Stranica 317 [317]
OCR
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. [194]
