{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_29949/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_29949","id":"gutenberg_29949","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29949","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Biographies","Category: History - American","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Freemasons","Washington, George, 1732-1799 -- Correspondence","Washington, George, 1732-1799 -- Freemasonry"],"text":"Produced by Curtis Weyant, Stephanie Eason, and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This\nfile was produced from images generously made available\nby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n=THE MASONIC PORTRAIT OF\nBROTHER GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON.\n\nORIGINAL PASTEL PORTRAIT FROM LIFE BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS, PHILADELPHIA,\nSEPTEMBER 1794, PAINTED AT THE REQUEST OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39, A.\nY. M., WARRANTED BY THE GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, FEBRUARY 3, 1783,\nNOW THE ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE, No. 22, A. F. & A. M. OF VIRGINIA.\nREPRODUCTION FROM THE UNIQUE COPY IN THE MUSEUM OF THE R. W. GRAND\nLODGE, F. & A. M. OF PENNSYLVANIA.\n\nCOPYRIGHTED BY ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE, No. 22, VIRGINIA, AND\nPRINTED BY ITS PERMISSION.=\n\n\n\n\n  Washington's\n  Masonic Correspondence\n\n  AS FOUND AMONG THE\n  WASHINGTON PAPERS\n  IN THE\n  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS\n\n\nCompiled from the original records, under the direction of the Committee\non Library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, with annotations.\n\n\n  BY\n  JULIUS F. SACHSE\n  LIBRARIAN, MASONIC TEMPLE PHILADELPHIA\n\n\n  PHILADELPHIA\n  1915\n\n\n\n\nEntered according to Act of Congress in the year 1915, in the Office of\nthe Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C., by J. HENRY WILLIAMS,\nR.W.G.M.\n\n\n\n  COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY\n\n  JOHN WANAMAKER, _Chairman_,\n  SAMUEL W. LATTA,\n  NORRIS S. BARRATT,\n  HARMAN YERKES,\n  HENRY DARRACH,\n  WALTER T. TAGGART.\n\n  JULIUS F. SACHSE, _Librarian_.\n\n\n\n_An Edition of One Thousand Copies has been printed, of which this is\nNo._ 355\n\n\n\n  PRESS OF\n  THE NEW ERA PRINTING COMPANY\n  LANCASTER, PA.\n\n\n\n  =J. HENRY WILLIAMS\n  Grand Master\n  1914-1915.=\n\n\n\n\n  J. Henry Williams,\n  R. W. Grand Master\n\n  Office of the\n  R. W. Grand Master\n  F. & A. Masons in Pennsylvania,\n  Masonic Temple Philadelphia,\n\nThe position of eminence, the great respect and the profound reverence\nin which the name of WASHINGTON is enshrined in the hearts of the\nAmerican people, and particularly so, with the members of this\nFraternity, and of all true lovers of liberty and freedom wheresoever\ndispersed, is the reason, if any be needed, why everything relating to\nthis great man and worthy brother should be preserved for the future\ngenerations, to be used by them as a guide, in the cultivation of those\ncardinal virtues of Honor and Integrity, that should ever characterize\nthe conduct of a good man and a good Mason.\n\nThe collection and reproduction of the letters of Brother WASHINGTON,\ntogether with the text of this book, have been prepared under my\nsupervision, and its publication is heartily approved.\n\n\n  J. Henry Williams\n  _Grand Master._\n  FEBRUARY 22, A.D. 1915--A.L. 5915.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS.\n\n                                                                       PAGE\n\n  Foreword                                                                1\n\n  The Masonic Correspondence of Washington                                5\n\n  I\n  Correspondence with Watson and Cassoul                                 19\n\n  II\n  Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 1783                     28\n\n  III\n  Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 1784                     34\n\n  IV\n  Correspondence with King David's Lodge, No. 1, Newport, R. I., 1790    37\n\n  V\n  Correspondence with St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern, N. C., 1791      44\n\n  VI\n  Correspondence with Prince George's Lodge, No. 16,\n    Georgetown, S. C., 1791                                              51\n\n  VII\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1791                57\n\n  VIII\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Georgia, 1791                       65\n\n  IX\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1792                  69\n\n  X\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1792                 80\n\n  XI\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1796                  86\n\n  XII\n  Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Virginia, 1797           95\n\n  XIII\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1797                102\n\n  XIV\n  Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Maryland, 1798                     111\n\n  XV\n  Correspondence with G. W. Snyder, 1798                                117\n\n  XVI\n  Index                                                                 141\n\n\n\nILLUSTRATIONS\n\n                                                                       PAGE\n\n  Masonic Portrait of Washington                            _Frontispiece_.\n\n  J. Henry Williams, R. W. Grand Master                                 iii\n\n  Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh on the Hudson    _Facing page_   22\n\n  Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, Virginia                         \"  \"       35\n\n  Moses Michael Hays (Portrait)                               \"  \"       15\n\n  Washington, (Houdon Portrait), 1786                         \"  \"       36\n\n  Mordecai Gist, (Portrait)                                   \"  \"       57\n\n  Residence of President Washington in Philadelphia           \"  \"       69\n\n  Fac-Simile of Address                                       \"  \"       72\n\n  Jonathan Bayard Smith, (Portrait)                           \"  \"       76\n\n  Rev. William Smith, D.D., (Portrait)                        \"  \"       88\n\n  Mount Vernon, 1783-1799                                     \"  \"       95\n\n  Paul Revere, (Portrait)                                     \"  \"      105\n\n  Washington, (St. Memin Portrait), 1798                      \"  \"      117\n\n  Draft of Letter to Grand Lodge of Maryland        _Between pages_ 112-113\n\n  Press copy of Washington's letter to G. W. Snyder,\n    September 25, 1798                                        \"  \"  124-125\n\n  Press copy of letter, October 24, 1798                      \"  \"  130-131\n\n\n\n\nFOREWORD\n\n\nWASHINGTON's Masonic correspondence as found among the Washington papers\nin the Manuscript department of the Library of Congress, affords an\ninsight of the great esteem in which WASHINGTON held the Masonic\nFraternity, of which since his early days he had been an honored member.\n\nThis is further shown by his great courtesy to the Brethren, in his\nreplies to their addresses, no matter whether they were from a Grand or\nSubordinate Lodge. In this collection, were also found some of the\noriginal drafts of WASHINGTON's replies, together with copies of the\nvarious masonic addresses and letters to him, and in the case of Dominie\nSnyder, press copies of his answers.\n\nIn the present work an attempt has been made to group this matter\ntogether in chronological order, also to show some of the surroundings\nand conditions under which this correspondence was made, and of the\nBrethren who were prominent in the presentation of these Eleven\nAddresses, which came to him from Seven of the Thirteen Colonies.\n\nA complete set of photostatic fac-similes of these documents in the\nLibrary of Congress, has been secured for the Museum of the Grand Lodge\nof Pennsylvania. Efforts were also made to obtain photographic copies of\nsuch of the WASHINGTON Masonic letters as were still in existence, which\nwere successful except in two instances as noted in the text.\n\nIt will be noted that on April 30, 1789, WASHINGTON, while Master of his\nLodge, was inaugurated President of the United States; this is the only\ninstance where one of the fourteen Presidents, who were Members of our\nFraternity was a Master of a Lodge during their term as President.\n\nThe esteem in which WASHINGTON held the Masonic Fraternity, is shown by\nthe fact, that in almost every case he had both the address and his\nreply, copied upon opposite pages of one of his folio letter-books, now\nin the Library of Congress. These copies are respectively in the\nhandwriting of WASHINGTON's private secretaries, viz:--Major William\nJackson: Tobias Lear: Bartholomew Dandridge and G. W. Craik.\n\nIn addition to the above copies we have WASHINGTON's original drafts of\nhis letters to Watson and Cassoul, to the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts,\nSouth Carolina, and Maryland, to Paul Revere, and as before stated\npress copies of his answers to Mr. Snyder.\n\nA perusal of these original documents, as here presented, affords an\nexcellent illustration of the _entente cordiale_, which existed between\nWASHINGTON and his Masonic Brethren.\n\nUpon the other hand, how the Masonic Fraternity, during WASHINGTON's\nlifetime, venerated their august Brother, is shown by the addresses of\nthis correspondence as retained by WASHINGTON.\n\nAlso by the various Masonic Memorial services held, after WASHINGTON's\ndeath, the chief of which was in Philadelphia, under the auspices of the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The Masonic services held in every State of\nthe Union, the many Eulogies and Sermons delivered and printed are\nmatters of history.\n\nHow this veneration of the great WASHINGTON continued during the past\nyears, is shown by the fact that there are no less than 53 Masonic\nLodges in the United States, named after the illustrious Brother. This\nis independent of the numerous Royal Arch Chapters, Commanderies, and\nother Masonic bodies, that bear the name \"WASHINGTON.\"\n\nWashington Lodges are found in thirty-eight of the forty-eight States of\nthe American Union.\n\nThe other ten States, which thus far have no \"Washington Lodge\" within\ntheir Jurisdiction, are Mississippi and Texas, together with the newer\nwestern States lately admitted into the American Union, viz:--Nevada,\nNorth Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.\n\nIn addition to the fifty-three Washington Lodges, there is also one each\nin Canada, the Island of Cuba and the District of Columbia.\n\nIn the Masonic Fraternity throughout the world, the name of WASHINGTON\nis ever kept in remembrance, as one of the brightest luminaries in the\nMasonic constellation, one of the most prominent examples, being his\nfull length oil portrait in Masonic clothing in the Hall of the Grand\nLodge of England at London.\n\nAcknowledgments are due to the Hon. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of\nCongress, for placing these documents at the disposal of the writer, and\ngiving permission to have photostat copies made of same; also to J.\nHenry Williams, Esq., R. W. Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania and\nMasonic Jurisdiction thereunto belonging, for suggestions and\nencouragement in the preparation of this work.\n\n  Julius F. Sachse.\n  PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 22, A.D. 1915--A.L. 5915.\n\n\n\n\nThe Masonic Correspondence of Washington\n\n\nMuch has been written pro and con about WASHINGTON and his connection\nwith the Masonic Fraternity. Thus far no complete set of his Masonic\nwritings have been compiled or published. Such portions as have been\nprinted were fragmentary, and issued for what may be called local\npurposes.\n\nHow careful WASHINGTON was of his Masonic correspondence is shown by the\nfact that he had copies made, in his private letter books, of most all\nletters sent him by the various Masonic Grand and Subordinate bodies,\nand his answers thereto, usually upon opposite pages. He thus had both\nthe addresses and his reply at hand for easy reference. This fact shows\nthe esteem in which WASHINGTON held his Brethren of the Masonic\nFraternity, as well as his own opinion of Freemasonry.\n\nThese letter-books are now in the Library of Congress, and photostat\ncopies of such as relate to Freemasonry have been made for the Library\nof the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\nAs to the authenticity of the Washington Letter Books, and how they came\ninto the possession of the United States Government is explained by the\nfollowing statement by Mr. Galliard Hunt, chief Manuscript division,\nLibrary of Congress:[1]\n\n     \"They are a part of the Washington papers in\n     \"the Government's possession, purchased from the\n     \"Washington family, one lot in 1834 and the re-\n     \"mainder in 1849, and deposited in the Department\n     \"of State until 1903, when, by the President's order,\n     \"they were sent to this Library. They range in date\n     \"from 1754 to 1799. Some of them are partly\n     \"or wholly in Washington's hand-writing, and others\n     \"in the writing of his secretaries and their clerks.\n     \"There are no volumes of press copies, but there are\n     \"some press copies among the papers.\"\n\n\nWASHINGTON in writing his answer to the various greetings, in most cases\nwould first make a rough copy of his reply, then digest, alter, correct\nor change such parts or sentences as he thought proper. Then after\ndeliberate consideration, a fair copy would be made either by WASHINGTON\nor one of his Secretaries and signed by him, and sent to the Masonic\nbodies for which they were intended.\n\nFortunately some of the original drafts of these Masonic letters have\ncome down to us; thus far five autographic copies have been found among\nthe Washington papers in the Library of Congress at Washington.\n\n1. Draft of letter written at Newburg, New York, August 19, 1782, to\nWatson and Cassoul of Nantes, France, thanking them for the Masonic\nApron, embroidered by the nuns at Nantes, and which is now in possession\nof Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, at Alexandria, Virginia.\n\n2. To the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.\n\n3. To the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n4. To the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.\n\n5. To the Grand Lodge of Maryland; this draft is a two-page letter\nwritten upon a letter sheet and shows many changes and corrections; it\nis dated 1798.\n\nIn addition to the above original drafts there were found several\naddresses and the accompanying answers, which thus far have never been\npublished, in fact no mention of them has ever appeared in print, viz:--\n\n1. An address from the Grand Lodge of Georgia, together with\nWASHINGTON's reply.\n\n2. A letter to Paul Revere, Grand Master of Massachusetts and his Grand\nOfficers.\n\n3. An address from the Brethren of Prince George's Lodge, No. 16,\nGeorgetown, South Carolina, presented to President WASHINGTON during his\nvisit to South Carolina, April 30, 1791, also his reply to same.\n\n4. An address from the Brethren of St. John's Lodge, No. 2, of Newbern,\nNorth Carolina, and the reply to same.\n\nPhotostat copies of the above have also been obtained which make the\nmost complete collection of the Masonic Correspondence of WASHINGTON\nwhich has thus far been compiled.\n\nA careful study of this correspondence so carefully cherished by\nWASHINGTON puts an entirely new phase upon WASHINGTON's connection with\nthe Masonic Fraternity, and his esteem of Freemasonry.\n\nThese papers absolutely thrust aside all of the statements, arguments\nand libels, brought forth by our misguided enemies at the time of the\nAnti-Masonic craze during the last century, and in a small way kept\nalive even down to the present day by some people who are blinded by\ntheir ignorance or malice.\n\nReferring to some of their published statements that WASHINGTON never\nbelonged to the Masonic Fraternity, and that there were no authentic\nMasonic letters nor copies thereof among his records so frequently made\nduring the political Anti-Masonic craze, which swept over New England\nand the Middle States about eighty-five years ago, the following\nquotations from the Masonic literature of the period will prove\ninteresting examples.\n\nOne of the chief statements made by these people, and brought before all\ntheir conventions and heralded in the public prints was: \"That though\nGeneral Washington caused to be carefully copied in books kept for that\npurpose, all his letters on every subject, no trace whatever of any of\nthe five letters under consideration,[2] nor any letters to any other\nLodge or Masonic body whatever, are to be found among the records of his\ncorrespondence.\"[3]\n\nThe chief authority upon whom the leaders of the Anti-Masonic movement\nat that time depended in their defamation of WASHINGTON, was Jared\nSparks of Boston, who at the time was engaged writing a life of\nWASHINGTON, and then had access to all the Washington letter-books and\npapers, and from his connection with the Washington correspondence, was\nsupposed to be the best qualified to pass upon their authenticity.\n\nAnother of the charges made by the Anti-Masonic bigots whose chief\nobject was to controvert facts was:\n\n     \"That although WASHINGTON was _extremely scrupulous_ in preserving\n     his correspondence with all public or private bodies, there is not\n     a line of his _relating to Freemasonry_, to be found among all his\n     papers, except the correspondence with Mr. Snyder![4] It is also a\n     fact, that WASHINGTON was equally scrupulous in dating his letters,\n     and it is believed that not one can be found, which is without a\n     date.\"[5]\n\n\nIt appears that the chairman of a committee of citizens of Boston called\nupon the officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to submit their\ntwo Washington letters to Jared Sparks for his inspection. This the\nGrand Officers refused to do.\n\nIn return Sparks sent the following letter to the Chairman:\n\n     \"Boston, February 18, 1833.\n\n     \"_Sir_,--I received this morning your letter of the 15th instant, in\n     which you inquire:\n\n     \"Whether I have yet seen or had in my possession any original letter\n     or letters, in the hand writing of General Washington, addressed to\n     any body of men denominating themselves Freemasons.\n\n     \"In reply, I can only state that I have seen no letters from General\n     Washington of the kind described in yours, nor received any\n     communication on the subject, either verbal or written.[6]\n\n        \"I am, Sir,\n          \"Very respectfully,\n            \"Your ob't servant,\n              \"JARED SPARKS.\"\n\n\nHow Sparks could have overlooked the numerous entries in the letter\nbooks whose numbers and folios are here quoted, also the drafts of\nreplies in WASHINGTON's hand-writing and signed by him (copies of which\nare here given in this work), can only be accounted for by the fact that\nhe must have been carried away by the political excitement of the day.\n\nWASHINGTON's connection with the Masonic Fraternity has been\nexhaustively traced by Brother James M. Lamberton, Past Master of\nPerseverance Lodge, No. 21, in his address \"WASHINGTON AS A FREEMASON,\"\nfrom the day of his entrance into Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, of\nVirginia, September 1, 1752, until the day of his death, December 14,\n1799, before the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at its celebration of the\nSesqui-Centennial Anniversary of the Initiation of Brother GEORGE\nWASHINGTON into the Fraternity of Freemasons,[7] held in the Masonic\nTemple, in the city of Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 5, 1902.\n\nIt must also be remembered that WASHINGTON made a public profession of\nhis membership in Philadelphia, Monday, December 28, 1778, when he\nwalked in procession with his brethren of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania, from the College at Fourth and Arch Streets to Christ\nChurch on Second Street above Market Street, Philadelphia, where, after\na prayer by Rev. William White, a sermon was preached for the \"[Benefit\nof the POOR] by appointment of and before | The General Communication |\nof | Free and Accepted | MASONS | of the | State of PENNSYLVANIA, | on\nMonday, December 28, 1788, | Celebrated, agreeable to their\nConstitution, | as the Anniversary of | ST. JOHN the Evangelist, | by\nWilliam Smith, D.D., | Provost of the College and Academy of\nPhiladelphia.\" |\n\nThis Sermon was printed and dedicated to Brother WASHINGTON and a copy\nsent to him, which was bound with other pamphlets in a volume lettered\n\"Masonic Sermons,\" and is so mentioned in the inventory of his estate\nand now in the Boston Athenaeum.[8] At this service over four hundred\npounds were collected for the relief of the poor.\n\nRev. Brother William Smith, D.D., preached a number of Masonic Sermons\nin Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland; three of which delivered at the\nrequest of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania were printed, viz.:\n\n_Sermon 1._--On Brotherly Love, &c. Preached on the Anniversary of St.