The Wedding Of Bro. George Washington.

door for the Colonel , who designed setting out , he said , immediately . An hour passed ; the colonel did not appear . TAVO hours afterward , there Avere still no signs of him . Then the servant came again , and directed the horses to be led back ; Colonel Washington would remain to dinner , and then continue his journey . The day Avas far spent when the young soldier made

his appearance , and vaulted into the saddle . Tall , vigorous , graceful , and with a certain loftiness of port , even then distinguishable , he was a gallant looking cavalier—one Avhom any woman might admire . One was gazing at him through the window—a young lady of about his own age , with rosy cheeks , bright eyes , hair carried back from the forehead , and a Deck ,

resembling snow , above the square-cut bodice . The young colonel reined in his spirited horse , nearly throwing him upon his haunches , made a courteous salute with his right hand ( it was nearly the attitude of a bronze statue of him afterward ) , and galloped away , thinking probably of the bright eyes and lips . " Colonel George Washington , of Mount Vernon , " had seen for the first time , Mrs . Martha Custis , the beautiiful young widow , who a year afterward was to become his wife .

lradition relates that the ceremony took place in old St . Peter ' s Church , which we have referred to in the beginning of this sketch . The scene was a brilliant one , and may interest the reader . It was in January , 1759 . The Rev . Dr . Mossom , parson of the parish , attended in full canonicals , and the pair advanced , followed by a bevy of beauties and their groomsmen , Washington was clad

in a suit of blue-and-silver , lined with red silk ; his waistcoat was embroidered ; his knee and shoe-buckles were of gold ; his hair was powdered -, and he wore a dress-sword . The bride was dressed in white satin , with rich point-lace ruffles ; had pearl ornaments in her hair ; pearl necklace , ear-rings , add bracelets ,- Avhite satin shoes , Avith high heels and diamond buckles ; and was

followed , as has been said , by an array of beautiful and richly-dressed girls , leaning upon the arms of groomsmen , in costume as imposing : The vice-regal governor of Virginia , in a suit of scarlet , embroidered with gold , with huge bag-wig , and dress-sword , was seen in the midst of a number of officers of the English army and navy ; and a great crovfd of what were then called " the

gentry , "—friends and relations of the bride and groom , — filled the church , all intent upon the " interesting ceremony . " One personage has been forgotten , —Bishop the faithful old body-servant . He , too , was present , —tall ,

gaunt , solemn , — m scarlet with huge horseman ' s boots . With folded arms , and much emotion on his aged face , he gazed at the ceremony with the rest . It soon ended , and the brilliant crowd floAved forth from the old church . Tradition relates that the bride , and as many of her fair attendants as could do so , entered the great chariot , which rolled off , drawn by its six spirited

horses ; Avhile the bridegroom , fonder of horseback , mounted the splendid English charger bequeathed to him by Braddock , and cantered after the coach attended by a number of gallant youths . Such was that picturesque scene in the life of the venerable " Father of his country . " We see so much of the great soldier , statesmanand rulerthat it is pleasant

, , to catch a glimpse of the lover and bridegroom . Wh y not ? One phase of the individual , —the public and official phase , —presents only the profile ; to obtain the full likeness , the other phase must be delineated , too . The unreasonable theory has been to regard George Washington as an abstraction of patriotism aud virtue when he was a man like other men , with strong passions

and human , sympathies and infirmities . The result has been that he has failed , in a measure , to impress the heart . Men admire , but are chilled by him , —by that grand bronze statue under which a heart never beat .

The Wedding Of Bro. George Washington.

Such an idea is a fallacy , Few human beings have ever felt more deeply than Washington . He loved warmly , and , if he did not hate bitterly , it was because his moral nature revolted from hatred , the sister of injustice , and his immense self-control enabled him to rule himself . But this moral discourse is apart from the aim . of the little sketch here presented . If that sketch be Avithout

" historic importance , " it may claim , perhaps , the merit of being characteristic . The contrast , at least , is something . Few men are left of that man ' s mould , and our weddings to-day are prosaic . Blue-and-silver coats , with red silk lining , are not the fashion . Six-horse chariots havo disappeared . The dress-swords have rusted away . All that brilliant life of the past has faded

into the picturesque nineteenth century , and the poetry , splendour , and romance have all turned to prose . But the great oaks and the old church , lost in the wilds of New Kent , are still there . Beneath the trees flashed that brilliant cortege of old days , —in that building George Washington placed the ring on the finger of his bride . All has passed away now ; the stately and

beautiful figures have long lain down in their tombs , but the stubborn trunks , Avith their leafy masses , and the ohurch and tombstones , with their ancient inscriptions , remain to recall the life of tho past .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

The Great American Masonic Poem , " King Solomon ' s Temple . " — Middlesbrough and Stokesley : Bros . Tweddell and Sons , 1870 . Messrs . Tweddell * have recently re-printed and issued this striking Masonic Poem in the shape of a neat pamphlet . The author of the Poem is Bro . Augustus J . H . Duganneof NeAV YorkAvho contributed it to the

, , " American Freemason . " Messrs . Tweddell deserve credit for the perception they have shown in selecting this admirable Masonic Poem for reproduction in this country : the beautiful allegory Avhich pervades its flowing versification throughout ; the happiness of its expression and allusions , commend it to the study and perusal of every member

of the Order . We endorse the sentiment conveyed in the concluding lines of the Poem : — " While tho day hath light , let light he used , For no mini shall the night control ! ' Or ever the silken chord be loosed , Or broken the golden bowl , ' May we build King Solomon ' s Temple

In the true Masonic soul !" Calendar of Masonic Meetings for 1871 , in the Provinces of East and West Lancashire , Cheshire , Yorkshire , Cumberland , and Isle of Man , By Bro . G , Orme , P . Prov-G . Dir . of Cers ., Lancashire East . t Bro . Orme lias succeeded in producing in the above , oue of the most useful local Masonic Calendars which

have come under our notice . In a summarized , but very convenient form for reference , this local Calendar contains an epitome of Craft , Eoyal Arch , Mark Masonry , Knights' Templar , and other Masonic ( and some perhaps non-Masonic ) , Meetings , in the above Provinces , together with other useful local Masonic information .