NEWS
by Shawn Eyer, 32°, Director of Communications and Development, George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association.
EXHIBITION OPENED
New Scottish Rite Exhibition at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial The George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, is pleased to announce that The Family of Freemasonry exhibition has at last been completed by the recent addition of displays relating the purpose and history of both Shriners International and the Scottish Rite.
T
he Sovereign Grand Commanders from both Scottish Rite jurisdictions in the United States, along with the Imperial Potentate from Shriners International, attended a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for these displays on February 22, 2020, as part of the Memorial’s celebration of George Washington’s Birthday. The Memorial, erected nearly a century ago, is a popular attraction that draws visitors from around the country and the world. Each year, thousands of guests visit the Memorial to experience a guided tour that teaches them about George Washington and his connection with Freemasonry. Along the way, they learn about the different aspects of American Freemasonry in a special exhibition called The Family of Freemasonry on the Memorial’s third
The beautiful George Washington Masonic National Memorial rises 333 feet from the brow of Shuter’s Hill in Alexandria, Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C.
Photo credit: GWMNMA
May 2020
floor. This exhibition tells the story of appendant and concordant bodies such as the Grottoes of North America, The Order of the Eastern Star, The Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the York Rite bodies, and the Shrine. It also features information about the three Masonic youth orders. In this exhibition, the colorful costumes and regalia of the various groups are displayed on mannequins, while the history and present activities of each organization are portrayed through artifacts on display nearby. The Scottish Rite’s display was developed by the Memorial’s Director of Collections, Mark Tabbert, 33°, working closely with both the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions. It allows visitors to the Memorial to learn about the core values of the Scottish Rite: Reverence for God, Devotion to Country, Integrity, Justice, Toleration, and Service. Artifacts
on display include regalia, caps, jewels, ritual books, and rings. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s display highlights the important work accomplished by the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, the Grand Almoner’s Fund, the White Flower Society, and the Leon M. Abbott Scholarship Fund. Also featured is information about the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library in Lexington and the Hauts Grades Academy. “The Family of Freemasonry exhibition at the George Washington Memorial is a first-class tribute to the many facets of the Craft. It is also a testament to the spirit of cooperation between the Northern and Southern Jurisdicitons,” Commander Glattly said. The Memorial Association is deeply grateful to both the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the Scottish Rite for making this educational display possible. While the Memorial has been closed to tourism for a period of time because of the coronavirus emergency, once restrictions are lifted, it is hoped that Scottish Rite Masons and their families will visit the Memorial to see this informative exhibition for themselves. Cutting the ribbon to the new museum display on the Scottish Rite are: David A. Glattly, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (left), Memorial Association President J.F. “Jeff” Webb (center), and James D. Cole, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction (right).
Photo credit: GWMNMA
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