\nJohn the Baptist, June 24, 1755,\n\n_Sermon 2._--Preached on Monday, December 28, 1778, celebrated as the\nAnniversary of St. John the Evangelist. With an Appendix on the\nCharacter of Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus,\n\n_Sermon 3._--Preached before the Grand Lodge of Communication, on St.\nJohn the Baptist's day, June 24, 1795.\n\nOriginal copies of the above are in the Library of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania.\n\nRev. Brother Smith reprinted the above in a Volume of Sermons with the\nfollowing note:[9]\n\n    \"N. B. The above three Sermons were preached at the request of the\n    Grand Lodge of Communication, for Pennsylvania, and contains in\n    substance all that the Author thinks it necessary to bequeath to the\n    Brotherhood, by way of Sermons, preached at different times and in\n    sundry of the neighboring States, during 48 Years past.\"\n\n\nBy referring to the following letters and Documents it is shown that\nWASHINGTON's interest in Freemasonry and the Fraternity continued until\nthe time of his death.\n\nThese documents cover the period from 1782 to 1798.\n\nAs these copies in our possession are photostat fac-similes of the\noriginal documents in the Library of Congress, there can never be any\nquestion of correctness or of their authenticity.\n\nThe finding and collating of this material will settle for all time to\ncome the question of WASHINGTON's connection with the Ancient\nFraternity, and his opinion and esteem of Freemasonry.\n\nThe earliest record we have of any Masonic Body proposing a masonic\naddress to General WASHINGTON, was the resolution offered in King\nDavid's Lodge, No. 1, at Newport, Rhode Island, during WASHINGTON's\nvisit to Newport in March, 1781, while the French Army under Rochambeau\nwas quartered there. WASHINGTON arrived in Newport on the sixth of March\nand remained there until the thirteenth, when he left for Providence by\nway of Bristol.\n\nIt was in anticipation of this visit that the Brethren of King David's\nLodge, of which Brother Moses Michael Hays[10] was Worshipful Master,\nthat a masonic greeting to General WASHINGTON was proposed. The\nfollowing entry from the old Minute Book of the Lodge will explain why\nthe project failed to materialize.\n\n\n=MOSES M. HAYS\n\nW. M. KING DAVID'S LODGE, No. 1, NEWPORT, R. I., 1780-1781. GRAND MASTER\nOF MASONS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1788-1793.=\n\n\n    EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS OF KING DAVID'S LODGE.\n\n    \"Regular Lodge night, held at the house of Mr. James Tew, Wednesday\n    evening, the 7th February, 1781. 5781.\n\n    \"A motion being made that as our worthy brother, his Excellency\n    General Washington, was daily expected amongst us, a committee\n    should be appointed to prepare an address in behalf of the Lodge, to\n    present him. Voted, That the Right Worshipful Master (Moses Michael\n    Hays) together with brothers Seixas, Peleg Clark, John Handy, and\n    Robert Elliot, be a committee for that purpose, and that they\n    present the same to this Lodge at their next meeting for their\n    approbation.\"\n\n    \"At a Lodge held by request of the Right Worshipful Master, Feb.\n    14th, 1781. 5781,\n\n    \"The committee appointed to draught an address to our worthy\n    brother, His Excellency General Washington, report, that on inquiry\n    they find General Washington not to be a Grand Master of North\n    America; as was supposed, nor even Master of any particular Lodge.\n    They are, therefore, of opinion that this Lodge would not choose to\n    address him as a private brother at the same time, think it would\n    not be agreeable to our worthy brother to be addressed as such.\n\n    \"Voted, That the report of the committee be received, and that the\n    address be entirely laid aside for the present.\"[11]\n\n\nNow as to the cause for this uncertainty how to address Brother\nWASHINGTON, it will be recalled that just at that time, the proposition\nsent out by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania nominating General\nWASHINGTON as Grand Master of all the Colonies, was then before the\nvarious grand bodies, but did not find favor in New England, in fact the\nGrand Lodge of Massachusetts was the chief objector, and finally\ndefeated the scheme to elect WASHINGTON the Grand Master General.[12]\n\nThe means of intercourse between the different Masonic Bodies at that\nearly day were so limited and uncertain that it offers a clear\nexplanation for the uncertainty under which the brethren of King David's\nLodge, No. 1, at Newport labored at that time.\n\nDuring the Anti-Masonic craze in the last century, the above minute was\nextensively used by the political leaders of the Anti-Masonic party to\nstrengthen their claim that WASHINGTON had never presided over any\nMasonic Lodge.\n\nFollowing is a complete list of the Washington Masonic Correspondence,\nthus far found among the Washington papers in the Library of Congress.\n\nDraft of Letter to Watson and Cassoul, Nantes, France, August 10, 1782.\n\nLetter to Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, Virginia, December 28, 1783.\n\nAddress from King David's Lodge, No. 1, Rhode Island, August 17, 1790,\nand WASHINGTON's Reply.\n\nAddress from St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern, North Carolina, April 20,\n1791, and his reply.\n\nAddress from Prince George's Lodge (Moderns) Georgetown, South Carolina,\nApril 30, 1791, and his reply.\n\nDraft of reply to Grand Lodge of South Carolina, May 5, 1791.\n\nAddress from Grand Lodge of Georgia, May 14, 1791, and his reply.\n\nAddress from Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, March, 1792, and his reply.\n\nAddress of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, December 27, 1792, and his\nreply.\n\nAddress from Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, December 27, 1796, and his\nreply.\n\nAddress from Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Virginia, April 4, 1797, and his\nreply.\n\nLetter to Paul Revere and Grand Officers, April 24, 1797.\n\nDraft of Letter to Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in reply to an address,\nApril 1797.\n\nDraft of a reply to an address from the Grand Lodge of Maryland,\nNovember 8, 1798.\n\nLetter from G. W. Snyder to WASHINGTON, August 22, 1798.\n\nWASHINGTON's Reply to Snyder, September 25, 1798.\n\nWASHINGTON's Reply to Snyder's letter of October 17, 1798.\n\n\n=ELKANAH WATSON\n\nB. PLYMOUTH, MASS., JANUARY 22, 1758, D. AT PORT KENT, N. Y., DECEMBER\n5, 1842, WHO, TOGETHER WITH HIS PARTNER CASSOUL, PRESENTED TO WASHINGTON\nA MASONIC APRON MADE BY THE NUNS AT NANTES, FRANCE.\n\nNOW IN THE POSSESSION OF ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE, No. 22,\nVIRGINIA.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[1] Letter to Julius F. Sachse from Manuscript Division, December 19,\n1914--in Library of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n[2] The letters referred to by the Anti-Masons were the one to King\nDavid's Lodge at Newport, two to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and\none to Charleston, S. C., and to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The\nabove five Masonic Letters were all that were known to the Anti-Masons\nat that time.\n\n[3] \"Vindication | of | General Washington | from the stigma | of\nadherence to | Secret Societies | by | Joseph Ritner | Governor of the\nCommonwealth of Pennsylvania, | communicated | by | request of the House\nof Representatives, to that body,| on the 8th of March, 1837.\"\n\nThis address during the Anti-Masonic period was regarded as an important\nstate paper.\n\n[4] Letter press copies of the Snyder letters were retained by\nWASHINGTON. Photostat copies of same are in the Archives of the Grand\nLodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n[5] \"Proceedings of the Third State Anti-masonic Convention, of\nMassachusetts, Worcester, 1832,\" p. 27.\n\n[6] Vindication of Washington before quoted, p. 13.\n\n[7] The Ancient Minute Book and Ledger of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, in\nVirginia, of which we have a photostat, is still in possession of the\nLodge, showing that \"GEORGE WASHINGTON was entered November 4, 1752, and\non November 6, paid for his entrance L2. 3. 0, March 3, 1753, GEORGE\nWASHINGTON was passed to Fellow-Craft; August 4, 1753, GEORGE WASHINGTON\nwas raised Master Mason.\"\n\n[8] Catalogue of Washington Collection in Boston Athenaeum, Boston, 1897,\np. 185.\n\n[9] Cf. \"Works of William Smith, D.D.,\" Philadelphia, 1803, Vol. II, pp.\n27-88, also \"Life and Correspondence of Rev. William Smith, D.D.,\"\nPhiladelphia, 1880, Vol. II, p. 9. _Et seq._\n\n[10] For an exhaustive sketch of Brother Moses Michael Hays, see _The\nAmerican Freemason_, Vol. V, p. 576.\n\n[11] \"Newport, ss. Newport, August 18th, A.D. 1832. I certify that the\nextracts taken from the records of King David's Lodge, Newport,\ncontained in the above and three foregoing pages, have been by me\ncompared with the minutes contained in two books purporting and\nappearing to be the original records of said Lodge, and found to be true\nand accurate copies of the same.\n\n  \"Quid attestor,         \"GEO. C. MASON.\n                    _\"Jus. Peace and Pub. Not'y.\"_\n\nCf. \"Anti-masonic Republican Convention of Massachusetts held at\nWorcester, September 5-6, 1832,\" p. 23.\n\n[12] For a full account of this episode, see \"Freemasonry in\nPennsylvania,\" Barratt and Sachse, Philadelphia, 1908, Vol. 1, Chapter\nXII; \"WASHINGTON as General Grand Master,\" p. 393 _et seq._\n\n\n\n\nI\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH WATSON & CASSOUL, NANTES, FRANCE, AUGUST, 1782.\n\n\nThe earliest letter of General GEORGE WASHINGTON of Masonic Import known\nis the one written while in camp at Newburgh in New York, dated State of\nNew York, August 10, 1782, to the firm of Watson and Cassoul in Nantes,\nFrance, in which his friend, Brother Elkanah Watson was the chief\npartner, thanking the firm for the Masonic Apron and ornaments sent him\nfrom Nantes, France.\n\nThis apron is now in the possession of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge,\nNo. 22, at Alexandria, Virginia.\n\nElkanah Watson in his Memoirs states:[13]\n\n     \"Wishing to pay some mark of respect to our beloved Washington, I\n     employed, in conjunction with my friend M. Cossoul, nuns in one of\n     the convents at Nantes to prepare some elegant Masonic ornaments,\n     and gave them a plan for combining the American and French Flags on\n     the apron designed for this use. They were executed in a superior\n     and expensive style. We transmitted them to America, accompanied by\n     an appropriate address.\"\n\n\nBy the above extract is shown beyond all doubt the error in the\nstatement so repeatedly made, that the apron at Alexandria is the one\nmade by the Marquise de Lafayette, and presented to WASHINGTON by\nGeneral Lafayette, during his visit to Mount Vernon in 1784, and the one\nin the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, that of Watson and\nCassoul.[14]\n\nFollowing letter was sent to WASHINGTON, together with the Masonic Apron\nand \"Ornaments,\" by Messrs. Watson and Cassoul, from France under date\n\"east of Nantes,\" 23d 1st Month, 5782.[15]\n\n     \"TO HIS EXCELLENCY, GENERAL WASHINGTON, AMERICA.\n\n     \"_Most Illustrious and Respected Brother:_\n\n     \"In the moment when all Europe admire and feel the effects of your\n     glorious efforts in support of American liberty, we hasten to offer\n     for your acceptance a small pledge of our homage. Zealous lovers of\n     liberty and its institutions, we have experienced the most refined\n     joy in seeing our chief and brother stand forth in its defence, and\n     in defence of a newborn nation of Republicans.\n\n     \"Your glorious career will not be confined to the protection of\n     American liberty, but its ultimate effect will extend to the whole\n     human family, since Providence has evidently selected you as an\n     instrument in his hands, to fulfill his eternal decrees.\n\n     \"It is to you, therefore, the glorious orb of America, we presume\n     to offer Masonic ornaments, as an emblem of your virtues. May the\n     Grand Architect of the Universe be the Guardian of your precious\n     days, for the glory of the Western Hemisphere and the entire\n     universe. Such are the vows of those who have the favor to be by\n     all the known numbers.\"\n\n        \"Your affectionate brothers,\n          \"WATSON & CASSOUL.\"\n\n     \"East of Nantes, 23d 1st Month, 5782.\"\n\n\n=WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS\n\nNEWBURGH-ON-THE-HUDSON WHERE THE WATSON AND CASSOUL LETTER WAS WRITTEN,\nAUGUST, 1782.=\n\n\nOwing to the uncertain intercourse between the two countries, it was\nalmost seven months before Brother WASHINGTON received the Masonic\napron, ornaments and letter from France. He at that time was in camp\nwith the army at Newburg on the Hudson.[16]\n\nIn reply WASHINGTON sent the following autograph letter to the donors in\nNantes, viz.:\n\n     \"STATE OF NEW YORK\n     \"Augt 10th 1782.\n\n     \"Gentn.\n\n     \"The Masonick Ornamts\n     \"which accompanied your Bro-\n     \"therly Address of the 23d of\n     \"Jany last, tho' elegant in\n     \"themselves, were rendered\n     \"more valuable by the flattering\n     \"sentiments, and affectionate\n     \"manner, in which they were\n     \"presented.--\n\n     \"If my endeavours to\n     \"avert the evil, with which this\n     \"Country was threatned by a\n     \"deliberate plan of Tyranny,\n     \"should be crowned with the suc\n     \"cess that is wished--The praise\n     \"is due to the _Grand Architect_\n     \"of the Universe; who did not see\n     \"fit to suffer his superstructures\n     \"and justice, to be subjected to the\n     \"Ambition of the Princes of this\n     \"World, or to the rod of oppression,\n     \"in the hands of any power upon\n     \"Earth.--\n\n     \"For your affectionate\n     \"Vows, permit me to be grateful;\n     \"--and offer mine for true Brothers\n     \"in all parts of the world; and\n     \"to assure you of the sincerity\n     \"with which I am\n\n        \"Yrs\n          \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     \"Messrs\n       \"Watson & Cosson[17]\n         \"East of Nantes\"\n\n\nThis autograph letter from WASHINGTON to Messrs. Watson and Cassoul is\nnow in the possession of the Grand Lodge of New York, who purchased it\nfrom a member of the Watson family in the year 1866 or 1867 at a cost of\napproximately $1,000, and is now framed and secured between two sheets\nof glass in the collection of the Committee of Antiquities of the Grand\nLodge F. & A. M. of New York.[18]\n\nIt is written upon two pages of an ordinary letter sheet, and was a copy\nof one written by WASHINGTON, with which he was not entirely satisfied,\nas shown by the changes made in the text before it was sent to France.\nThe first copy WASHINGTON retained, and is now in the Library of\nCongress, and is here given for comparison, viz:\n\n     \"STATE OF NEW YORK,\n     \"Augt 10th 1782.\n\n     \"_Gentn._,\n\n     \"The Masonick Orna-\n     \"ments which accompanied your\n     \"Brotherly Address of the 23d.\n     \"of the first month, tho' elegant\n     \"in themselves, were rendered\n     \"more valuable by the flattering\n     \"sentiments, and affectionate\n     \"manner, in which they were\n     \"offered.--\n\n     \"If my endeavours to\n     \"avert the evil, with which\n     \"this Country was threatned, by\n     \"a deliberate plan of Tyranny,\n     \"should be crowned with the\n     \"success that is wished--the\n     \"praise is due to the _Grand\n     \"Architect_ of the Universe; who\n             see fit to\n     \"who did not ^ suffer his superstruc\n     \"tures & justice, to be subjected\n       ambition of the Princes of this world--or\n     \"to the ^ rod of oppression, in the\n     \"hands of any power upon Earth.\n\n     \"For your affectionate\n     \"vows, permit me to be grateful;\n     \"and offer mine for true Brothers\n     \"in all parts of the world; and\n     \"to assure you of the sincerity\n     \"with which I am,\n\n        \"Yrs.\n          \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     Endorsed\n       to\n     \"Messrs. Watson &\n     \"Cosson--Nantes\n       \"10th Augt 1782.\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO WATSON AND\nCASSOUL, NEW YORK, AUGUST 10, 1782.=\n\n\nA photographic fac-simile of the letter now in New York, and a photostat\nof the original copy retained by WASHINGTON are in the collection of the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\nThe firm of Watson and Cassoul of Nantes, France, acted as confidential\nagents of the American Government during the Revolutionary period, as is\nshown by their correspondence with Benjamin Franklin in the Franklin\nMss. collection of the American Philosophical Society.[19] Elkanah\nWatson was also a bearer of despatches to Dr. Franklin.\n\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[13] \"Men and Times of the Revolution, or Memoirs of Elkanah Watson,\"\nNew York, 1856, pp. 135, 136.\n\n[14] Cf. \"Proceedings Grand Lodge of New York,\" 1867, p. 28.\n\n[15] \"Memoirs of Elkanah Watson,\" p. 135.\n\n[16] Cf. \"Itinerary of General WASHINGTON from June 15, 1775, to\nDecember 23, 1783,\" by William S. Baker, Philadelphia, 1892, p. 271.\n\n[17] It will be noted that on both the draft and letter, WASHINGTON\nspells the name Cassoul--\"Cosson.\"\n\n[18] Catalogue of Antiquities and Curios, Grand Lodge F. & A. M., New\nYork, Class J, No. 1, New York, 1905.\n\n[19] Cf. \"Calendar of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin in the Library of\nthe American Philosophical Society,\" edited by I. Minis Hays, Volume V,\np. 312.\n\n\n\n\nII\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 39, VIRGINIA, DECEMBER, 1783.\n\n\nThe next Masonic Letter of Brother WASHINGTON of which we have any\nknowledge is the one written in answer to a letter sent him, upon his\nreturn to civil life by the Brethren of Lodge No. 39, on the register of\nthe Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, which met at Alexandria, Virginia.\n\nDecember 23, 1783, General WASHINGTON presented himself to \"The United\nStates in Congress Assembled,\" at Annapolis, Maryland, and resigned his\nCommission that he had received on June 17, 1775, as Commander-in-Chief\nof the Armies of the United States.\n\nUpon Christmas Eve he returned to Mount Vernon, whereupon the Brethren\nat Alexandria, who, it must be remembered, were working under a\nPennsylvania Warrant, at once sent the following Address signed by the\nOfficers of Lodge No. 39, to Brother WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon,[20]\nviz.:\n\n     \"_Sir_: Whilst all denominations of people bless the happy occasion\n     of your excellency's return to enjoy private and domestic felicity,\n     permit us, sir, the members of Lodge No. 39, lately established in\n     Alexandria, to assure your excellency, that we, as a mystical body,\n     rejoice in having a brother so near us, whose preeminent\n     benevolence has secured the happiness of millions; and that we\n     shall esteem ourselves highly honored at all times your excellency\n     shall be pleased to join us in the needful business.\"\n\n     \"We have the honor to be, in the name and behalf of No. 39, your\n     excellency's\n\n     \"Devoted friends and brothers,\n        \"ROBERT ADAM, M.\n        \"E. C. DICK, S. W.\n        \"J. ALLISON, J. W.\n        \"WM. RAMSAY, _Treas._\"\n\n     \"His Excellency General Washington.\"\n\n\nTwo days later Brother WASHINGTON sent following reply,[21] viz.:\n\n     \"MOUNT VERNON 28th Decr. 1783.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_:\n\n     \"With pleasing sensibility\n     \"I received your favor of the 26th, and\n     \"beg leave to offer you my sincere thanks\n     \"for the favorable sentiments with\n     \"which it abounds.--\n\n     \"I shall always feel pleasure\n     \"when it may be in my power to ren-\n     \"der service to Lodge No 39, and in\n     \"every act of brotherly kindness to the\n     \"Members of it; being with great truth.\n\n        \"Your affecte Brother\n        \"and Obedt Servant\n          \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     \"Robt Adam Esqr Master,\n       \"& the Wardens & Treasr\n         \"of Lodge No 39.\"\n\n\nNo copy of either address nor reply of this correspondence has thus far\nbeen found among the Washington papers in the Library of Congress, by\nthe present writer.\n\nBrother Robert Adam, the Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, was a Son\nof the Rev. John Adam, D.D., and Janet Campbell, of Kelbride, Scotland,\nwas born May 4, 1731; he emigrated to America in 1753, and, after a\nshort residence at Annapolis, Md., established himself at a pleasant\ncountry residence in Fairfax County, Virginia, about four miles from\nAlexandria. He was a gentleman of refined taste, cultivation and wealth,\nand interested himself in everything that could promote the prosperity\nof his adopted home.\n\n\n=WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 39. ORIGINAL IN\nALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE, NO. 22, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.