Emblem of Freemasonry (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:

Emblem of Freemasonry
The square, compass and letter "G" is the standard emblem of American Freemasonry.
• The square teaches Masons to be honest and true in their actions.
• The compass teach Masons to circumscribe their desires and act in moderation.
• The "G" represents geometry and is an initial for a name of Deity. Just as geometry is central to understanding the physical world, so is God central to Masons' lives.

Groundbreaking
In 1922 construction began on the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. A year later the Masonic Grand Lodge of Virginia conducted its cornerstone ceremony with more than 12,000 Freemasons from every corner of America attending. Work continued through the 1920s as Freemasons' donations grew. When completed in 1932, the 333 foot high Memorial cost nearly $4 million (over $78 million today).

In the 1920s, the Memorial was perfectly placed on the edge of "Old Town" Alexandria. Near the main railroad line, every day thousands of passengers pass by it. During construction steam locomotives delivered millions of tons of granite, steel and machinery to the job site.