies around the monument dur the banquet president cleveland entered the hall and waa standing in alie center of the stage with the membria of hie cabinet and their ladies before be was recognized the house fairly shook with yells when judge sener introduced the president pointing to the portraits of washington and andrew jackson and alluding to cleveland the legitimate successor of both the president responded gentlemen I 1 am a good deal embarrassed by the mention of my two distinguished predecessors and by the fact that they were both members of the society under whose auspices this banquet is I 1 am obliged to acknowledge my own shortcoming in not being a member of it perhaps it is cay fault certainly it is my misfortune those in fault seek compensation I 1 too have the honor to belong to a great fraternity one of which george washington and andrew jackson were prominent members A fraternity whose grip meane a united stand for american interests te rests whose kaaa word is ane peoples cause under all circumstances whoso temple is not as old as the temple of solomon but as old as american institutions a fraternity that can never die for its fruits will always be before the world would you know the name of this fraternity it ie the brotherhood of free and accepted patriotic american citizens the monument is a plain granite monolith fifty feet high upon the base and eleven feet square it bears the inscription mary the mother of washington |