=\n\n\nIt appears that during his residence at Annapolis, he was made a Mason\nin a clandestine or irregular Lodge, and in the year 1783 applied for a\ndispensation from the Grand Master of Pennsylvania, to apply to Lodge\nNo. 2, for initiation and membership.\n\nBrother Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick, Senior Warden of Lodge No. 39, was a\nnative of Pennsylvania, born near Marcus Hook, in Delaware County, about\n1753, and died at Alexandria, Va., September 22, 1825. He was a son of\nArchibald Dick, a member of Lodge No. 2 at Philadelphia, and joined the\nsame Lodge, September 15, 1779.[22] Brother Elisha C. Dick was a\ngraduate of the old Pequea Academy, and of the College of Pennsylvania.\nHe began the study of medicine under Drs. William Shippen and Benjamin\nRush. After graduating he settled in Alexandria, Va., and at once became\nactive in Masonic circles in that city, and was instrumental in having\nthe petition presented to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a warrant,\nwhich was granted under the name and number \"Alexandria Lodge No. 39.\"\n\nUpon the records of the Lodge, Brother Dick appears as both predecessor\nand successor of Brother WASHINGTON as Master. Brother Dick was the\nfirst consulting physician in WASHINGTON's last illness, and also\nconducted the Masonic services at WASHINGTON's funeral on December 18,\n1799. A biography of Dr. Dick is in the Library of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania.\n\nBrother John Allison, the Junior Warden of Lodge No. 39, had served as\nMajor in the 1st Virginia State Regiment, and later as Lieutenant\nColonel.\n\nBrother William Ramsay, Treasurer of Lodge No. 39, was an old personal\nfriend of WASHINGTON.\n\nFor a history of Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, warranted by the Grand Lodge\nof Pennsylvania, February 3, 1783, which was constituted on the second\nfloor of a large three-story frame building, known as the \"Lamb Tavern,\"\non the twenty-fifth of February, 1783, the Masonic student is referred\nto \"Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania,\" Philadelphia, 1913, Chapter\nXLVI, pp. 153-168.\n\nThis tavern was situated on the west side of Union Street, between\nPrince and Duke Streets, Alexandria, the site of which is now known as\nNo. 55 South Union Street.[23]\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[20] Cf. \"Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania--Moderns and Ancients,\"\nJulius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1913, Vol. II, p. 157. Also _Vide_\n\"Washington the Man and the Mason,\" by Charles H. Callahan, published\nunder the auspices of the \"Memorial Temple Committee of the George\nWashington Masonic National Memorial Association,\" Washington, D. C.,\n1913.\n\n[21] Original among Washington relics in Alexandria-Washington Lodge,\nNo. 22, Alexandria, Virginia. Fac-simile in Washington collection of\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n[22] Elisha C. Dick's petition was presented in Lodge No. 2, September\n14, 1779, approved and entered by virtue of a dispensation from the\nGrand Master, September 15; passed and raised, September 23.\n\"Freemasonry in Pennsylvania,\" Vol. I, pp. 352, 353.\n\n[23] Cf. \"The Lodge of Washington,\" by F. L. Brocket, Alexandria, Va.,\n1876.\n\n\n\n\nIII\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 39, VIRGINIA, JUNE, 1784.\n\n\nThe next Washington letter of Masonic import in chronological order is\nhis reply to an invitation to join the brethren of Alexandria Lodge, No.\n39, in the celebration of St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1784, to\nwhich WASHINGTON sent the following reply, accepting the fraternal\ninvitation.\n\n     \"MOUNT VERNON, June 19, 1784.[24]\n\n     \"_Dear Sir_: With pleasure, I received the invita- tion of the\n     master and members of Lodge No. 39, to dine with them on the\n     approaching anniversary of St. John the Baptist. If nothing\n     unforeseen at present interferes, I will have the honor of doing it.\n     For the polite and flattering terms in which you have expressed\n     their wishes, you will please accept my thanks.\"\n\n        \"With esteem and respect,\n          \"I am, dear sir,\n            \"Your most Ob't serv't\n              \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     \"Wm. Herbert, Esquire.\"\n\n\n=PLACE OF MEETING OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39, ON PENNSYLVANIA REGISTER,\nALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA, WHERE GENERAL WASHINGTON ACCEPTED HONORARY MEMBERSHIP,\nJUNE 24, 1784.=\n\n\nNo copy of this invitation nor acceptance, has thus far been found among\nthe Washington papers.\n\nThe original of this letter is also said to be among the relics of\nAlexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22. As no fac-simile copy was\nobtainable, an engrossed copy for same was substituted in the collection\nof Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\nThis banquet was held at Wise's tavern[25] and was participated in by\nWASHINGTON, who upon this festive occasion was elected an honorary\nMember of Lodge No. 39, upon the Pennsylvania register, and thus became\na Pennsylvania Freemason, and his name is duly recorded as such upon the\nminutes of Lodge No. 39.\n\nThis fact further contradicts the Anti-Masonic arguments based upon the\nSnyder letter so extensively used during the years 1826-1833, that\nWASHINGTON never belonged to any Masonic Lodge, after his initiation in\nthe Fredericksburg Lodge in 1752.\n\nThe above note as recorded upon the Minutes of Alexandria Lodge, No. 39,\nshows that WASHINGTON was in complete harmony with the Masonic\nFraternity; further, that by his acceptance of membership, WASHINGTON\nbecame a Pennsylvania Mason.\n\nAmong the cherished relics in the Alexandria Lodge, there is none more\nvaluable than the Masonic portrait of Brother WASHINGTON, which forms\nthe frontispiece of this volume. This was painted from life in pastel,\nby William Williams, at Philadelphia in 1794.\n\nIn the year 1910 a fac-simile of this portrait was made in oil by Miss\nFanny M. Burke, an artist of repute, and a great-granddaughter of Thomas\nJefferson. This replica made for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is the\nonly one ever made of this portrait and shows Brother WASHINGTON as a\nman and Mason, neither heroized nor idealized.[26]\n\n\n=GEORGE WASHINGTON\n\nBY JEAN ANTOINE HOUDON, 1785.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[24] \"Washington and his Masonic Compeers,\" by Sidney Hayden, New York,\n1866, p. 104.\n\n[25] John Wise's tavern, in which the above Masonic Banquet was held, is\na large three-story brick building still standing on high ground at the\nnortheast corner of Cameron and Fairfax Streets, Alexandria. At that\ntime it had an unobstructed view of the Potomac.\n\n[26] _Vide_ \"Abstract of Proceedings of the Proceedings Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania, During the Year 1910,\" pp. 110-117.\n\n\n\n\nIV\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH KING DAVID'S LODGE, NO. 1, RHODE ISLAND, AUGUST,\n1790.\n\n\nThe next correspondence in chronological order is the letter, sent in\nreply to the Address delivered by the Brethren of King David's Lodge,\nNo. 1, at Newport, Rhode Island, to President WASHINGTON, August 17,\n1790, during his visit to New England.\n\nBy referring to the Minutes of this old Lodge following entry is found:\n\n     \"At a Lodge, called by request of several Breth-\n     \"ren on Tuesday evening, August 17, 5790, an\n     \"Entered Apprentice Lodge being opened in due\n     \"form proceeded to business, when it was proposed\n     \"to address the President of the United States.\n     \"The R. W. Master (Moses Seixas) Henry Sher-\n     \"burne, and the Secretary, [William Littlefield]\n     \"were appointed a committee for that purpose,\n     \"after which the Lodge closed.\"[27]\n\n\nFollowing address was prepared and according to local tradition was\npublicly presented, by the Committee to President WASHINGTON, in the\nVenerable Sanctuary of the Jewish Congregation at Newport; the Brethren\nof King David's Lodge being present:\n\n     \"TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, _President of the United\n                                 States of America._\n\n     \"We the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of\n     \"King David's Lodge in New Port Rhode Island\n     \"with joyful hearts embrace this opportunity to\n     \"greet you as a Brother, and to hail you welcome\n     \"to Rhode Island. We exult in the thought that\n     \"as Masonry has always been patronised by the\n     \"wise, the good, and the great, so that it stood\n     \"and ever will stand, as its fixtures are on the\n     \"immutable pillars of faith, hope, and charity.\n\n     \"With unspeakable pleasure we gratulate\n     \"you as filling the presidential chair with the\n     \"applause of a numerous and enlightened people\n     \"Whilst at the same time we felicitate ourselves\n     \"in the honor done the brotherhood by your many\n     \"exemplary virtues and emanations of goodness\n     \"proceeding from a heart worthy of possessing\n     \"the ancient mysteries of our craft; being persuaded\n     \"that the wisdom and grace with which heaven\n     \"has endowed you, will square all your thoughts,\n     \"words, and actions by the eternal laws of honor,\n     \"equity, and truth, so as to promote the advancement\n     \"of all good works, your own happiness, and that\n     \"of mankind.\n\n     \"Permit us then, illustrious Brother,\n     \"cordially to salute you with three times three\n     \"and to add our fervent supplications that the\n     \"sovereign architect of the universe may always\n     \"encompass you with his holy protection.\n\n                 \"MOSES SEIXAS[28]   _Master_\n     \"New Port Augt 17, 1790.      _Committee_.\n                 \"HY SHERBURNE\n     \"By order\n       \"WM LITTLEFIELD, _Secy._\"\n\n\nBrother Moses Seixas was born in New York, March 28, 1744; died in New\nYork City, November 29, 1809. He was a merchant in Newport, Rhode\nIsland, and one of the founders of the Newport Bank of Rhode Island, of\nwhich he was cashier until his death. He succeeded Brother Moses M. Hays\nas Worshipful Master of King David's Lodge at Newport. He was also the\nfirst Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. It was Moses\nSeixas who addressed a letter of welcome in the name of the Jewish\ncongregation to GEORGE WASHINGTON when the latter visited Newport, and\nit was to him that WASHINGTON's answer was addressed.\n\nThe Town Hall at Newport being out of repair at that time the ancient\nJewish Synagogue on the main street was used, upon that and several\nother public occasions. It is an interesting fact that this sacred\nedifice is still preserved in the same condition as it was during the\nColonial period.\n\nSo far as known this address was the first of Masonic import made to\nWASHINGTON as President. Unfortunately, the exact date of presentation\nand receipt of his answer is not known to a certainty, as there does not\nappear to be any date upon either the original documents or the copies\nin WASHINGTON's letter book.\n\nThe original address and WASHINGTON's reply to the Master, Wardens and\nBrethren of King David's Lodge in Newport, the latter signed in\nautograph by WASHINGTON, are in the Athenaeum collection at Boston,\nMassachusetts.[29]\n\nFollowing copy of the President's answer is taken from his letter\nbook.[30] Both address and answer in the letter book are in the\nhandwriting of Major William Jackson, secretary to the President.\n\nA photostat of the original entry is in the Archives of the Grand\nLodge of Pennsylvania. It will be noted that there is neither place nor\ndate given.\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF REPLY TO KING DAVID'S LODGE, NO. 1, NEWPORT, R. I. LETTER\nBOOK II, FOLIO 29.=\n\n\nPresident WASHINGTON arrived at Newport, R.I., at eight o'clock on\nTuesday morning, August 17, 1790. On the next day, Wednesday, the\nPresident and his suite left on the Packet \"Hancock\" at nine o'clock in\nthe morning for Providence.\n\nHis company consisted of Governor Clinton of New York, Thomas Jefferson,\nSecretary of State, Senator Theodore Foster, Judge Blair, Mr. Smith of\nSouth Carolina and Mr. Gorman of New Hampshire; members of Congress.[31]\n\nWASHINGTON left Providence, Saturday, August 21, and arrived in New York\nupon the following day, Sunday, August 22, 1790,[32] and sent the\nfollowing reply to the Newport Brethren:\n\n     \"TO THE MASTER, WARDENS, AND BRETHREN OF\n     \"KING DAVIDS LODGE IN NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND.\"\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_,\n\n     \"I receive the welcome which you\n     \"give me to Rhode Island with pleasure, and I\n     \"acknowledge my obligations for the flattering\n     \"expressions of regard, contained in your address,\n     \"with grateful sincerity.\n\n     \"Being persuaded that a just\n     \"application of the principles, on which the Masonic\n     \"Fraternity is founded, must be promotive of\n     \"private virtue and public prosperity, I shall\n     \"always be happy to advance the interests of\n     \"the Society, and to be considered by them as\n     \"a deserving brother.\n\n     \"My best wishes, Gentlemen,\n     \"are offered for your individual happiness.\"[33]\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF NOTICE SENT TO BROTHER WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON TO\nATTEND HIS LODGE. TREASURED BY THE WIFE OF PRESIDENT MADISON UNTIL HER\nDEATH. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. MSS. VOL. A,\nFOLIO 81.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[27] A copy of the Extracts from the Records of King David's Lodge, No.\n1, as made by Ara Hildreth, Esq., is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge\nof Pennsylvania, Mss. Volume Q, R.I. 7.\n\nCf. also a verified copy of the Minute in \"Proceedings of the\nAnti-Masonic Republican Convention of Massachusetts, Boston, 1832,\" p.\n22.\n\n[28] _Vide_ \"The Jews and Masonry in the United States,\" by Samuel\nOppenheim, New York, 1810, p. 22 _et seq._\n\n[29] Cf. \"Catalogue of the Washington Collection in the Boston\nAthenaeum,\" Boston, 1897, p. 331.\n\n[30] Letterbook II, p. 29.\n\n[31] Cf. \"Washington after the Revolution,\" W. S. Baker, Philadelphia,\n1898, p. 192.\n\n[32] Cf. _Pennsylvania Packet_, August 30-31 1790.\n\n[33] Copy of Address in Letter Book II, pp. 27-28, Photostat of same in\nArchives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n\n\n\nV\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH ST. JOHN'S LODGE, NO. 2 AT NEWBERN, N. C., APRIL,\n1791.\n\n\nThe next Masonic letter of President WASHINGTON was written, in answer\nto an address by the brethren of St. John's Lodge, No. 2, at Newbern,\nNorth Carolina, during his southern tour in 1791.\n\nApril 7, 1791, WASHINGTON started on a tour through the Southern States,\nby way of Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia; Halifax,\nTarborough, Newbern, and Wilmington, North Carolina; Georgetown, and\nCharleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia.\n\nWhen advice of this proposed presidential visit reached Newbern, the\nbrethren of St. John's Lodge, No. 2,[34] at the stated meeting held on\nApril 1, 1791, passed the following resolution. \"_Resolved_, that an\naddress shall be presented to Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON, in behalf of\nthis Lodge, on his arriving in this town.\"[35]\n\nUpon his arrival at Newbern, N. C., April 20, following address was\npresented to the President,[36] which, together with the reply, has thus\nfar never been in print or noted:\n\n     \"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF\n         AMERICA.\n\n     \"The Address of St Johns Lodge No. 2 of\n         Newbern.\n\n     \"_Right Worshipful Sir_,\n\n     \"We the Master, Officers, and Members of St.\n     \"Johns Lodge No 2, of Newbern, beg leave to hail\n     \"you welcome with three times three.\n\n     \"We approach you not with the language of\n     \"adulation, but sincere fraternal affection--your\n     \"works having proved you to be the true and faith-\n     \"ful brother, the skilful and expert Craftsman, the\n     \"just and upright man, But the powers of elo-\n     \"quence are too feeble to express with sufficient\n     \"energy the cordial warmth with which our bosoms\n     \"glow toward you.\n\n     \"We therefore most ardently wish, most fervently\n     \"and devoutly pray, That the Providence of the\n     \"most high may strengthen, establish, and protect\n     \"you, in your walk through this life; and when you\n     \"shall be called off from your terrestrial labours by\n     \"command of our divine grand master, and your\n     \"operations sealed with the mark of his approbation,\n     \"may your soul be eternally refreshed with the\n     \"streams of living water which flow at the right\n     \"hand of God, and when the supreme architect of\n     \"all worlds shall collect his most precious jewels as\n     \"ornaments of the celestial Jerusalem, may you\n     \"everlastingly shine among those of the brightest\n     \"lustre.\n\n     \"We are in our own behalf, and that of the\n     \"Members of this Lodge,\n\n        \"Right worshipful Sir;\n     \"St Johns Lodge No. 2.\n        \"Your true and faithful brethren\n     \"April 20th 5791.\n        \"ISAAC GUION _Master_.\n        \"SAMUEL CHAPMAN _Senior Warden_.\n        \"WILLIAM JOHNSTON, _Junior Warden_.\n     \"SOLOMON HALLING, EDW. PASTEUR, JAS CARNEY,\n        \"F. LOWTHROP.\n             \"_Members of the Committee_.\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF ADDRESS FROM ST. JOHN'S LODGE, NO. 2, NEWBERN, N. C.\nLETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 47-48.=\n\n\nBrothers: Isaac Guion, Worshipful Master, Samuel Chapman, Senior Warden,\nWilliam Johnston, Junior Warden, and Solomon Halling, signers to above\npetition had all seen service in the Continental Army during the\nRevolutionary War. Brother Guion served as Surgeon and Paymaster;\nBrother Chapman, Captain in 8th North Carolina, serving until the close\nof the War; Brother Johnston, Captain in North Carolina Militia and\npresent at Kings Mountain.\n\nBrother Hailing was Surgeon of the 4th Carolina Regiment and served\nuntil the close of the War.\n\n     WASHINGTON'S REPLY[37] TO THE BRETHREN OF ST. JOHN'S LODGE.\n\n     \"TO THE MASTER, WARDENS, AND MEMBERS OF ST\n         \"JOHN'S LODGE NO. 2 OF NEWBERN.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_,\n\n     \"I receive the cordial welcome which you\n     \"are pleased to give me with sincere gratitude.\n\n     \"My best ambition having ever aimed at\n     \"the unbiassed approbation of my fellow-citizens,\n     \"it is peculiarly pleasing to find my conduct\n     \"so affectionately approved by a fraternity whose as-\n     \"sociation is founded in justice and benevolence.\n\n     \"In reciprocating the wishes contained\n     \"in your address, be persuaded that I offer a sincere\n     \"prayer for your present and future happiness.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n\"At the following Meeting of St. John's Lodge, No. 2, April 29, 1791,\nthe Master laid before the Lodge the answer of Brother George Washington\nordered that it be read, which being done, Resolved that it be entered\non Minutes of this Lodge.\"[38] \"The Address to Brother Washington and\nhis answer are both on the Minutes of the Lodge. The original letter may\nhave been lost during the late unpleasantness, as the Lodge lost nearly\neverything it possessed.\"[39]\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[34] In the latter part of the eighteenth century, St. John's Lodge, No.\n2, at Newbern, was very active, at which time it built a two-story\ntheatre and Masonic Hall, and took part in a number of local matters.\n\n[35] Extract from Minutes by Brother J. F. Rhem, M.D., Newbern, N. C.\n\n[36] Letter Book 2, pp. 47-48 in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.;\nphotostat in Archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n[37] _Ibid._, p. 49; photostat in Archives of Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania.\n\n[38] Extract from Minutes by Brother J. F. Rhem, M.D., Newbern, N. C.\n\n[39] Brother J. F. Rhem, Newbern, N. C., in letter to Brother A. B.\nAndrews, Jr., December 14, 1914.\n\n\n\n\nVI\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE, NO. 16, GEORGETOWN, S. C.,\nAPRIL, 1791.\n\n\nWASHINGTON left Newbern, North Carolina, under an escort of horse, April\n22, 1791, and arrived at Georgetown, South Carolina, by way of\nWilmington, N. C., Saturday, April 30, where he was received with a\nsalute of cannon, and by a company of infantry, and during the afternoon\nwas presented with the following address, by a Committee of Prince\nGeorge's Lodge, No. 16 (Moderns), of Georgetown, South Carolina.\n\nThis Lodge was one of the original six Lodges, which had been warranted\nprior to 1756 in South Carolina, under the Jurisdiction of the\nProvincial Grand Lodge, and through it, the Grand Lodge of England. It\nis the only instance where a Lodge of the \"Moderns\" addressed Brother\nWASHINGTON:\n\n     \"TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS BROTHER GEORGE WASHINGTON.