A masonic monument

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Photo courtesy of Joe Ravi

Washington’s

masonic monument

The George Washington Masonic National

Memorial (GWMNM), located in Alexandria, Virginia, is a favourite destination for visitors from all over the world and for fans of American history and Freemasonry.

There are plenty of reasons for this. The building is dedicated to the memory of the first President of the United States, who was a Freemason. The Memorial, whose construction began in 1922, was inaugurated in 1932 but completed only in 1970. The laying of the foundation stone in 1923 was presided over by President Calvin Coolidge using the same trowel used by Washington for the founding ceremony of the National Capitol. This trowel is kept in the Alexandria-Washington Lodge. It is estimated that approximately 14,000 Freemasons, dignitaries, military personnel, police and others were present.

Each US state deposited a symbolic object including a US flag; a bronze medal commemorating the inauguration of past President Warren Gamaliel Harding; a bronze plaque recording the names of the architects, project leaders, landscapers, engineers and contractors in charge of the monument; a Christian Bible; a lambskin apron; a copy of William Joseph Williams’ painting (1794) depicting George Washington in masonic regalia; several books and pamphlets on Washington’s life and the history of Freemasonry in America and a capsule which contained copies of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence together with books and other objects.

Neoclassical in style – well blended with neo-Greek and the neo-Roman architecture – the monument consists of nine floors. In the middle of the first floor is the Grand Masonic Hall, which has eight large columns, four on each side of the hall and is 20 metres long, wide and tall. On the seventh floor there is a room that is a symbolic reproduction of the legendary crypt under the temple of Solomon

The centerpiece of the Knights Templar Room

Photo courtesy of Ben Schumin

wherein were deposited various secrets and treasures. It is decorated with frescoes depicting episodes taken from the initiation rituals. The eighth floor houses a chapel dedicated to the Knights Templar. The monument sits on Shooters Hill, a grassed area that covers 15 hectares.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is the only masonic building that has the support of all 52 major state jurisdictions in the United States.

The monument is also mentioned in Dan Brown’s 2009 hit novel The Lost Symbol.

Comments from a non-mason

Proofreading this article piqued my interest; a browse in Wikipedia and the memorial’s website produced much that was new to me.

All masons know that George Washington was a mason. A chronology of his life on the GWMNM website shows him to have been involved with the Craft all his life from his initiation to the masonic aspect of his funeral.

He was the Master of his lodge at the time of his inauguration in 1789 as first president of the USA, the oath being administered by the Grand Master of New York on a bible owned, then and now, by St John’s Lodge No 1, New York.

A statue of George Washington in masonic regalia in the Masonic Memorial

Photo courtesy of Sandra C Meyer

In 1793 Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol building following masonic practice, using working tools provided by three local lodges. The apron he wore is held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

The memorial building itself is inspired by the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria, ‘a beacon that spreads the light of Freemasonry and the legacy of Washington to all humanity’ according to the GWMNM website.

Of interest to this modern writer is the comment in Wikipedia: ‘The memorial had been constructed without incurring any debt. From the start of the project, the masonic bodies involved in the memorial’s construction resolved not to sign any contract or begin any work until the money for such efforts was in hand.’

The building has too many fascinating aspects to mention – but the best news is that you don’t have to go to the US to see it, just visit https://gwmemorial.org/pages/virtual-tour for a virtual tour of some of the galleries.

References:

https://gwmemorial.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_ Washington_Masonic_National_Memorial https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ George_Washington