Stranica 317 [317]
CO Süe
HIrsTtToRiIic GARDENS OF VIRGINIA
—a-¬
clubs owe a vote of deepest appreciation to the Mount Vernon
Ladies’ Association, which has preserved not only the home and its
belongings, but these magnificent evergreens in their now perfect
condition.
Numerous trees and shrubs were here planted by distinguished
visitors. A charming custom which has always prevailed in foreign
lands, and might be well emulated. The Mount Vernon trees are
such beautiful, leafy monuments to Thomas Jetterson, General
LaFayette, and others. Surely, these green mementoes of living
men are more splendid than the carved stone and molded bronze
marking their last resting place.
In an old book, it is claimed that the designs in house and
garden at Mount Vernon were all Masonic, and while this 1s not
in Washington’s own diary, it does have some foundation in the
designs themselves. As he was the leading Mason of the time, and
a very enthusiastic member of that order, it seems only just that
we should at least see what grounds there are for this belief. The
circle before the front door represents a point within a circle, or,
as the Masons say, ‘‘God is a sphere whose center is everywhere,
and circumference nowhere.’ The twenty-four circle posts are the
twenty-four hours of the day. These posts are bound together by
a chain which stands for Time. ‘The locust post in the center,
with the dial atop, represents the sun, the source of time. The
mounds at the entrance symbolize a newly-made grave—willows
being substituted for the acacia, the Masonic emblem of sorrow.
I will not touch on the Masonic emblems in the house, as they are
too numerous. But in the garden we find the picket fence, with
twenty-six in each section, which stands for the twenty-six weeks
progress of the sun to the north, and then twenty-six towards the
south, or evolution and growth. The urns on top of the section
stand for sacrifice and purification. The circular flower-beds are the
fourth part of a circle, or ninety degrees. The square beds are the
Knight Templar Cross, with camouflage. This cross stands for
universal wisdom and consecration.
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