\n\n     \"_President of the United States._\n\n     \"At a time when all men are emulous to approach\n     \"you to express the lively sensations you inspire as\n     \"the Father of our country. Permit us the Brethren\n     \"of Prince George's Lodge No. 16 to have our share\n     \"in the general happiness in welcoming you to\n     \"Georgetown, and the pleasure of reflecting that we\n     \"behold in you the liberator of our country. the\n     \"distributor of its equal laws, and a Brother of our\n     \"most ancient and most honorable Order.\n\n     \"At the same time indulge us in congratulating\n     \"you on the truly honorable and happy situation in\n     \"which you now stand, as the Grand Conductor of\n     \"the political interests of these United States.\n\n     \"Having by your manly efforts caused the beau-\n     \"teous light of liberty to beam on this western hemi-\n     \"sphere, and by the wisdom Heaven has graciously\n     \"endowed you with established the liberties of\n     \"America on the justest and firmest basis that was\n     \"ever yet recorded in the annuals of history, you\n     \"now enjoy the supremest of all earthly happiness\n     \"that of diffusing peace, liberty, and safety to mil-\n     \"lions of your fellow-citizens.\n\n     \"As a true reward for your patriotic, noble and\n     \"exalted services we fervently pray the Grand Archi-\n     \"tect of the universe long to bless you with health,\n     \"stability, and power to continue you the Grand\n     \"Pillar of the arch of liberty in this vast empire,\n     \"which you have been so eminently distinguished in\n     \"raising to this pitch of perfection at which we now\n     \"behold it.\n\n     \"May the residue of your life be spent in ease\n     \"content and happiness, and as the Great Parent of\n     \"these United States may you long live to see your\n     \"children flourish under your happy auspices and\n     \"may you be finally rewarded with eternal happiness.\n\n     \"We conclude our present address with a fervent\n     \"wish that you will continue as you have hitherto\n     \"been, the friend of our ancient and honorable\n     \"Order, and of all worthy Masons.\n\n        \"I. WHITE\n        \"R. GRANT      _Committee from_\n        \"AB. COHEN     _Prince George's Lodge._\n        \"JOS. BLYTH.\n        \"J. CARSON.\n\n     \"George Town 30th April 1791.\"\n\n\nOf the above signers, three of the brethren had served in the War for\nIndependence, viz.: Brother Isaac White, Lieutenant in North Carolina\nMilitia at Kings Mountain; Brother Reuben Grant, Ensign in the 6th North\nCarolina Infantry, and Brother Joseph Blythe, Surgeon in 1st North\nCarolina Regiment, taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12th, 1780;\nexchanged June 14, 1781; in 4th North Carolina in February, 1782, and\nserved to close of war.\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF ADDRESS FROM THE BRETHREN OF PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE, FOLIO\nNO. 16, GEORGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA, APRIL, 1791. LETTER BOOK II, 59-60.=\n\n\nThe following reply unfortunately bears no date. Both address and reply\nwere entered in Washington Letter Book, No. II, folio 60-61. It is not\nknown what has became of the originals. No notice or copies of either of\nthe above documents have thus far been published.\n\n     WASHINGTON'S REPLY.\n\n     \"TO THE BRETHREN OF PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE,\n         NO. 16.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_:\n\n     \"The cordial welcome which you give me\n     \"to George Town, and the congratulations, you are\n     \"pleased to offer on my election to the chief\n     \"magistracy receive my grateful thanks.\n\n     \"I am much obliged by your good wishes\n     \"and reciprocate them with sincerity, assuring the\n     \"fraternity of my esteem, I request them to believe\n     \"that I shall always be ambitious of being considered\n     \"a deserving Brother.\n\n        Go. Washington\n\n\n=GENERAL MORDECAI GIST.\n\nB. BALTIMORE, MD., 1743. D. CHARLESTON, S. C., 1792.\n\nWHO, AS GRAND MASTER OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SIGNED THE ADDRESS TO BROTHER\nWASHINGTON.=\n\n\n\n\nVII\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, MAY, 1791.\n\n\nPresident WASHINGTON left Georgetown at six o'clock in the evening, May\n1, 1791, reaching Charleston, South Carolina, Monday, May 2, in a\ntwelve-oared barge rowed by twelve American captains of ships\naccompanied by a great number of boats with gentlemen and ladies in\nthem, and two boats with music.[40] Brother WASHINGTON remained in\nCharleston until May 9.\n\nWednesday, May 4, 1791, General Mordecai Gist, an old companion in arms\nof WASHINGTON, and formerly Master of the Military Lodge in the Maryland\nline (No. 27 upon the register of Pennsylvania),[41] but now Grand\nMaster of the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina,\nattended by the other present and past grand officers,[42] waited on\ntheir beloved brother, the president of the United States, and presented\nthe following address:[43]\n\n     \"_Sir_--Induced by a respect for your public and private character,\n     as well as the relation in which you stand with the brethren of\n     this society, we the Grand Lodge of the State of South Carolina,\n     Ancient York Masons, beg leave to offer our sincere congratulations\n     on your arrival in this state.\n\n     \"We felicitate you on the establishment and exercise of a permanent\n     government, whose foundation was laid under your auspices by\n     military achievements, upon which have been progressively reared\n     the pillars of the free republic over which you preside, supported\n     by wisdom, strength, and beauty unrivalled among the nations of the\n     world.\n\n     \"The fabric thus raised and committed to your superintendence, we\n     earnestly wish may continue to produce order and harmony to\n     succeeding ages, and be the asylum of virtue to the oppressed of\n     all parts of the universe.\n\n     \"When we contemplate the distresses of war, the instances of\n     humanity displayed by the Craft afford some relief to the feeling\n     mind; and it gives us the most pleasing sensation to recollect,\n     that amidst the difficulties attendant on your late military\n     stations, you still associated with, and patronized the Ancient\n     Fraternity.\n\n     \"Distinguished always by your virtues, more than the exalted\n     stations in which you have moved, we exult in the opportunity you\n     now give us of hailing you brother of our Order, and trust from\n     your knowledge of our institution, to merit your countenance and\n     support.\n\n     \"With fervent zeal for your happiness, we pray that a life so dear\n     to the bosom of this society, and to society in general, may be\n     long, very long preserved; and when you leave the temporal symbolic\n     lodges of this world, may you be received into the celestial lodge\n     of light and perfection, where the Grand Master Architect of the\n     Universe presides.\n\n     \"Done in behalf of the Grand Lodge.\n\n        \"M. GIST, G. M.\"[44]\n\n     \"Charleston, 2d May, 1791.\"\n\n\nTo this address WASHINGTON returned the following reply.[45]\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_:--I am much obliged by the respect which you are so\n     good as to declare for my public and private character. I recognize\n     with pleasure my relation to the brethren of your Society, and I\n     accept with gratitude your congratulations on my arrival in South\n     Carolina.\n\n     \"Your sentiments, on the establishment and exercise of our equal\n     government, are worthy of an association, whose principles lead to\n     purity of morals, and are beneficial of action.\n\n     \"The fabric of our freedom is placed on the enduring basis of\n     public virtue, and will, I fondly hope, long continue to protect\n     the prosperity of the architects who raised it. I shall be happy,\n     on every occasion, to evince my regard for the Fraternity. For your\n     prosperity individually, I offer my best wishes.\"\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\nThis letter was probably destroyed with other Grand Lodge property when\nColumbia, South Carolina, was burned by Sherman's Army during the war\nbetween the States.[46]\n\nFortunately, the original draft of WASHINGTON's reply, was found among\nthe Washington papers now in the Library of Congress. This is written\nupon two pages of a letter sheet: the first page shows a paragraph which\nwas suppressed and did not appear upon the clear copy sent to the Grand\nLodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina.\n\nA photostat of this draft is in the collection of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania, viz.:\n\n     \"TO THE GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH\n       \"CAROLINA ANCIENT YORK MASONS.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_,\n\n     \"I am much obliged by the respect\n     \"which you are so good as to declare for my\n     \"public and private character. I recognise\n     \"with pleasure my relation to the Brethren\n     \"of your Society--and I accept with gratitude\n     \"your congratulations on my arrival in\n     \"South Carolina.\n\n     \"_Your felicitations It is peculiarly\n                           general\n     \"pleasing to observe the ^ satisfaction expressed\n     \"on the establishment and exercise of the\n     \"federal government_--\n     \"Your sentiments on the establishment\n     \"and exercise of our equal government are\n     \"worthy of an association, whose principles\n     \"lead to purity of morals, and beneficence\n     \"of action--The fabric of our freedom\n     \"is placed on the enduring basis of\n     \"public virtue, and will long continue\n     \"to protect the Posterity of the architects\n     \"who raised it.\n\n     \"I shall be happy on every\n                            regard\n     \"occasion to evince my respect for the\n     \"Fraternity, for whose happiness individually\n     \"I offer my best wishes.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ADDRESS FROM GRAND LODGE OF\nSOUTH CAROLINA, MAY, 1791.\n\nHANDWRITING OF MAYOR WILLIAM JACKSON.=\n\n\nUpon the first page the four lines commencing with \"Your felicitations\"\nand ending with \"federal government\" were crossed out, and as above\nstated, were not in the reply sent to R. W. Grand Master Gist and his\nofficers.\n\nIn the third line from the bottom the word \"regard\" is substituted for\n\"respect.\"\n\nBrother Gist was the original Warrant Master of the Regimental Lodge in\nthe Maryland line, No. 27, on the Roster of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania. After the war, Brother Gist settled in Charleston, South\nCarolina, retaining his old Military Warrant, and, in 1786, applied to\nthe Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, to renew this warrant, for a Lodge to\nbe located at Charleston under the same number. This request was\ngranted, and Brother Gist was again named as Warrant Master.\n\nAt the formation of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina Ancient York\nMasons in 1787, Brother Gist was elected Deputy Grand Master and served\nas such during the years 1787-88-89, and as Grand Master, 1790-1791.\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[40] Washington's Diary.\n\n[41] Cf. \"Old Masonic Lodges in Pennsylvania,\" Philadelphia, 1913, Vol.\n2, p. 53 _et seq._\n\n[42] Brother William Drayton, Past Grand Master; Brother Mordecai Gist,\nGrand Master; Brother Thomas B. Bowen, Deputy Grand Master; Brother\nGeorge Miller, Senior Grand Warden; Brother John Mitchell, Junior Grand\nWarden; Brother Thomas Gates, Grand Chaplain; Brother Robert Knox, Grand\nTreasurer; Brother Alexandrer Alexander, Grand Secretary; Brother Israel\nMeyers, Grand Tiler.\n\n[43] _City Gazette_, Friday, May 6, 1791, p. 2, column 4.\n\n[44] For full account of Lodge 27 and Brother Gist, _vide_ \"Old Masonic\nLodges of Pennsylvania,\" before quoted, Vol. II, pp. 53-63.\n\n[45] Cf. Hayden, \"Washington and his Masonic Compeers,\" p. 135.\n\n[46] William C. Mazyck, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, G. L. of South\nCarolina.\n\n\n\n\nVIII\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA, MAY, 1791.\n\n\nOn the way from Charleston, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia,\nWASHINGTON called on Mrs. Greene, the widow of late Brother General\nNathaniel Greene, at her plantation called Mulberry Grove, reaching\nSavannah, Georgia, on the evening of Thursday, May 12, 1791.\n\nSaturday, May 14, WASHINGTON was waited on by Brethren of the Grand\nLodge of Georgia and presented with the following address:[47]\n\n     \"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.\n\n     \"_Sir, and Brother_,\n\n     \"The Grand Master, Officers and Members of the\n     \"Grand Lodge of Georgia, beg leave to congratulate\n     \"you on your arrival in this city. Whilst your ex-\n     \"alted character claims the respect and deference of\n     \"all men, they from the benevolence of masonic prin-\n     \"ciples approach you with the familiar declaration\n     \"of fraternal affection.\n\n     \"Happy indeed that Society, renowned for its\n     \"antiquity, and pervading influence over the en-\n     \"lightened world, which having ranked a Frederick\n     \"at its head, can now boast of a Washington as a\n     \"Brother. A Brother who it justly hailed the Re-\n     \"deemer of his country, raised it to glory, and by his\n     \"conduct in public and private life has evinced to\n     \"Monarchs that true majesty consists not in splendid\n     \"royalty, but in intrinsic worth.\n\n     \"With these sentiments they rejoice at your pres-\n     \"ence in this State, and in common with their fellow-\n     \"citizens, greet you, thrice welcome, flattering them-\n     \"selves that your stay will be made agreeable.\n\n     \"May the great Architect of the Universe pre-\n     \"serve you whilst engaged in the work allotted you\n     \"on earth, and long continue you the brightest pil-\n     \"lar of our Temple, and when the supreme fiat shall\n     \"summon you hence, they pray the might I AM\n     \"may take you into his holy keeping,\n\n        \"Grand Lodge in Savannah\n          \"May 14th 5791.\n            \"GEO: HOUSTON,\n              \"_Grand Master_.\"\n\n\n=BRO. WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ADDRESS FROM THE GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA, MAY,\n1791. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 78.=\n\n\nUpon the next day, Sunday, May 15, after attending the morning church\nservice, WASHINGTON left Savannah and set out for Augusta, Georgia,\nhalting for dinner at Mulberry Grove, the seat of Mrs. Nathaniel Greene.\nThe following reply to the Masonic address was sent to the Grand Lodge\nof Georgia,[48] both address and reply now first published:\n\n     \"TO THE GRAND MASTER, OFFICERS AND MEMBERS\n       \"OF THE GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen_,\n\n     \"I am much obliged by your congratulations\n     \"on my arrival in this city, and I am highly indebted\n     \"to your favorable opinions.\n\n     \"Every circumstance contributes to\n     \"render my stay in Savannah agreeable, and it\n     \"is cause of regret to me that it must be so\n     \"short.\n\n     \"My best wishes are offered for the welfare\n     \"of the fraternity, and for your particular happiness.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n=PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S RESIDENCE IN PHILADELPHIA, A. D. 1790 A. D. 1797.\n\nWHERE THE MASONIC ADDRESSES OF THE GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA WERE\nDELIVERED.\n\nFROM A CONTEMPORARY WATER COLOR PAINTING BELONGING TO THE LIBRARY\nCOMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA.\n\nTHE FIGURES ARE THOSE OF WASHINGTON AND ROBERT MORRIS.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[47] Washington Letter Book, II, folio 77. Photostat in Archives of the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n[48] Address and Reply, Letter Book II, folio 77-78.\n\n\n\n\nIX\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, JANUARY 3, 1792.\n\n\nDuring the Presidential term of Brother WASHINGTON, the President, when\nin Philadelphia, lived in a large double three-story brick mansion, on\nthe south side of Market Street, sixty feet east of Sixth Street, the\nsite of which is now occupied by three stores, viz.: Nos. 526, 528, 530.\n\nThe Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania then held its meetings in the upper\nfloor of the Meeting house of the Free Quakers, still standing, at the\nsouthwest corner of Arch and Fifth Streets; this was but a short\ndistance from the presidential mansion. Brother WASHINGTON was\nundoubtedly personally acquainted with many of its members, especially\nsuch as had been officers during the Revolution, and were fellow members\nof the Cincinnati.\n\nOn St. John's Day, December 27, 1791, a Grand Lodge was opened in ample\nform,[49] and the Minutes of the last Grand Communication were read, as\nfar as concerns the election of Grand Officers.\n\nThe Grand Officers upon this occasion were:\n\nBrother Jonathan Bayard Smith, _R. W. Grand Master_.\n\nBrother Joseph Few, _Deputy Grand Master_.\n\nBrother Thomas Procter, _Senior Grand Warden_.\n\nBrother Gavin Hamilton, _Junior Grand Warden_.\n\nBrother Peter Le Barbier Duplessis, _Grand Secretary_.\n\nBrother Benjamin Mason, _Grand Treasurer_.\n\nThe Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith then addressed the Brethren in an\noration suitable to the Grand Day, and the thanks of the Lodge were\ngiven to said Brother William Smith for the same.\n\nAfter which, on motion and seconded, the Rev. Brother Dr. Smith and the\nRight Worshipful Grand Officers were appointed a Committee to prepare an\naddress to our Illustrious Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the\nUnited States; and this Lodge was adjourned to the second day of January\nnext to receive the report of said Committee.\n\n     \"PHILADELPHIA, January 2d, 1792.\n\n     \"_Grand Lodge, By Adjournment_,[50]\n\n     \"A Grand Lodge was opened in ample form, and the Minutes of St.\n     John's Day being read as far as relates to the appointment of a\n     Committee to prepare an Address to our illustrious Brother George\n     Washington, The Revd. Bro. Dr. Wm. Smith, one of the said\n     Committee, presented the Draft of one which was read, Whereupon, on\n     Motion and Seconded, the same was unanimously approved of, and\n     Resolved, That the Rt. Wt. Grand Master, Depy. G. Master, and\n     Grand Officers, with the Revd Bro. Smith, be a Committee to\n     present the said Address in behalf of this Rt. Wt. Grand Lodge,\n     signed by the Right Worshipful Grand Master, and Countersigned by\n     the Grand Secretary.\n\n     \"Lodge closed at half past 9 o'clock in Harmony.\"\n\n\nFollowing is the address presented to Brother WASHINGTON. Both the\noriginal draft in the handwriting of Brother William Smith, showing\nminor alterations, as well as a fair copy, are in the archives of the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania.[51]\n\n     \"TO HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.\n\n     \"_Sir and Brother_:\n\n     \"The Ancient _York Masons_ of the Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, for\n     the first time assembled in General _Communication_ to celebrate\n     the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, since your Election to the\n     _Chair_ of Government in the United States, beg leave to approach\n     you with Congratulations from the East, and in the pride of\n     Fraternal affection to hail you as the _Great Master Builder_\n     (under the Supreme Architect) by whose labours the _Temple of\n     Liberty_ hath been reared in the West, exhibiting to the Nations of\n     the Earth a _Model_ of _Beauty_, _Order_ and _Harmony_ worthy of\n     their Imitation and Praise.\n\n     \"Your Knowledge of the Origin and Objects of our Institution; its\n     Tendency to promote the Social Affections and harmonize the Heart,\n     give us a sure pledge that this tribute of our Veneration, this\n     Effusion of our Love will not be ungrateful to you; nor will Heaven\n     reject our _Prayer_ that you may be long continued to adorn the\n     bright list of Master workmen which our Fraternity in the\n     _terrestrial Lodge_; and that you may be late removed to that\n     _Celestial Lodge_ where love and Harmony reign transcendent and\n     Divine; where the great Architect more immediately presides, and\n     where _Cherubim_ and _Seraphim_, wafting our Congratulations from\n     _Earth to Heaven_, shall hail you _Brother_.\n\n        (Seal)     \"By order and in behalf of the Grand\n                   \"Lodge of Pennsylvania in general Com-\n                   \"munication assembled in ample form.\n\n\n                   \"J B Smith\n\n        (Signed)                G.M.\n\n                  [Illegible Signature]\n\n       \"Attest:                 Gd. Secry.