From the Grand Secretary: Centennial Celebration

From the Grand Secretary

Centennial Celebration

“One hundred years in the life of the universe is like a story that is told, like a watch in the night. A hundred years in the life of a human institution is an impressive milestone pointing backward for mediation, pointing forward for inspiration.”

Mansour Hatefi, PGM

Grand Secretary

With an eye on the Bicentennial Anniversary then in use for Masonic purposes (the fifth floor and of The Grand Lodge F.A.A.M. of the District about one-fourth of the second floor were being used of Columbia, in 2011, we take a look back at for commercial purposes at that time) was opened its Centennial Anniversary Celebrations in February for inspection from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. A line was 1911. formed at the New York Avenue entrance and from The first centennial of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia was celebrated February 18 - 20, 1911. The features of the celebration were: this point guests proceeded to the auditorium, where each was received by the Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia, M.W. J. Claude Keiper. • A Reception during the evening of Saturday, February 18th, in the new Masonic Temple, Thirteenth Street and New York Avenue, N.W., to which the Craft generally and its friends were invited; Passing the Grand Master, the guests proceeded to the east end of the auditorium, down to the banquet hall where refreshments were served. From that point they were encouraged to tour the building and return to the auditorium, • A Religious Service in for dancing following the the Belasco Theatre, La close of the reception Fayette Place, on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. until midafternoon, the 19th, which night. More than 5,000 was general in admissions; persons attended this • A Special Communicareception. tion of the Grand Lodge in The entire auditorium, the Temple on the mornincluding the stage, was ing of the 20th; decorated with colorful • And a Banquet at the New Willard Hotel on the evening of the 20th. Masonic emblems such as square and compasses on banners, flags and draperies in red, white and Invitations were extended blue. The banquet hall to the Grand Masters of and lobbies on each floor all Grand Lodges in amity were decorated in harwith this Grand Lodge; in MWB J. Claude Keiper, Grand Master in 1911, premony with the scheme response 11 Grand Massided overthe Grand Lodge’s Centennial Celebration used in the auditorium. ters, 5 Past Grand Masters and one Grand Secretary participated in the celebration. Congratulatory messages were received from 30 presiding Grand Masters who could not attend. The musical program included marches by Stotte and Sousa and classic pieces by Bach and Moszkowski, and the attendees danced to a medley of waltz and two-step tunes The Reception rendered by the orchestra under the direction of The celebration was opened with a reception in the William A. Haley. Masonic Temple. All of the Masonic Temple that was continued on next page

The Religious Service not overlook or belittle the past, nor On Sunday afternoon, the 19th, should we stand in such awe of at 2:00 p.m., some 2000 peopast greatness as to fear for the ple convened in the Belasco future.” Theatre. The officers of the Grand Lodge, visiting dignitaries and those participating in the exercises were seated on the stage. Past Grand Master Andrew Wilson, Chairman of the Committee on Religious Service opened the ceremonies, which included musical renditions, an invocation, and the readThis was followed by a Historical Address by Bro. Kenton N. Harper, Grand Lodge Historian, highlighting the significant events in the life of Freemasonry in the District of Columbia, and remarks by visiting Grand Masters, punctuated by musical selections. ing of scriptures by Rt. Rev. Banquet Alfred Harding, Bishop of On Monday evening, the 20th, Washington. at 8:00 p.m., the brethren assemTwo major addresses were bled at the New Willard Hotel. offered at this service. The first, presented by Rev. Abram Simon, was entitled, “What Hath Masonry Wrought.” The other presentaBro. William Howard Taft, President of the United States in 1911, was a guest and featured speaker at the Grand Lodge’s Centennial Celebration Guests of the Grand Lodge included: William Howard Taft, President of the United States; a representative of District Comtion, offered by the Rev. Earle missioners; the officers and past Wileley was entitled “The Spirit officers of the Grand Lodge, of the Craft.” The service was concluded with the F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia; visiting Grand singing of the Centennial Hymn and a closing prayer. Masters and other Masonic dignitaries; and the preSpecial Communication of Grand Lodge the District of Columbia. On Monday morning, the 20th, at 10:00 a.m., the Grand Lodge was convened in special communication. At this time the Grand Master offered thanks to the invited guests who had come from near and afar, “…to help us in commemorating an event which is in our eyes so momentous and so auspicious.” Grand Master Keiper, in passing reference to the achievements of the Grand Lodge in the century since its inception, pointedly observed that “it is ours to cherish at its true value this priceless heritage from our predecessors and to learn from the wisdom of their experience. Mindful Following the invocation, Brother E. St. Clair Thomson, Chairman of the Centennial Celebration Committee, in his opening remarks, said, “I am truly glad of an opportunity to stand at the beginning of a century and speak across the stream of time – a hundred years wide – to the brethren who shall in 2011 – as we are now – celebrate the close of one and the beginning of another century of the beneficent existence of symbolic Masonry in this community. And the message I would send is an expression of the hope that the accomplishment The printed menu of the Centennial Celebration program read in part: OfMany Platitudes: Is Not This the Tritest –When All Is Said and Done –“That Fellowship Is Ripest When ME-N-U Are One?” of the future, let us siding officers of all Masonic and affiliated bodies in