\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL ADDRESS READ BEFORE PRESIDENT WASHINGTON\nBY REV. BRO. WILLIAM SMITH, D.D., JANUARY 3, 1792.\n\nORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. MSS.--VOLUME\nA.--FOLIO.--21.=\n\n\nOn January 3, 1792, Jonathan Bayard Smith, the Right Worshipful Grand\nMaster, together with the Grand Officers and Rev. Brother William Smith\ncalled on the President and delivered the above address.\n\nThe deputation was received in the dining room of the presidential\nmansion. This was a room about thirty feet long, and where WASHINGTON\nwas accustomed to receive delegations.\n\nAt the Quarterly Communication held March 5, 1792, the Right Worshipful\nGrand Master Jonathan B. Smith informed the Brethren that, in conformity\nto the resolve of this Grand Lodge, he had, in company with the Grand\nOfficers and the Rev. Brother Dr. Smith, presented the address to our\nillustrious Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON and had received an answer, which\nwas read.\n\n     \"TO THE ANCIENT YORK MASONS OF THE\n       \"JURISDICTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen and Brothers_,\n\n     \"I receive your kind Congratulations\n     \"with the purest sensations of fraternal affection:--and\n     \"from a heart deeply impressed with your generous\n     \"wishes for my present and future happiness, I beg\n     \"you to accept my thanks.\n\n     \"At the same time I request you will\n     \"be assured of my best wishes and earnest prayers\n     \"for your happiness while you remain in this terres-\n     \"tial Mansion, and that we may thereafter meet\n     \"as brethren in the Eternal Temple of the\n     \"Supreme Architect.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA,\nJANUARY, 1792. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF THE GRAND LODGE.=\n\n\n=WASHINGTON'S MASONIC APRON.\n\nEMBROIDERED BY MADAM LAFAYETTE; PRESENTED AUGUST, 1784, BY BRO. GEN.\nLAFAYETTE TO BRO. GEN. WASHINGTON; PRESENTED OCTOBER 26, 1816, BY THE\nLEGATEES OF BRO. WASHINGTON TO THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF\nPENNSYLVANIA; PRESENTED JULY 3, 1829, BY THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT\nSOCIETY TO THE R. W. GRAND LODGE, F. &. A. M. OF PENNSYLVANIA.\n\nORIGINAL APRON IN MUSEUM OF THE GRAND LODGE.=\n\n\nWhereupon, on motion and seconded, Resolved, unanimously, that the said\naddress and the answer thereto, shall be entered on the minutes.\n\nThis answer, in possession of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, is in the\nhandwriting of Tobias Lear, who was the private secretary of the\nPresident, and for years attended to the details of WASHINGTON's\ndomestic affairs, and was liberally remembered by him in his will.\n\nThe letter was signed by WASHINGTON, who had both the address and answer\ncopied verbatim in one of his letter books[52] by Bartholomew Dandridge,\nsecretary to the President. A photostat copy of above, together with the\noriginal answer by WASHINGTON is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania.\n\nThis address was read by Rev. Brother William Smith, one of the most\nnoted Episcopal preachers in Philadelphia, and the first Provost of the\nCollege of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania. Brother\nWilliam Smith, D.D., had been an active member of the Masonic\nFraternity in Pennsylvania for forty years; he was the Chaplain of the\nGrand Lodge of Moderns for almost a quarter of a century. In winter of\n1778 he joined the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons, and for some time\nserved as Grand Secretary.[53]\n\nJonathan Bayard Smith, the Grand Master of Pennsylvania, was one of\nPhiladelphia's prominent citizens. During the Revolutionary period he\nwas an ardent patriot; he was among the earliest of those who espoused\nthe cause of independence. In 1775 he was chosen secretary of the\nCommittee of Safety, and in February, 1777, he was elected by the\nassembly a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was a second time\nchosen to this post, serving in the congresses of 1777-8. From April 4,\n1777, till Nov. 13, 1778, he was prothonotary of the court of Common\nPleas.\n\nOn December 1, 1777, he presided at the public meeting, in Philadelphia,\nof \"Real Whigs,\" by whom it was resolved \"That it be recommended to the\ncouncil of safety that in this great emergency ... every person between\nthe age of sixteen and fifty years be ordered out under arms.\" During\nthis year he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of a battalion of\n\"Associators.\"\n\n\n=J B SMITH\n\nB. FEB. 21, 1742; D. JUNE 16, 1812.\n\nGRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1789-1794.=\n\n\nIn 1778 he was appointed a justice of the court of Common Pleas, Quarter\nSessions, and Orphans' Court, which post he held for many years. He\nwas appointed in 1781, one of the auditors of the accounts of\nPennsylvania troops in the service of the United States. In 1792, and\nsubsequently, he was chosen an alderman of the city, which was an office\nof great dignity in his day, and in 1794 he was elected auditor-general\nof Pennsylvania.\n\nBrother Jonathan B. Smith was an active member of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania. He was the Senior Grand Warden in 1786, at the time when\nthe Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania: \"_Resolved_, that the Grand\nLodge is, and ought to be perfectly independent and free of any such\nforeign jurisdiction.\"[54]\n\nIn the two following years he was appointed Deputy Grand Master by Right\nWorshipful Grand Master William Adcock; he was elected Right Worshipful\nGrand Master in 1789 and served in that capacity for six years\n(1789-1794). In the year 1798 he was again elected to that honorable\noffice, serving five more consecutive years (1798 to 1802), when he\ndeclined reelection. The following action was taken by the Grand\nLodge:[55]\n\n     \"On Motion made and Seconded the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania\n     impressed with a grateful sense of the long assiduous and highly\n     useful labours of their late R. W. Grand Master, Bror Jonathan\n     Bayard Smith, Esqr, previous to and during his service in the\n     high Station which he has left, Resolved Unanimously, That the most\n     respectful Thanks of the said G. Lodge be presented to their said\n     Brother Jonathan Bayard Smith for the eminent services he has\n     rendered to the Craft generally and more especially for the able,\n     diligent and impartial manner in which he has discharged the Duties\n     of the Chair and while they deplore the necessity of his now\n     retiring from the Official Station amongst them which he has so\n     Honourably filled, they hope for a continuance of his Brotherly\n     Love, Aid and information and finally that he be requested to\n     receive the best wishes of the Grand Lodge for a prolongation of\n     his useful life, a commensurate enjoyment of his Health and his\n     final Happiness in the Mansion of Everlasting Rest.\"\n\n\nBrother Joseph Few, Deputy Grand Master, was also a Revolutionary\nSoldier, having served as Regimental Quarter Master with the 4th\nContinental Artillery.\n\nBrother Thomas Procter, Senior Grand Warden, formerly Colonel of the\nPennsylvania Artillery, and Warrant Master of the Military Lodge, No.\n19, upon the Roster of Pennsylvania was prominent in both civil and\npolitical affairs during WASHINGTON's administration. A full account of\nBrother Thomas Procter and this Military Lodge will be found in the\nHistory of the Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania, published by the\nGrand Lodge in 1913.[56]\n\nFor a sketch of Brother Peter Le Barbier Duplessis, the reader is\nreferred to the same volume.[57]\n\n\n=WASHINGTON'S PAST MASTER'S JEWEL.\n\nReplica in the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[49] Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Vol. I, p. 178.\n\n[50] _Ibid._, p. 180.\n\n[51] MSS. Volume A, folio 17, 19, 21.\n\n[52] Letter Book II, pp. 104-105.\n\n[53] Cf. \"Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania,\" Vol. I, p. 201.\n\n[54] Cf. Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge, Vol. I, p. 96 _et seq._\n\n[55] _Ibid._, Vol. II, p. 68.\n\n[56] Volume II, Chapter XXVI, pp. 1-36. Cf. also \"Freemasonry in\nPennsylvania,\" Vol. I and II, for various references to Col. Procter.\n\n[57] Cf. \"Old Lodges,\" Vol. II, pp. 256 _et seq._\n\n\n\n\nX\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER, 1792.\n\n\n     \"At Grand Lodge held at Concert Hall, Boston, 10th of December, 5792,\n     being a Quarterly Communication it was\n\n     \"_Resolved_, That the Grand Master, with the Grand Wardens, present\n     to our Most Beloved Brother\n\n                         GEORGE WASHINGTON,\n\n     the new Book of Constitutions, with a suitable address.\"\n\n\nAt the next Quarterly Communication we find that,\n\n     \"Agreeably to a resolve at the last Quarterly Communication, the\n     Grand Master, with his Wardens, reported:\n\n     \"That they had written to our beloved President and Brother, George\n     Washington, and presented him with a Book of Constitutions, to\n     which letter he had been pleased to make answer. The letter and\n     answer were read, and Voted to be inserted in the records of the\n     Grand Lodge.\"\n\n\nThis address was evidently sent to President WASHINGTON at Philadelphia,\nand was answered from the presidential office in that city. No date nor\nplace appears upon either the original so far as known, nor the copy in\nthe letter book, both address and reply therein being in the handwriting\nof Bartholomew Dandridge, Secretary to the President.\n\nThe following copy of both address and reply are taken from Letter Book\nII, folio 106-108.\n\n     \"An Address of the Grand Lodge of Free &\n     \"Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth\n     \"of Massachusetts, To their honored and\n     \"Illustrious Brother.\n\n                GEORGE WASHINGTON.\n\n     \"Whilst the Historian is describing the\n     \"career of your glory, and the inhabitants\n     \"of an extensive Empire are made happy\n     \"in your unexampled exertions:--whilst some\n     \"celebrate the Hero so distinguished in li-\n     \"berating United America; and others the Patriot\n     \"who presides over her Councils, a Band of bro-\n     \"thers, having always joined the acclamations\n     \"of their countrymen, now testify their res-\n     \"pect for those milder virtues which have\n     \"ever graced the man.\n\n     \"Taught by the precepts of our Society;\n     \"that all its members _stand upon a level_, we\n     \"venture to assume this station & to approach\n     \"you with that freedom which diminishes\n     \"our diffidence without lessening our respect.\n\n     \"Desirous to enlarge the boundaries of\n     \"social happiness, and to vindicate the cere-\n     \"monies of their institution, this Grand Lodge\n     \"have published a \"Book of Constitutions,\" (and\n     \"a copy for your acceptance accompanies\n     \"this) which by discovering the principles that\n     \"actuate will speak the Eulogy of the Society;\n     \"though they fervently wish the conduct of its;\n     \"Members may prove its higher commendation.\n\n     \"Convinced of his attachment to its\n     \"cause, and readiness to encourage its bene-\n     \"volent designs; they have taken the liberty to\n     \"dedicate this work to one, the qualities of\n     \"whose heart and the actions of whose life\n     \"have contributed to improve personal virtue,\n     \"and extend throughout the world, the most endear-\n     \"ing cordialities; and they humbly hope he will\n     \"pardon this freedom, and accept the tribute of\n     \"their esteem & homage.\n\n     \"May the supreme architect of the uni-\n     \"verse protect & bless you, give you length of\n     \"days & increase of Felicity in this world, and then\n     \"receive you to the harmonious & exalted So-\n     \"ciety in Heaven.--\n\n        \"JOHN CUTLER,        _Grand Master_\n        \"JOSIAH BARTLETT  }\n        \"MUNGO MACHEY     }   _Grd Wardens_.\n\n     \"Boston\n     \"Decem. 27, A.D. 1792.\"\n\n\nThe following reply was sent by President WASHINGTON from Philadelphia\nto the Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. It will be noticed\nthat there was no date or place mentioned upon the copy in the Letter\nBook, nor on the original letter, which at present is believed to be in\nthe Library of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.\n\n     WASHINGTON'S REPLY\n\n     \"TO THE GRAND LODGE OF FREE & ACCEPTED MA-\n       \"SONS, FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU-\n       \"SETTS.\n\n     \"Flattering as it may be to the human\n     \"mind, & truly honorable as it is to receive\n     \"from our fellow citizens testimonies of appro-\n     \"bation for exertions to promote the public wel-\n     \"fare, it is not less pleasing to know, that the\n     \"milder virtues of the heart are highly respected\n     \"by a Society whose liberal principles must be\n     \"founded in  the immutable laws of truth and\n     \"justice.--\n\n     \"To enlarge the sphere of social happi-\n     \"ness is worthy the benevolent design of a ma-\n     \"sonic institution; and it is most fervently to\n     \"be wished, that the conduct of every member\n     \"of the fraternity, as well as those publications\n     \"that discover the principles which actuate them;\n     \"may tend to convince mankind that the grand\n     \"object of Masonry is to promote the happiness\n     \"of the human race.\n\n     \"While I beg your acceptance of\n     \"my thanks for the \"Book of Constitutions\" which\n     \"you have sent me, & the honor you have done\n     \"me in the dedication, permit me to assure you\n     \"that I feel all those emotions of gratitude\n     \"which your affectionate address & cordial\n     \"wishes are calculated to inspire; and I\n     \"sincerely pray that the Great Architect\n     \"of the Universe may bless you here, and\n     \"receive you hereafter into his immortal Temple.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\nNo fac-simile copy of the original letter was obtainable for the\nCollection of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n\n=WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. LETTER BOOK II,\nFOLIO 108.=\n\n\n\n\nXI\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, DECEMBER, 1796.\n\n\nSeptember 18, 1796, President WASHINGTON issued his farewell address.\nHis second term was drawing to a close; the term had been a more or less\nexciting one: The passing of the Neutrality Act; Genet's appeal from the\nexecutive to the people; the Fugitive Slave Act; the whiskey\ninsurrection in western Pennsylvania; the adoption of the Eleventh\namendment; the purchase of peace from Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis; the\ntroubles with Great Britain about the non-delivery of the military posts\nand later the Jay Treaty, all came within President WASHINGTON's second\nand last term.[58]\n\nDuring these troublous times WASHINGTON had no stauncher supporters than\nhis Masonic Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Further, that\nWASHINGTON kept more or less in touch with his Masonic Brethren of the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania is shown by the fact that he attended the\nservices at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, on Third Street below Walnut,\non St. John's Day, December 27, 1793, where a charity sermon was\npreached by Rev. Brother Samuel Magaw, D.D., Vice-Provost of the\nUniversity of Pennsylvania, before the Grand and Subordinate Lodges for\nthe purpose of increasing the relief fund, for the widows and orphans of\nthe yellow fever epidemic which ravaged the capital city during the past\nsummer.[59]\n\nWhen the Brethren found that WASHINGTON positively declined reelection\nin 1796, and that John Adams was elected to succeed him on the fourth of\nMarch following, the Brethren of the Grand Lodge at their Quarterly\nCommunication, December 5, 1796, determined that it would be right and\nproper to present him with an address before his retirement from office,\nwhereupon, it was resolved: \"On Motion and seconded, that a Committee be\nappointed to frame an Address to be presented on the ensuing Feast of\nSt John, Decemr 27th, to the Great Master Workman, our Illustrious Br.\nWashington, on the occasion of his intended retirement from Public\nLabor, to be also laid before the said Grand Lodge on St John's Day, and\nthe Rt W. Grand Master, Deputy G. M. Brs Sadler, Milnor and Williams,\nwere accordingly appointed.\"\n\nAt a Grand Lodge held on St. John's Day, Philadelphia, December 27,\n5796, \"The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to our Brother\nGeorge Washington, President of the United States, presented an Address\nby them drawn up, which was ordered to be read, and was in the words\nfollowing, to wit:\n\n     \"To GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.\n\n     \"The Address of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl-\n     \"vania.\n\n     \"_Most Respected Sir and Brother_,\n\n     \"Having announced your intention to retire from\n     \"_Public Labour_ to that _Refreshment_ to which your\n     \"preeminent Services for near Half a Century have\n     \"so justly entitled you. Permit the Grand Lodge\n     \"of Pennsylvania at this last Feast of our Evangelic\n     \"Master St. John, on which we can hope for an im-\n     \"mediate Communication with you to join the grate-\n     \"ful Voice of our Country in Acknowledging that\n     \"you have carried forth the Principles of the Lodge\n     \"into every Walk of your Life, by your constant\n     \"Labours for the Prosperity of that Country, by\n     \"your unremitting Endeavours to promote Order,\n     \"Union and Brotherly Affection amongst us, and\n     \"lastly by the Vows of your Farewell Address to\n     \"your Brethren and Fellow Citizens. An Address\n     \"which we trust Our Children and Our Childrens\n     \"Children will ever look upon as a most invaluable\n     \"Legacy from a _Friend_ a _Benefactor_ and a _Father_.\n\n     \"To these our grateful Acknowledgments (leav-\n     \"ing to the impartial Pen of History to record the\n     \"important Events in which you have borne so illus-\n     \"trious a part) permit us to add our most fervent\n     \"prayers, that after enjoying to the utmost of\n     \"Human Life, every Felicity which the Terrestial\n     \"Lodge can afford, you may be received by the\n     \"great Master Builder of this World and of Worlds\n     \"unnumbered, into the Ample Felicity of that _Celes-\n     \"tial Lodge_ in which alone distinguished Virtues and\n     \"distinguished Labours can be eternally rewarded.\n\n     \"By unanimous order of the Grand Lodge of\n     \"Pennsylvania at their communication held the 27th\n     \"Day of December Anno Domini 5796.\n\n        \"Wm Moore Smith\"\n\n\n=REV. BRO. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.\n\nB. ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, 1727. D. PHILADELPHIA, MAY 14, 1803.\n\nGRAND CHAPLAIN \"MODERNS,\" 1755. GRAND SECRETARY \"ANCIENTS,\" 1779-1784.\n\nWHO PRESENTED THE PENNSYLVANIA ADDRESSES TO BRO. WASHINGTON, 1792-1796.=\n\n\nIt was then moved and seconded that the same be adopted. Upon the\nquestion being taken it appeared that it was approved of. On motion and\nseconded, it was agreed that a committee be appointed to wait on Brother\nWASHINGTON to acquaint him that it is the intention of this Grand Lodge\nto present an address to him, and to know what time he shall be pleased\nto appoint to receive it. The committee appointed to perform this duty\nwere Brothers William Smith, Peter Le Barbier Duplessis and Thomas\nProcter, who, after having waited on him, reported that he had appointed\nto-morrow, December 28, 1796, at twelve o'clock to receive it. Said\ncommittee, to wit, Brothers W. Smith, Duplessis and Procter, together\nwith Right Worshipful Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, and Junior\nWardens, Grand Secretary and the Masters of the different Lodges in the\nCity, were then appointed a Deputation to present the said Address.\n\nThis deputation consisted of Right Worshipful Grand Master William Moore\nSmith, Gavin Hamilton, Deputy Grand Master, Thomas Town, Senior Grand\nWarden, Thomas Armstrong, Esqr., Junior Grand Warden, George A.\nBaker, Grand Secretary, John McElwee, Grand Treasurer, and the following\nMasters of the Philadelphia Lodges, viz.: David Irwin, No. 2, Israel\nIsrael, No. 3, Andrew Nilson No. 9, Eleaser Oswald, No. 19, Cadawalder\nGriffith, No. 52, Richard E. Cusack, No. 59, Thomas Bradley, No. 67,\nWilliam Nelson, No. 71; together with the appointed Committee, Brothers\nWilliam Smith D.D., Le Barbier Duplessis and Thomas Procter.\n\nPresident WASHINGTON received the august deputation of the Brethren at\nthe appointed time; the address was read before him by the Rev. Brother\nWilliam Smith, D.D., whereupon he returned them a reply. This\ndocument, still in the Library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, is\nentirely in the handwriting of WASHINGTON and signed by him, viz.:\n\n     \"FELLOW-CITIZENS AND BROTHERS,\n       \"OF THE GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA.\n\n     \"I have received your address\n     \"with all the feelings of brotherly affection,\n     \"mingled with those sentiments, for the\n     \"Society, which it was calculated to excite.\n\n     \"To have been, in any degree, an\n     \"instrument in the hands of Providence,\n     \"to promote order and union, and erect upon\n     \"a solid foundation the true principles of\n     \"government, is only to have shared with\n     \"many others in a labour, the result of\n     \"which let us hope, will prove through\n     \"all ages, a sanctuary for brothers and\n     \"a lodge for the virtues,--\n\n     \"Permit me to reciprocate your\n     \"prayers for my temporal happiness,\n     \"and to supplicate that we may all\n     \"meet thereafter in that eternal temple,\n     \"whose builder is the great architect\n     \"of the Universe.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, DECEMBER,\n1796. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF THE GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA.=\n\n\nBrother William Moore Smith, Right Worshipful Grand Master of\nPennsylvania, whose first official act as Grand Master was to head the\ncommittee to call on the President, was a son of the Rev. William Smith,\nD.D., born in Philadelphia, June 1, 1759. He was a lawyer by profession\nand served as Deputy Grand Master for the year 1795 under the Venerable\nWilliam Ball, and as Right Worshipful Grand Master for the years\n1796-1797. He was appointed by the President as agent for the settlement\nof claims that were provided for in the Sixth Article of John Jay's\nTreaty, and visited England in 1803 to close the commission. He died at\nthe Smith Homestead at Falls of Schuylkill, March 12, 1821.\n\nBoth the address and reply were copied in WASHINGTON's Letter Book III,\npp. 244-245, in the handwriting of one of his secretaries, G. W. Craik,\na son of Dr. James Craik, WASHINGTON's \"compatriot in arms, and old and\nintimate friend,\" who attended him during his last illness.\n\nPhotostat copies of above are in the Library of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania, also the original draft of the address, presented to the\nPresident (Mss. Volume A, folio 23).\n\nThis autograph Masonic letter from WASHINGTON to the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania has been reproduced in fac-simile, published and circulated\n(in most cases without the knowledge or consent of the Grand Lodge of\nPennsylvania) more widely than any other known letter of WASHINGTON.\nSome of these copies are treasured by their owners under the impression\nthat they have the original letter. Several cases of this kind have of\nlate come under the notice of the writer. In one case where one of these\nreproductions was offered for sale, hundreds of dollars were asked for\nthe reproduction, and it was with great difficulty that the owner could\nbe convinced of its character.\n\nAnother use made of this letter by unprincipled persons was to make a\nphoto-lithographic copy of the letter, and substitute the name of\nanother state for that of Pennsylvania, and then palm it off upon the\nauthorities of that state as an original letter to their Grand Lodge.\nThe latest case of this kind known to the writer is that of the Grand\nLodge of Georgia, who were thus imposed upon.\n\nThen again the letter has been extensively used for advertising purposes\nby publishing houses of Masonic literature.\n\nThe letter has also been printed in most all books bearing upon Masonic\nhistory during the revolutionary period.\n\nIt was also frequently quoted and criticised during the Anti-Masonic\ncraze which swept over the country some eighty-odd years ago, it being\nthe chief Masonic letter of the five known to the leaders of those\nmisguided persons. The main point of their argument was that it bore no\ndate and therefore was not authentic.\n\n\n=MOUNT VERNON\n\nDURING WASHINGTON'S OCCUPANCY, 1788-1799.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[58] Cf. The Religious and Social Conditions of Philadelphia, under the\nFederal Constitution, 1790-1800. Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1900.\n\n[59] Cf. \"Freemasonry in Pennsylvania,\" before quoted, Vol. II, pp.\n190-197; original copy in archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n\n\n\nXII\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 22, VIRGINIA.\n\n\nUpon pages 244 and 245 of WASHINGTON's folio Letter Book No. III in the\nLibrary of Congress are recorded a letter and address to WASHINGTON from\nthe Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia, together with\nWASHINGTON's reply.\n\nWASHINGTON and his family had left Philadelphia, Thursday, March 9,\n1797, for Mount Vernon, and arrived at Baltimore, Sunday, March 12, and\nat Mount Vernon, March 15, where he again settled down to the life of a\nprivate gentleman, free from the cares and concerns of public life.\n\nMarch 28, 1797, he was waited on at Mount Vernon by Brothers Dennis\nRamsay and Phillip G. Marsteller, and presented with the following\nletter and address from James Gillies, the Master of Alexandria Lodge,\nNo. 22, of Virginia, viz.:\n\n     \"ALEXA March 28th, 5797.\n\n     \"_Most respected Brother_,\n\n     \"Brother Ramsay & Marsteller wait upon you\n     \"with a copy of an address which has been prepared\n     \"by the unanimous desire of the Ancient York Ma-\n     \"sons of Lodge No. 22. It is their earnest request\n     \"that you will partake of a Dinner with them and\n     \"that you will please appoint the time most conve-\n     \"nient for you to attend.--\n\n        \"I am most beloved Brother,\n          \"Your Mo. Obt Hble Servt\n            \"JAMES GILLIES, _M._\n\n     \"Genl Geo Washington.\"\n\n\nThe letter was an invitation to dine with the Lodge. This WASHINGTON\naccepted.\n\n     \"_Most respected Brother_,\n\n     \"The ancient York Masons of Lodge No. 22 offer you\n     \"their warmest congratulations on your retire-\n     \"ment from your useful labors. Under the su-\n     \"preme architect of the Universe you have been the\n     \"Master Workman in erecting the Temple of Lib-\n     \"erty in the west, on the broad basis of equal rights.\n     \"In your wise administration of the government of\n     \"the United States for the space of eight years, you\n     \"have kept within the compass of our happy Consti-\n     \"tution and acted on the square with foreign Na-\n     \"tions and thereby preserved your country in peace\n     \"and promoted the prosperity and happiness of your\n     \"fellow Citizens, and now that you have retired from\n     \"the labours of public life to the refreshment of\n     \"domestic tranquility, they ardently pray that you\n     \"may long enjoy all the happiness which the Terres-\n     \"tial Lodge can afford and finally be removed to that\n     \"celestial Lodge where Love, Peace and Harmony\n     \"for ever reign and where cherubims and seraphims\n     \"shall hail you Brother.--\n\n        \"By the unanimous desire of Lodge\n          \"No. 22\n            \"JAMES GILLIES, _Master_.\"\n\n     \"Gen Geo Washington.\n\n\nWASHINGTON attended the meeting of his Lodge at Alexandria, on Saturday,\nApril 1, 1797, when his reply to Brother Gillies' address was read in\nopen Lodge, viz.:\n\n     \"BROTHERS OF THE ANCIENT YORK MASONS OF\n       \"LODGE NO. 22.\n\n     \"While my heart acknowledges with Brotherly\n     \"Love, your affectionate congratulations on my re-\n     \"tirement from the arduous toils of past years, my\n     \"gratitude is no less excited by your kind wishes for\n     \"my future happiness.--\n\n     \"If it has pleased the supreme architect of the\n     \"universe to make me an humble instrument to pro-\n     \"mote the welfare and happiness of my fellow men,\n     \"my exertions have been abundantly recompensed\n     \"by the kind partiality with which they have been\n     \"received; and the assurance you give me of your\n     \"belief that I have acted upon the square in my\n     \"public capacity, will be among my principles en-\n     \"joyments in this Terrestial Lodge.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF LETTER FROM W. M. OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE TO BRO. WASHINGTON,\nMARCH, 1797. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 294.=\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF ADDRESS FROM ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 22, TO WASHINGTON, MARCH,\n1797. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 294-295.=\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 22, VIRGINIA,\nMARCH, 1797.=\n\n\nAfter which the Brethren went in procession from their room to Abert's\nTavern,[60] where they partook of an \"elegant\" dinner, following which a\nnumber of toasts were offered. The tenth toast was by Brother\nWASHINGTON, \"The Lodge at Alexandria, and all Masons throughout the\nWorld,\" after which he returned to Mount Vernon under an escort of\nmounted troops of the town.[61]\n\nThe copies of the letter, address and reply in WASHINGTON's Letter Book\nare in the handwriting of his secretary, Tobias Lear. Photostats of all\nare in the collection of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. No direct\nphotograph of the original in possession of Alexandria-Washington Lodge,\nNo. 22, was obtainable.\n\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[60] Abert's Tavern, formerly \"John Wise's.\" _Vide_ p. 35 _supra_.\n\n[61] Cf. \"Washington after the Revolution,\" W. S. Baker, p. 347.\n\n\n\n\nXIII\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH, 1797.\n\n\nAt a Grand Lodge in Quarterly Communication, held at Concert Hall,\nBoston, on the evening of March 18, A.L. 5797.\n\n     \"On motion it was Voted, That a committee be appointed to draft an\n     Address, to be presented to our Illustrious Brother, George\n     Washington, Esq'r, when the M.W. Paul Revere, Grand Master, R.W.\n     John Warren, Rev. Bro. Thaddeus M. Harris, R.W. Josiah Bartlett,\n     Bro. Thomas Edwards, were appointed a committee for that purpose.\"\n\n\nIn response to above resolution the following address was sent to\nBrother WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon dated Boston, March 21, 5797, viz.:\n\n     \"_The East, the West and the South, of the Grand Lodge of Free and\n     Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts._\n\n     _To Their Most Worthy George Washington._\"\n\n     \"Wishing ever to be foremost in testimonials of respect and\n     admiration for those virtues and services with which you have so\n     long adorned and benefited our common country; and not the last nor\n     least, to regret the cessation of them, in the public councils of\n     the Union; your Brethren of the Grand Lodge embrace the earliest\n     opportunity of greeting you in the calm retirement you have\n     contemplated to yourself. Though as citizens they lose you in the\n     active labors of political life, they hope, as Masons, to find you\n     in the pleasing sphere of Fraternal engagement.\n\n     \"From the cares of state and the fatigues of public business our\n     institution opens a recess affording all the relief of tranquility,\n     the harmony of peace and the refreshment of pleasure. Of these may\n     you partake in all their purity and satisfaction; and we will\n     assure ourselves that your attachment to this social plan will\n     increase; and that under the auspices of your encouragement,\n     assistance and patronage, the Craft will attain its highest\n     ornament, perfection and praise. And it is our ardent prayer, that\n     when your light shall be no more visible in this earthly temple,\n     you may be raised to the All Perfect Lodge above; be seated on the\n     right of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, and there receive\n     the refreshment your labors merited.\n\n     \"In behalf of the Grand Lodge, we subscribe ourselves with the\n     highest esteem,\n\n        \"Your affectionate Brethren,\n          \"PAUL REVERE, _Grand Master_.\n          \"ISAIAH THOMAS, _S. Grand Warden._\n          \"JOSEPH LAUGHTON, _J. Grand Warden_.\n     \"Daniel Oliver, Grand Secretary,\n       \"Boston, 21st March, 5797.\"\n\n\nFor some unaccountable reason the delivery of the address was delayed\nand not received at Mount Vernon until late in April. The original draft\nof WASHINGTON's reply to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in his own\nhandwriting and signature as well as an autograph note of apology for\nthe seeming delay to Grand Master Paul Revere and his officers dated\nMount Vernon, April 24, 1797, are in the Manuscript Department in the\nLibrary of Congress, viz.:\n\n     \"TO PAUL REVERE GRAND MASTER, ISAIAH\n       \"THOMAS SENIOR GRAND WARDEN AND\n       \"JOSEPH LAUGHTON JUNR GRAND WARDEN.\n\n     \"_Brothers_,\n\n     \"I am sorry that the en-\n     \"closed answer to the affectionate address\n     \"of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and\n     \"Accepted Masons, of the Commonwealth\n     \"of Massachusetts transmitted under your\n     \"signatures, should appear so much out\n                   from\n     \"of season; but ^ the lapse of time between\n     \"the date & reception of the address (from\n     \"what cause I know not) it was not to be\n     \"avoided, and is offered as an apology, for\n     \"the delay. With brotherly affection\n\n        \"I am always yours,\n          \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     \"Mount Vernon,\n     \"24th April 1797.\"\n\n\n=PAUL REVERE\n\n1735-1818.\n\nGRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1797.=\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM WASHINGTON TO PAUL REVERE AND THE\nOFFICERS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS, APRIL 24, 1797.=\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO THE ADDRESS FROM\nTHE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS IN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.=\n\n\nFollowing is a copy of WASHINGTON's original draft of his reply to the\nGrand Lodge of Massachusetts. It is written upon two pages of a letter\nsheet entirely in his handwriting and signed by him.\n\n     \"TO THE GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT, FREE &\n       \"ACCEPTED MASONS, OF THE COMMONWEALTH\n       \"OF MASSACHUSETTS.\n\n     \"_Brothers_,\n\n     \"It was not until within\n     \"these few days that I have been favoured by\n     \"the receipt of your affectionate Address\n     \"dated in Boston the 21st of March\n\n     \"For the favourable sentiments\n     \"you have been pleased to express on the\n     \"occasion of my past services, and for the\n     \"regrets with which they are accompani-\n     \"ed for the cessation of my public functions,\n     \"I pray you to accept my best acknowledg-\n     \"ments and gratitude.--\n\n     \"No pleasure, except that wch\n     \"results from a consciousness of having, to\n     \"the utmost of my abilities, discharged,\n     \"the trusts which have been reposed in\n     \"me by my Country, can equal the satis\n     \"faction I feel from the unequivocal proofs\n     \"I continually receive of its approbation\n     \"of my public conduct, and I beg you to be\n     \"assured that the evidence thereof which\n     \"is exhibited by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts\n     \"is not among the least pleasing, or grate\n     \"ful to my feelings.--\n\n     \"In that retirement which decli-\n     \"ning years induced me to seek, and which\n     \"repose, to a mind long employed in pub-\n     \"lic concerns, rendered necessary, my wish\n     \"es that bounteous Providence will conti-\n     \"nue to bless & preserve our country in\n     \"Peace & in the prosperity it has enjoyed, will\n     \"be warm & sincere; and my attachment\n     \"to the Society of which we are members\n     \"will dispose me always, to contribute my best\n     \"endeavours to promote the honor &\n     \"interest of the _Craft_.--\n\n     \"For the prayer you offer in\n     \"my behalf I entreat you to accept the\n     \"thanks of a grateful heart; with the as-\n     \"surance of fraternal regard and best\n     \"wishes for the honor, happiness & prospe-\n     \"rity of all the members of the Grand Lodge\n     \"of Massachusetts.\n\n        \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\nThe original letter is said to be in possession of the Grand Lodge of\nMassachusetts. No photographic fac-simile of the document, however,\ncould be obtained.\n\n\n=ANCIENT JEWEL OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.=\n\n\n\n\nXIV\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND, NOVEMBER, 1798.\n\n\nIn the year 1798, the danger of a war with France had become so\nimminent, on account of the aggressions of that government towards the\nUnited States, that Congress ordered a provisional army to be raised,\nthe command of which was tendered to WASHINGTON, with the rank of\nLieutenant-General, an honor which was reluctantly accepted by\nWASHINGTON. During the summer a scourge of yellow fever had again\nvisited Philadelphia, which caused Congress to adjourn, July 16, and the\npublic offices to be removed for the time being to Trenton, N. J. All\ndanger of the fever being over, WASHINGTON, on November 5, started for\nTrenton. He arrived at Baltimore, November 7, and was waited on at his\nquarters by William Belton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland,\nhis Deputy and other Brethren and presented with a copy of the New\nAhiman Rezon and the following address,[62] viz.:\n\n     \"TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQ.,\n     Lieutenant General and Commander-in-chief of the Armies of the\n     United States.\n\n     \"_Sir and Brother:_\n\n     \"The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free Masons for the State of\n     Maryland, wishing to testify the respect in which the whole\n     fraternity in this State hold the man who is at once the ornament\n     of the Society and of his country, vote a copy of the Constitution\n     of Masonry, lately printed under its authority, to be presented to\n     you.\n\n     \"Accept, Sir and Brother, from our hands this small token of the\n     veneration of men who consider it as the greatest boast of their\n     Society, that a WASHINGTON openly avows himself a member of it, and\n     thinks it worthy of his approbation. With it accept also our\n     warmest congratulations in the name of the body which we represent,\n     on your reappointment to that elevated station in which you\n     formerly wrought the salvation of your country; and on your\n     restoration to the inestimable blessing of health which, that the\n     Almighty disposer of events may continue to accord to you\n     uninterruptedly, is the most earnest prayer of your most\n     respectfully affectionate Brethren and most humble servants.\n\n             \"Signed, WM. BELTON, R.. W..G..M..\n         \"Peter Little, Grand Secretary,\n     \"Baltimore, November 5th, 1798.\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE (REDUCED) OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO THE\nGRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.--ELKTON, MD., NOV. 8, 1798.=\n\n\nTo this address WASHINGTON sent a reply, the original draft of which is\nin the Library of Congress, written upon two pages of a letter sheet,\nand differs somewhat from the final copy sent to the Grand Lodge from\nElkton, where WASHINGTON spent the next day. It will be recalled that\nbut two weeks had elapsed since he wrote his last letter to Dominie\nSnyder of Fredericktown, and this fact was evidently in his mind when he\nwrote this letter to the Maryland Brethren.\n\nUpon second thought he eliminated the lines bearing upon the\ninsinuations in Snyder's letter. Following is a copy of the letter as\noriginally written, viz.:\n\n     \"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE\n       \"MASONS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen & Brothers_,\n\n     \"Your obliging & affectionate\n     \"letter, together with a copy of the Constitutions of\n     \"Masonry has been put into my hands by\n     \"your Grand Master; for which I pray you to\n     \"accept my best thanks.--\n\n     \"So far as I am\n     \"acquainted with the principles & Doctrines of\n     \"Free Masonry, I conceive it to be founded\n     \"in benevolence and to be exercised only\n     \"for the good of mankind. _If it has been a\n     \"Cloak to promote improper or nefarious\n     \"objects, it is a melancholly proof that\n     \"in unworthy hands, the best institutions\n     \"may be made use of to promote the worst\n     \"designs._--\n\n     \"While I offer my grateful\n     \"acknowledgements for your congratulations on my\n     \"late appointments, and for the favorable sentiments\n     \"you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit\n     \"me to observe, that at this important &\n     \"critical moment, when repeated and\n     \"high indignities have been offered to this\n     \"government your country and the rights & property\n     \"of our Citizens plundered without a prospect of\n     \"redress, I conceive it to be the _indispensable_\n     \"duty of every American, let his situation & cir\n     \"cumstances in life be what they may, to come\n     \"forward in support of the government of his country\n     \"and to give all the aid in his power toward\n     \"maintaining that independence which we have\n     \"so dearly purchased; and under this impression,\n     \"I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal\n     \"considerations and accept my appointment.\n\n     \"I pray you to be assured that I ap-\n     \"preciate, with sincerity your kind wishes for\n     \"my health & happiness.\n\n        \"I am Gentln & brothers\n          \"very respectfully\n            \"Yr most obt servt.\n\n              \"Go. Washington\"\n\n\nBefore this letter was sent, the five words on the tenth line and the\nwhole of next five lines were eliminated; there was also a slight change\nmade in the last paragraph on the second page.\n\nFollowing is a copy of the letter as received by the Grand Lodge of\nMaryland. The original letter was in the possession of the Grand Lodge\nof Maryland, as late as 1833, but it has since disappeared.[63]\n\n     \"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE MASONS FOR THE STATE OF\n     MARYLAND.\n\n     \"_Gentlemen and Brothers:_\n\n     \"Your obliging and affectionate letter, together with a copy of the\n     Constitution of Masonry, has been put into my hands by your Grand\n     Master, for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. So far as I\n     am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I\n     conceive them to be founded on benevolence, and to be exercised for\n     the good of mankind; I cannot, therefore, upon this ground\n     withdraw my approbation from it.\n\n     \"While I offer my grateful acknowledgements for your\n     congratulations on my late appointment, and for the favorable\n     sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit me to\n     observe, that, at this important and critical moment, when high and\n     repeated indignities have been offered to the Government of our\n     country, and when the property of our citizens is plundered without\n     a prospect of redress, I conceive it to be the indispensable duty\n     of every American, let his station and circumstances in life be\n     what they may, to come forward in support of the Government of his\n     choice and to give all the aid in his power towards maintaining\n     that independence which we have so dearly purchased; and under this\n     impression, I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal\n     considerations and accept my appointment. I pray you to be assured\n     that I receive with gratitude your kind wishes for my health and\n     happiness and reciprocate them with sincerity.\n\n        \"I am, Gentlemen and Brothers,\n          \"Very Respectfully,\n            \"Your most Ob't Servant,\n\n              \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     \"Elkton, November 8th, 1798.\"\n\n\n=GEORGE WASHINGTON\n\nBY CHARLES BALTHAZAR FEVERET DE SAINT MEMIN.\n\nTHE LAST PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON FROM LIFE, TAKEN IN PHILADELPHIA,\nNOVEMBER, 1798.=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[62] Cf. \"Freemasonry in Maryland,\" by Edw. J. Schultz, Baltimore, 1884,\nVol. I, pp. 265-266.\n\n[63] _Ibid._, p. 266.\n\n\n\n\nXV\n\nCORRESPONDENCE WITH G. W. SNYDER, 1798.\n\n\nAs to the correspondence with one G. W. Snyder (Schneider), who\nrepresented himself as a preacher of the Reformed Church of\nFredericktown, Maryland, our late Brother James M. Lamberton, in his\naddress before the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at the\ncelebration of the \"Sesqui-centennial Aniversary of the initiation of\nBrother GEORGE WASHINGTON into the Fraternity of Freemasons,\" held in\nthe Masonic Temple, in the City of Philadelphia on Wednesday, November\nthe fifth, A. D. 1902, states:[64]\n\n     \"It is well known that during the French Revolution religion was\n     dethroned, and reason installed in the place of Deity. The\n     spreading of such doctrines was by many ascribed to the\n     'Illuminati,' who were supposed to be Masons. During this period\n     clubs like the Jacobin Clubs in France were formed in this\n     country, and the spread of these doctrines was greatly feared,\n     especially by the clergy, and in 1798 one of them, one G. W.\n     Snyder, of Fredericktown, Maryland, wrote to Washington sending at\n     the same time a book entitled 'Proofs of a Conspiracy,' etc., by\n     John Robison,[65] the conspiracy being 'to overturn all government\n     and all religion'.\"[66]\n\n\nThis letter, sent to WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon covered no less than six\npages; following is a verbatim copy of the original now in the Library\nof Congress.\n\n     \"TO HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE WASHINGTON.\n\n     \"_Sir_,--You will, I hope, not think it a Pre | sumption in a\n     Stranger, whose Name, | perhaps never reached your Ears, to ad | dress\n     himself to you, the Commanding | General of a great Nation. I am a |\n     German, born and liberally educated | in the city of Heydelberg, in\n     the Pa | latinate of the Rhine. I came to this | Country in 1776, and\n     felt soon after my | arrival, a close Attachment to the | Liberty for\n     which these confederated | States then struggled. The same\n     attachment | still remains not glowing, but burning in | my Breast.\n     At the same Time that I am | exulting in the Measures adopted by\n     our | Government, I feel myself elevated in | the Idea of my adopted\n     Country, I am | attached, both from the Bent of Educa | tion and\n     mature Enquiry and Search | to the simple Doctrines of Christianity, |\n     which I have the Honor to teach in | Public; and I do heartily\n     Despise all the | Cavils of Infidelity. Our present Time | pregnant\n     with the most shocking Events | and Calamities, threatens Ruin to |\n     our Liberty and Government. | The most secret Plans are in\n     Agitation; | Plans calculated to ensnare the Unwary, | to attract the\n     Gay irreligious, and to | entice even the Well-Disposed to combine\n     in | the general Machine for overturning all | Government and all\n     Religion.\n\n     \"It was some Time since that a Book | fell into my hands, entitled\n     'Proofs | of a Conspiracy, &c. by John Robison,' which | gives a full\n     Account of a Society of Free | Masons, that distinguishes itself by\n     the | name of 'Illuminati,' whose Plan is to over | throw all\n     Government and all Religion, even | natural; and who endeavor to\n     eradicate | every Idea of a Supreme Being, and distin | guish Man from\n     Beast by his shape only. | A Thought suggested itself to me, that\n     some | of the Lodges in the United States might | have caught the\n     Infection, and might co-oper | ate with the Illuminati or the Jacobin\n     Club | in France. Fauchet is mentioned by Robinson | as a zealous\n     Member; and who can doubt | Genet and Adet? Have not these their\n     con | fidants in this country? They use the same | Expressions, and\n     are generally Men of no | Religion. Upon serious Reflection I was\n     led | to think that it might be within your | Power to prevent the\n     horrid Plan from | corrupting the Brethren of the English Lodges |\n     over which you preside.\n\n     \"I send you the 'Proof of a Conspiracy,' &c. | which I doubt not,\n     will give you Satis | faction, and afford you matter for a | Train of\n     ideas, that may operate to our | national Felicity. If, however, you\n     have | already perused the Book, it will not, | I trust, be\n     disagreeable to you that I | have presumed to address you with this |\n     Letter and the Book accompanying it. | It proceeded from the\n     Sincerity of my | Heart, and my ardent Wishes for the | common Good.\n\n     \"May the Supreme Ruler of all | Things continue You long with us in |\n     these perilous Times: may he endow you | with Strength and Wisdom to\n     save our | Country in the threating Storms and | gathering Clouds of\n     Factions and Com | motions! and after you have completed his | Work,\n     on this terrene Spot, may He | bring you to the full Possession of\n     the | glorious Liberty of the Children of God, | is the hearty and\n     most sincere Wish of\n\n        \"Your Excellency's | very humble and |\n                             \"devoted Servant,\n                                    \"G. W. SNYDER.\n\n     \"Fredericktown, (Maryland) Aug. 22, 1798.\n     \"His Excellency General George Washington.\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF FIRST PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WASHINGTON,\nAUGUST 22, 1798.=\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF FOURTH PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WASHINGTON,\nAUGUST 22, 1798.=\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF PRESS COPY OF WASHINGTON'S ANSWER TO REV. G. W.\nSNYDER.--SEPTEMBER 25, 1798.=\n\n\nThis man Snyder (Schneider) was an agitator and thoroughly irresponsible\nperson, having no ecclesiastical connection with any organized Church\nBody.\n\nIn the year 1787, Schneider came from Albany, New York, to Frederick,\nostensibly to collect money to build a Church. He was kindly received\nand permitted to preach in the Reformed Congregation, where he soon\nfomented discord and trouble.\n\nSchneider was soon driven out of Frederick Town, but returned again in\n1794, when he renewed the trouble in the Church, which ended in a\nschism. The matter finally got into the Civil Court, and on February 15,\n1800 the case was decided against him, which ended his activity in\nFrederick Town; soon after which he left for parts unknown.[67]\n\nSnyder, who was not a native of this country, evidently labored under\nthe impression that WASHINGTON was a Grand Master General, who presided\nover all of the English (or Symbolic) Masonic Lodges in the United\nStates. Snyder evidently used the term \"English\" Lodges, to distinguish\nthem from the Masonic bodies working in the so-called higher (Scotch)\ndegrees, as are now known as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.\n\nHow important WASHINGTON considered this correspondence is shown by his\nprecaution in taking a press copy of both of his letters to Snyder, who\nhe was led to believe was the regular pastor of the German Reformed\nCongregation at Fredericktown. These are now in the Library of Congress.\nIt will be noted that in all of his other Masonic correspondence, copies\nwere made in his regular letter books by his clerks, of both address and\nreply. Brother WASHINGTON evidently surmised that this letter from\nSnyder was nothing more or less than a scheme to entrap him. It was not\nuntil a month had elapsed, and then only after due consideration, that\nthe following reply was sent to Fredericktown, viz.:\n\n     \"MOUNT VERNON, 25th Sept. 1798.\n\n     \"_Sir_,\n\n     \"Many apologies are\n     \"due to you, for my not acknowledging\n     \"the receipt of your obliging favour of\n                      for\n     \"the 22d ult, and ^ not thanking you, at\n     \"an earlier period for the Book you\n     \"had the goodness to send me.\n\n     \"I have heard much of the ne-\n     \"farious & dangerous plan, & doctrines\n     \"of the Illuminati, but never saw the\n     \"Book until you were pleased to send\n     \"it to me. The same causes which\n     \"have prevented my acknowledging the\n     \"receipt of your letter, have prevented\n     \"my reading the Book, hitherto, name-\n     \"ly, the multiplicity of matters which\n                  me\n     \"pressed upon before, & the debilitated\n     \"state in which I was left after a se\n     \"vere fever had been removed, and\n     \"which allows me to add little more now,\n     \"than thanks for your kind wishes and\n     \"favourable sentiments, except to cor-\n     \"rect an error you have run into, of my\n     \"presiding over the English Lodges in\n     \"this Country. The fact is, I preside over\n     \"none, nor have I been in one, more than\n                                  thirty\n     \"once or twice, within the last years.\n\n     \"I believe notwithstanding, that\n     \"none of the Lodges in this Country are\n     \"contaminated with the principles as-\n     \"cribed to the society of the Illuminati.\"\n\n        \"With respect\n          \"I am, Sir,\n            \"Your Obedt Hble Servt\n\n              \"Go. Washington\"\n\n       \"The Revd Mr Snyder.\n     Endorsed\n     to\n     \"The Revd Mr. Snyder.\n     \"25th Sep. 1798.\"\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF PRESS COPY OF WASHINGTON'S SECOND LETTER TO REV. G. W.\nSNYDER.--OCTOBER 24, 1798.=\n\n\nIn this letter WASHINGTON was correct in stating that he had not\npresided over the \"English Lodges in this Country,\" undoubtedly meaning\nas Grand Master General.\n\nWhere WASHINGTON says \"_The fact is I preside over none_,\" he meant that\nhe did not then preside over any individual lodge, as he at that time\nwas a Past Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia.[68]\n\nWhere he says \"_Nor have I been in one_, [meaning an individual lodge]\n_more than once or twice within the last thirty years_,\" he obviously\nhad in view his occasional visits to the various lodges during that\nperiod, and that he could not, on account of his official duties and\nother conditions, attend any lodge regularly.\n\nAs a matter of record, WASHINGTON was a member of Alexandria Lodge, No.\n39, of Pennsylvania,[69] and attended some of its meetings at Alexandria\nin 1783 and 1784, as is shown by the Minutes of the Lodge, and the\nrecords here presented.[70] Further, that when the Brethren of\nAlexandria Lodge, No. 39, changed their allegiance from Pennsylvania to\nVirginia, General WASHINGTON was especially named in the warrant, after\nhis consent having been first obtained,[71] and thereby became the\nWarrant Master of Lodge No. 22, under the Virginia jurisdiction, April\n28, 1788, serving as such until December 20 following, when, as the\nminutes of that date show,[72] he was unanimously elected to succeed\nhimself for the full term, serving in all about twenty months.\n\nThe records further show that, in 1778, WASHINGTON occupied the chief\nposition in the procession at the celebration of St. John the Evangelist\nby the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1778, in which\nmore than three hundred Brethren joined.[73]\n\nHe also occupied the same position when he laid the corner stone of the\npresent capitol at Washington, September 18, 1793, clothed with the\nMasonic Apron presented by Lafayette, which is now in the Museum of the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Upon both of these occasions, WASHINGTON\nmade a public profession of his membership in the Masonic Fraternity.\n\nRecords show that WASHINGTON was present at the meeting of American\nUnion Lodge (a Military Lodge), at Morristown, N. J., December 27,\n1779;[74] at American Union Lodge at Nelson's point on the Hudson June\n24, 1782;[75] at King Solomon's Lodge of Poughkeepsie, December 27,\n1782, and occasionally at Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, in 1783-1784, and\nthe Virginia Lodge, No. 22, between the years 1788 and 1797.[76]\n\nWASHINGTON in the next paragraph of his letter to Snyder makes his\nmeaning absolutely clear, that while he had not attended any Lodge\nregularly during the past thirty years he plainly states: \"I believe\nnotwithstanding, that none of the Lodges in this Country are\ncontaminated with the principles ascribed to the society of the\nIlluminati.\"\n\nThis belief is further accentuated by the letter to the Grand Lodge of\nMaryland a few weeks after the above letter was written to Snyder.\n\nIn addition to above records, there are numerous traditions of\nWASHINGTON's occasional visits to Masonic Lodges and functions:[77] all\nof which fall within the thirty years mentioned in the Snyder\nLetter.[78]\n\nFurther, WASHINGTON's great interest in Freemasonry is shown by the\nmany addresses received from different Grand and Subordinate Lodges\nthroughout the Union, all of which he acknowledged in fraternal terms,\nalso by the various Masonic constitutions and sermons dedicated to him,\nwhich he received with thanks and were preserved in his library.\n\nIt will be noted that in the fifth line from the bottom, \"_Within the\nlast thirty years_,\" which in all Anti-Masonic publications is printed\nin italics, the word \"_thirty_\" was not in the body of the letter as\noriginally written, but was an afterthought and interlined before the\npress copy was taken.\n\nIn the press copy of this letter, it will be noted that the word written\nover the words \"_last years_,\" is almost indecipherable; in the\nphotostat it is completely so. This has led some investigators to\nquestion whether the interlined word is really \"_thirty_.\"\n\nThe surmise that the blur in the press copy of WASHINGTON's letter to\nSnyder, was \"thirty\" was first promulgated by Jared Sparks, when he\nfurnished the text of the letter to the Anti-Masonic agitators, during\nthe political excitement which swept over the New England States in the\nsecond decade of the nineteenth century.\n\nSnyder, upon receipt of this letter, undoubtedly after consultation with\npersons who were politically opposed to WASHINGTON or antagonistic to\nthe Masonic Fraternity, wrote a second letter and sent it to Mount\nVernon under date of October 17, 1798; no copy of this letter has thus\nfar been found among the WASHINGTON papers in the Library of Congress.\n\nWASHINGTON immediately sent the following sharp reply to Snyder, in\nwhich he plainly sets forth his belief that the Masonic Lodges in the\nUnited States were not interested in the propagation of the tenets of\nwhat was then known as Jacobism or the Illuminati. The words as\nunderscored in the original letter by WASHINGTON were to emphasize his\nmeaning upon this subject.\n\nPhotostats of both of the above letter press copies are in the Archives\nof the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n     \"MOUNT VERNON 24th Oct. 1798.\n\n     \"_Rev. Sir_,\n\n     \"I have you favor of the\n                                         tive\n     \"17th instant before me and my only mo:\n     \"to trouble you with the receipt of this let\n     \"ter, is to explain, and correct a mistake\n     \"which I perceive the hurry in which I\n     \"am obliged, often to write letters, have\n     \"led you into.--\n\n     \"It was not my intention to doubt\n     \"that, the doctrines of the Illuminati, and\n     \"principles of Jacobism had not spread\n     \"in the United States. On the contrary, no\n     \"one is more, fully satisfied of this fact\n     \"that I am.\n\n     \"The idea I meant to convey, was,\n     \"that I did not believe that the _Lodges_\n     \"of Free Masons in _this_ Country had, as\n     \"_Societies_, endeavoured to propagate the\n     \"diabolical tenets of the first, or the per-\n     \"nicious principles of the latter, (if they\n     \"are susceptible of separation) That\n     \"individuals of them may have done it, or\n     \"that the _founder_, or _instrument_ employ\n     \"ed to found the Democratic Societies\n     \"in the United States, may have had these\n     \"objects, and actually had a separation\n     \"of the _people_ from their _Government_\n     \"in view, is too evident to be questioned.\n\n     \"My occupations are such, that\n     \"but little leisure is allowed me to read News\n     \"Papers, or Books of any kind. The reading\n     \"of letters and preparing answers, absorb\n     \"much of my time.--\n\n        \"With respect,--I remain,\n          \"Revd Sir,\n            \"Your Most Obedt Hble Servt\n\n              \"Go. Washington\"\n\n     \"The Revd.\n       \"Mr Snyder.\"\n     Endorsed\n     to\n     \"The Revd Mr Snyder,\n     \"24th Oct. 1798.\"\n\n\nIt is a historical fact that WASHINGTON had always retained the highest\nrespect for the people of Maryland, and especially the citizens of\nFrederick County. No man ever stood higher in the estimation of the\npeople of Maryland than WASHINGTON, and his death awakened genuine\nsorrow. On February 22d, 1800, memorial services were observed in the\nReformed Church at Fredericktown.[79] It was a solemn day and the whole\nCounty was in mourning; at which time Ex-Governor Thomas Johnson\npronounced the funeral oration. Snyder took no part in these services.\n\nThe two letters to Snyder were chiefly relied upon by the Anti-Masons to\nsupport their political claims.\n\n     \"That Washington was never in a Lodge but twice, in his life; that\n     he paid no attention to Masonry during the war; that in 1781 he\n     declined being addressed by Masons as a brother Mason, and in 1798\n     was very particular to insist upon the fact that he had not been in\n     a Lodge, but once or twice in 30 years, and knew nothing of their\n     principles and practices.\"[80]\n\n\nHow false these statements so frequently made, is shown by the many\nproofs here presented in fac-simile of the originals, which also\nabsolutely controvert the statement in Governor Ritner's Vindication?\nviz:--\n\n     \"That all the letters said to be written by Washington to Lodges\n     are spurious. This is rendered nearly certain: First, by the\n     non-production of the originals: Second, by the absence of copies\n     among the records of his letters: Third, by their want of dates:\n     Fourth, by the fact that his intimate friend and biographer, Chief\n     Justice Marshall,[81] (himself a Mason in his youth,) says that he\n     never heard Washington utter a syllable on the subject, a matter\n     nearly impossible, if Washington had for years been engaged in\n     writing laudatory letters to the Grand Lodges of South Carolina,\n     Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.\"[82]\n\n\nThe movement to elect General WASHINGTON a Grand Master over all the\nBrethren in the United States originated at a meeting of American Union\nLodge, held at the encampment of the American Army at Morristown, New\nJersey, December 15, 1779. This Lodge was a Regimental Lodge of the\nConnecticut Line, originally warranted by the Provincial Grand Master of\nMassachusetts.\n\nThis movement continued to find favor amongst the craft, especially in\nPennsylvania, and culminated in a motion to that effect at a General\nGrand Communication of the Grand Lodge, December 20, 1779.\n\nThis resulted in a Grand Lodge of Emergency being convened January 13,\n1780, when the following action was taken:[83]\n\n     \"This Lodge being called by Order of the Grand Master, upon the\n     request of Sundry Brethren, and also in pursuance of a Motion made\n     at the last General Communication, to consider the Propriety as\n     well as the necessity of appointing a Grand Master over all the\n     Grand Lodges formed or to be formed in these United States, as the\n     Correspondence which the Rules of Masonry require cannot now be\n     carried on with the Grand Lodge of London, under whose Jurisdiction\n     the Grand Lodges in these States were originally constituted; The\n     Ballot was put upon the Question: Whether it be for the Benefit of\n     Masonry that 'a Grand Master of Masons thro'out the United States'\n     shall be now nominated on the part of this Grand Lodge; and it was\n     unanimously determined in the affirmative.\n\n     \"Sundry respectable Brethren being then put in nomination, it was\n     moved that the Ballot be put for them separately, and His\n     Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and\n     Commander-in-chief of the Armies of the United States being first\n     in nomination, he was ballotted for accordingly as Grand Master,\n     and Elected by the unanimous vote of the whole Lodge.\n\n     \"Ordered, That the minutes of this Election and appointment be\n     transmitted to the different Grand Lodges in the United States, and\n     their Concurrence therein be requested, in Order that application\n     be made to his Excellency in due form, praying that he will do the\n     Brethren and Craft the honor of accepting their appointment. A\n     Committee was appointed to expedite the Business.\"\n\n\nThe movement was further advanced at a Convention of representatives of\nthe Army Lodges, held at Morristown, N. J., on February 7, 1780, when,\nfortified by the pronounced action of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, a\ncommittee was chosen of which Brother Mordecai Gist of Maryland was\nchairman and Brother Otho Williams of Delaware, secretary.[84]\n\n\n=FAC-SIMILE OF FINAL LETTER FROM BOSTON, ENDING THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE\nGEN. WASHINGTON GENERAL GRAND MASTER.=\n\n\nThis Committee issued the celebrated address:\n\n     \"To the RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, The Grand Masters of the several Lodges\n     in the Respective United States of America.\n\n         \"UNION----FORCE----LOVE.\"\n\n\nThis address was signed by representatives of no less than seven states,\nviz.: Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts\nBay, New York and Delaware; in addition to those of the American Union\nLodge, Artillery, St. John's Regimental Lodge and the Staff of the\nAmerican Army.\n\nIt was further ordered that the foregoing address with an exact copy of\nthese proceedings signed by the President and Secretary, be sent to the\nrespective Provincial Grand Masters in the United States.[85]\n\nIt was not until the middle of October that a reply was received from\nthe Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to the circular letter sent out by the\nGrand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and then only in response to a letter\nwritten by our Grand Secretary, Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith.\n\nThis matter led to more or less correspondence between the Grand Lodges\nof Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and was in abeyance, until January,\n1781, when the following letter was received from Joseph Webb, Grand\nMaster of Massachusetts.[86]\n\n\n     \"BOSTON, Jany 17, 1781.\n\n     \"_Revd Sir and\n     \"Respected Brother_\n\n     \"Last Friday Evening the Grand Lodge met, agreeable to adjournment\n     and after a long debate on the subject, whether it was expedient at\n     present to elect a Grand Master General for the United States, it\n     passed in the negative.\n\n     \"Inclosed I transmit you the vote from the G. Sec'y.\n\n        \"Yr Affecte Brother\n          \"& Hble Servt\n            \"Jos: WEBB.\n\n     \"Rev Dr Smith\n       \"Philadelphia.\"\n\n\nThe belief that WASHINGTON was the Grand Master of the United States was\nwidespread, and, as our late Bro. James M. Lamberton said in his address\nbefore mentioned,[87] notwithstanding the fact that the project to\nelevate General WASHINGTON fell through, \"that the action of the Army\nLodges and of our Grand Lodge got abroad, is shown by translations of\ntwo letters from a Lodge at Cape Francois,[88] on the island of San\nDomingo, directed to General WASHINGTON as Grand Master of all America,\nsoliciting a charter, which were presented to our Grand Lodge, February\n3, 1786. The same thing is shown by a medal struck in 1797, the obverse\nshowing the bust of WASHINGTON, with the legend, \"G. Washington\nPresident. 1797,\" the reverse showing many Masonic emblems,[89] with the\nlegend \"Amor. Honor. Et Justica G.W.G.G.M.\" (_i. e.,_ George Washington,\nGeneral Grand Master).\n\nThe writer of the letters to WASHINGTON, Snyder, quoted at the beginning\nof this chapter, being of foreign birth, and not a member of the Masonic\nFraternity, nor even living where a Masonic Lodge existed, evidently\nlabored under the same delusion as the Brethren at Cape Francois.\n\nThe Masonic Correspondence of WASHINGTON as represented upon these\npages, should settle for all time to come the question, as to the esteem\nin which WASHINGTON held the Masonic Fraternity, of which he was an\nhonored Member.\n\nIt is stated that there are still a large number of Washington papers in\nthe Library of Congress, that are not accessible, as they have thus far\nnot been classified or indexed. Thus it is in the possibilities that\nthere may be still further documentary evidence found of Masonic import,\nin addition to such as are set forth upon these pages.\n\n\n\n=_The Arms of ye most Ancient & Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted\nMasons._=\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n[64] \"Memorial Volume, Washington Sesqui-centennial Anniversary,\"\nPhiladelphia, 1902, p. 165.\n\n[65] \"PROOFS | of a| CONSPIRACY | against all the | RELIGIONS and\nGOVERNMENTS | of | EUROPE | carried on | in the secret meetings | of | FREE\nMASONS, ILLUMINATI, | and | READING SOCIETIES, | \" collected from Good\nAuthorities | by | JOHN ROBISON, A. M. |--EDINBURGH, | 1797. |\n\n[66] The original letter of August 22, 1798, is among the Washington\npapers in the Library of Congress; a photostat of same is in the\nArchives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n[67] Cf. Historical sketch of the Evangelical Reformed Church of\nFrederick, Maryland, 1904, pp. 22-25.\n\n[68] Cf. \"Washington, The Man and Mason,\" p. 288.\n\n[69] _Vide_ \"Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary of the Initiation of Brother\nGeorge Washington before quoted,\" p. 149.\n\n[70] Cf. Chapters II and III _supra_.\n\n[71] Cf. \"Washington, The Man and Mason,\" p. 286.\n\n[72] _Ibid_., December 20, 1789. His excellency, General WASHINGTON,\nunanimously elected Master; Robert McCrea, Senior Warden; William\nHunter, Jr., Junior Warden; William Hodgson, Treasurer; Joseph Greenway,\nSecretary; Dr. Frederick Spambergen, Senior Deacon; George Richards,\nJunior Deacon. Extract from Minutes, p. 288.\n\n[73] _Vide_ \"Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1907,\" Vol. I, Chapter X,\npp. 295 _et seq_.\n\n[74] _Ibid._, Vol. I, Chapter XII, pp. 399 _et seq_.\n\n_Vide_ \"Washington and his Masonic Compeers,\" Chapter VIII, pp. 149 _et\nseq_.\n\n[75] _Ibid._, pp. 86-87. Also records of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 1,\nPoughkeepsie, New York.\n\n[76] _Ibid._, pp. 150 _et seq_.\n\n[77] _Ibid._, pp. 139 _et seq_.\n\n[78] WASHINGTON, so far as known, attended the following public Masonic\nfunctions:\n\n1. Procession in Philadelphia, Festival of St. John the Evangelist,\nDecember 28, 1778.\n\n2. Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1779, with the American\nUnion Lodge, at the Robinson House on the Hudson, New York.\n\n3. Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, 1779, with American\nUnion Lodge, at the Morris Hotel, Morristown, New Jersey.\n\n4. Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, 1782, with King\nSolomon's Lodge, at Poughkeepsie, New York.\n\n5. Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1784, with Lodge No. 39,\nat Alexandria, Virginia.\n\n6. The Masonic funeral of Brother William Ramsay, February 12, 1785, at\nAlexandria.\n\n7. Laying of the cornerstone of the capitol at the Federal City\n(Washington, D. C.), September 18, 1793, upon which occasion WASHINGTON\nwalked in the procession.\n\n[79] Cf. Historical sketch before quoted, p. 24.\n\n[80] Anti-Masonic Republican Convention before quoted, p. 26.\n\n[81] Grand Master of Virginia, 1793-1795.\n\n[82] Vindication of General Washington before quoted, p. 15.\n\n[83] Cf. \"Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge,\" Vol. I, p. 19.\n\n[84] \"Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1781,\" Vol. I, p. 39.\n\n[85] Address in full, _ibid._, pp. 399-402.\n\n[86] All of the original correspondence is in the Archives of the Grand\nLodge of Pennsylvania, Mss., Vol. A.\n\n[87] \"Washington Sesqui-Centennial Celebration, Nov. 5, 1902, Memorial\nVolume,\" pp. 135-6.\n\n[88] Cf. \"Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania,\" Vol. II, Chapter LIII,\npp. 242-250.\n\n[89] Specimen in Museum of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.\n\n\n\n\nINDEX.\n\n\n  Aberts Tavern, 101\n\n  Adam, Rev. John, 30\n\n  Adam, Robert, 29, 30\n\n  Adcock, William, 77\n\n  Alexander, Alexander, 58\n\n  Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Address and Reply, 18;\n    Letter and Address to Washington, 96;\n    Washington's Reply, 97\n\n  Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 17;\n    Correspondence with, 28;\n    Address to Washington, 29;\n    Meets at Lamb Tavern, 33;\n    Invites Washington to dine with them, 34\n\n  Allison, John, 29, 33\n\n  Anti-Masonic Craze, mention of, 8;\n    Attack Washington's memory, 10;\n    Certify to Records, 16\n\n  Armstrong, Thomas, 90\n\n\n  Baker, George A., 90\n\n  Ball, William, 93\n\n  Bartlett, Josiah, 83, 102\n\n  Belton, William, 111, 113\n\n  Blair, Judge, 42\n\n  Blyth, Joseph, 53\n\n  Bowen, Thomas B., 58\n\n  Bradley, Thomas, 90\n\n  Burk, Miss Fanny M., Copies, Portrait for Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 36\n\n\n  Carson, J., 53\n\n  Chapman, Samuel, 48, 49\n\n  Clark, Peleg, 15\n\n  Clinton, Governor, 42\n\n  Cohen, Abraham, 53\n\n  Corney, James, 48\n\n  Craik, George W., 2, 93\n\n  Craik, Dr. James, 93\n\n  Cutler, John, 83\n\n  Cusack, Richard E., 90\n\n\n  Dandridge, Bartholomew, 2, 75, 81\n\n  Dick, Archibald, 32\n\n  Dick, Elisha C., 29, 32;\n    Conducts Masonic Services at Washington's Funeral, 33\n\n  Drayton, William, 58\n\n  Duplessis, Peter le Barbier, 70;\n    Autograph, 72, 79, 80\n\n\n  Edwards, Thomas, 102\n\n  Elliot, Robert, 15\n\n\n  Few, Joseph, 70;\n    mention of, 78\n\n  Foster, Theo., 42\n\n  Franklin, Benjamin, mention of, 27\n\n  Fredericktown, Maryland, 117\n\n  Freemasonry in Pennsylvania (Barratt and Sachse), Referred to, 16\n\n  Free Quaker Meeting House, 69\n\n\n  Gates, Thomas, 58\n\n  Georgia Grand Lodge, Address and Reply, 7, 17;\n    Fraudulent letter to, 94\n\n  Gillies, James, 95, 96, 97\n\n  Gist, Mordecai, 57, 58, 59;\n    Sketch of, 64, 134\n\n  Gorman, Mr., of New Hampshire, 42\n\n  Grant, Reuben, 53\n\n  Greene, Mrs. Nathaniel, 66\n\n  Griffith, Cadawalder, 90\n\n  Guion, Isaac, 48, 49\n\n\n  Halling, Solomon, 48, 49\n\n  Hamilton, Gavin, 70, 90\n\n  Handy, John, 15\n\n  Harris, Thaddeus M., 102\n\n  Hayes, Moses Michael, mention of, 15\n\n  Hildreth, Ara, 38\n\n  Houston, George, 66\n\n  Hunt, Galliard, mention of, 6\n\n\n  Illuminati, 117\n\n  Irwin, David, 90\n\n  Israel, Israel, 90\n\n\n  Jackson, Major William, 2;\n    Copies Address and Answer, 40\n\n  Jefferson, Thomas, 36, 42\n\n  Johnson, William, 48, 49\n\n\n  King David's Lodge, No. 1, Newport, R. I., Proposed Masonic Address to\n   General Washington, 14;\n    Extracts from Records, 15, 17;\n    Correspondence with, 37;\n    Sends Address to Washington, 38;\n    Fac-simile of Washington's Reply, 41\n\n  Knox, Robert, 58\n\n\n  Lamb Tavern, Alexandria meeting place of Lodge, No. 39, 33\n\n  Lamberton, J. M., Address Washington as a Freemason, 11;\n    quoted, 117\n\n  Laughton, Joseph, 104\n\n  Lear, Tobias, 2, 75, 101\n\n  Letter Books in Library of Congress, 6\n\n  Littlefield, William, 37\n\n  Lodge No. 27, on Pennsylvania Roster, 57, 59\n\n  Lowthorp, F., 48\n\n\n  Machey, Mungo, 83\n\n  Marshall, John, Chief Justice, 132\n\n  Marsteller, Phillip G., 95, 96\n\n  Maryland Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to 7, 18;\n    Address to Washington, 112;\n    Washington Reply, 113;\n    Original Draft of Reply, _ib._\n\n  Mason, Benjamin, 70\n\n  Masonic Aprons, 20\n\n  Masonic Portrait of Washington in Alexandria Lodge, 36\n\n  Massachusetts Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7;\n    Letter to, 8;\n    Objects to Washington as Grand Master General, 16;\n    Address and Reply, 18;\n    Address to Washington, 83;\n    Reply, 85;\n    Letter to Paul Revere, 104;\n    Reply to Grand Lodge, 106;\n    Refuses to nominate Washington as Grand Master General, 136\n\n  Mazyck, William C., 60\n\n  McElwee, John, 90\n\n  Meyers, Israel, 58\n\n  Miller, George, 58\n\n  Mitchell, John, 58\n\n\n  Nelson, William, 90\n\n  Newburgh, Washington in Camp at, 21\n\n  Nilson, Andrew, 90\n\n\n  Oliver, Daniel, 104\n\n  Oswald, Eleaser, 90\n\n\n  Pasteur, Edward, 48\n\n  Pennsylvania Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7;\n    Address and Reply, 18;\n    Resolutions, 69;\n    Address to Washington, 71;\n    Washington's Reply, 73;\n    Address to Washington, 1796, 88;\n    Address, 1797, 103;\n    Nominated Washington as Grand Master General, 133\n\n  Prince George's Lodge, No. 16, Georgetown, S. C.,\n   Address and Reply, 8, 17;\n    Correspondence with, 51;\n    Sketch of, _ib._;\n    Address to Washington, 52;\n    Fac-simile, 54, 55;\n    Washington's Reply, 56\n\n  Procter, Thomas, 70;\n    Sketch of, 78, 90\n\n  Providence, R. I., Washington Arrives at, 42\n\n  Putnam, Herbert, mention of, 4\n\n\n  Ramsay, Dennis, 95, 96\n\n  Ramsay, William, 29, 33\n\n  Rehm, Dr. J. F., 50\n\n  Revere, Paul, 2;\n    Letter from Washington, 8;\n    Letter to, 18, 102, 104\n\n  Ritner, Governor, Vindication, 132\n\n  Robison, John, \"Proofs of Conspiracy,\" 118\n\n  Rush, Dr. Benjamin, 32\n\n\n  Seixas, Moses, 15, 37;\n    Sketch of, 39\n\n  Sherburne, Henry, 37\n\n  Shippen, Dr. William, 32\n\n  Smith, Jonathan Bayard, 70;\n    Autograph, 72, 73;\n    Sketch of, 76\n\n  Smith, Mr. of South Carolina, 42\n\n  Smith, Rev. William, D.D., Sermon by, 12;\n    Masonic Sermons by, 13;\n    Addresses the Brethren, 70;\n    Drafts Address, 71, 73;\n    Masonic Record, 76, 90;\n    Writes to Grand Lodge, Massachusetts, 135\n\n  Smith, William Moore, Autograph, 89, 90;\n    Sketch of, 93;\n    Snyder (Schneider), G. W., 3;\n    Letter to Washington, 18, 113;\n    Fac-simile of Letter, 119, 121;\n    Sketch of, 123\n\n  South Carolina Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7, 17;\n    Correspondence with, 57;\n    Address to Washington, 59;\n    Washington's Reply, 59;\n    Original Draft of Reply, 61;\n    Fac-simile, 62, 63\n\n  Sparks, Jared, 9;\n    Letter from, 10, 129\n\n  St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern, N. C., Address and Reply, 8, 17;\n    Correspondence with, 44;\n    Resolution, 44;\n    Address to Washington, 45;\n    Fac-Simile, 46, 47\n\n\n  Thomas, Isaiah, 104\n\n  Town, Thomas, 90\n\n\n  Warren, John, 102\n\n  Washington, George, Master of Lodge while President, 2;\n    Masonic Bodies named after, 3;\n    Full length Portrait in London, 4;\n    Copies of all Masonic Letters, 5;\n    Letter to Paul Revere, 7;\n    Memory attacked by Anti-Masons, 10;\n    At Newport, R. I., 1781, 14;\n    At Providence, R. I., _ib._;\n    Report on, 15;\n    As Grand Master, 16;\n    Replies to Snyder, 18;\n    Receives Masonic Ornaments from Watson & Cassoul, 20;\n    Masonic Apron from Lafayette, 20;\n    Reply to Watson & Cassoul, 21;\n    In camp at Newburg, 21;\n    Resigns his commission at Annapolis, 28;\n    Returns to Mount Vernon, _ib._;\n    Address from Lodge No. 39, 29;\n    Reply to Lodge No. 39, 30;\n    Fac-simile, 31;\n    Invites Washington to dine with the Lodge, 34;\n    Acceptance, 35;\n    Accepts Honorary Membership, _ib._;\n    Portrait of in Alexandria Lodge, 36;\n    Address from King David's Lodge, 38;\n    Arrives at Newport, R. I., 42;\n    Providence, _ib._;\n    Reply to King David's Lodge, ib;\n    Starts on Southern Tour, 44;\n    Reply to St. John's Lodge, 49;\n    Arrives at Georgetown, S. C., 51;\n    Washington's Reply to Prince George's Lodge, 56;\n    Arrives at Charleston, S. C., 57;\n    Receives Address from Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 58;\n    Washington's Reply, 59;\n    Calls on Mrs. Nathaniel Greene, 65;\n    Receives Address from Grand Lodge, Georgia, 66;\n    Leaves Savannah, 68;\n    Replies to Grand Lodge of Georgia, _ib._;\n    Residence in Philadelphia, 69;\n    Received Address from Grand Lodge, Pennsylvania, 71;\n    Reply 73;\n    Master's Jewel, 79;\n    Address from Grand Lodge, Massachusetts, 81;\n    Washington's Reply, 84;\n    Farewell Address, 86;\n    At Philadelphia, 87;\n    Address from Grand Lodge, Pennsylvania, 88;\n    Washington Receives Deputation, 90;\n    Reply, 91;\n    Letters counterfeited, 94;\n    Arrives at Mount Vernon, 95;\n    Letter & Address from Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, 96;\n    Reply, 97;\n    Dines with Lodge No. 22, 101;\n    Letter to Paul Revere, 104;\n    Draft of Reply to Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 106;\n    Lieutenant General, 111;\n    At Baltimore, _ib._;\n    Draft of Reply to Grand Lodge of Maryland, 113;\n    Reply, 115;\n    Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary, 117;\n    Letter and Book from G. W. Snyder, 118;\n    Reply to Snyder's Letter of September 15, 1798, 123;\n    Explanation of, 125;\n    Member of Alexandria Lodge, 126;\n    Lays Corner-Stone of Capitol, 127;\n    Masonic Record of, _ib._;\n    Traditions of, 128;\n    Second Letter from Snyder, 129;\n    Washington's Reply, 130;\n    Refutation of the Anti-Masonic Slanders, 131;\n    Grand Master General, 132;\n    Address by Army Lodges, 134;\n    Massachusetts refuses to concur, 136;\n    Universal belief that Washington was Grand Master General, 137;\n    Medal struck as such, 138\n\n  Washington, Lodges in United States, 3\n\n  Watson and Cassoul, Draft and Letter to, 7, 17;\n    Send Masonic Apron to Washington, 19;\n    Reply to, 22;\n    Fac-simile of original Draft to, 24, 25;\n    mention of, 27\n\n  Watson, Elkanah, 19;\n    Letter to Washington, 20, 27\n\n  Webb, Joseph, 135\n\n  White, Isaac, 53\n\n  White, Rev. William, Prayer by, 12\n\n  Williams, J. Henry, Authorization, iii;\n    mention of, 4\n\n  Williams, Otho, 134\n\n  Williams, William, Paints Washington's Masonic Portrait, 36\n\n  Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, 35\n\n\n\n\nTranscriber's Notes:\n\n  Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.\n\n  Image captions are indicated by =caption=.\n\n  Illustrations without captions are not identified in this text version.\n\n  Superscripted letters are not identified in this text version.\n\n  Additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate\n  both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as\n  presented in the original text.\n\n  The following misprints have been corrected:\n    \"contiuue\" corrected to \"continue\" (page 66)\n    \"Illumaniti\" corrected to \"Illuminati\" (page 130)\n    \"Fredricksburg\" corrected to \"Fredericksburg\" (footnote 7)\n    \"Dick, Elisah\" corrected to \"Dick, Elisha\" (index)\n\n  All other spelling and punctuation is presented as in the original.\n\n  The index has been correctly alphabetized.","title":"Washington's Masonic Correspondence: As Found among the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":24706}