Washington's Masonic Correspondence

XII

Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Virginia

UPON pages 244 and 245 of Washington's folio Letter Book No. III in the Library of Congress are recorded a letter and address to Washington from the Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia, together with Washington's reply.

Washington and his family had left Philadelphia, Thursday, March 9, 1797, for Mount Vernon, and arrived at Baltimore, Sunday, March 12, and at Mount Vernon, March 15, where he again settled down to the life of a private gentleman, free from the cares and concerns of public life.

March 28, 1797, he was waited on at Mount Vernon by Brothers Dennis Ramsay and Phillip G. Marsteller, and presented with the following letter and address from James Gillies, the Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia, viz.:

"AlexA March 28th, 5797.

"Most respected Brother,

"Brother Ramsay & Marsteller wait upon you

"with a copy of an address which has been prepared

"by the unanimous desire of the Ancient York Ma-

"sons of Lodge No. 22. It is their earnest request

"that you will partake of a Dinner with them and

"that you will please appoint the time most conve-

"nient for you to attend.—

"I am most beloved Brother,

"Your Mo. Obt Hble Servt

"James Gillies, M.

"Genl Geo Washington."

The letter was an invitation to dine with the Lodge. This Washington accepted.

"Most respected Brother,

"The ancient York Masons of Lodge No. 22 offer you

"their warmest congratulations on your retire-

"ment from your useful labors. Under the su-

"preme architect of the Universe you have been the

"Master Workman in erecting the Temple of Lib-

"erty in the west, on the broad basis of equal rights.

"In your wise administration of the government of

"the United States for the space of eight years, you

"have kept within the compass of our happy Consti-

"tution and acted on the square with foreign Na-

"tions and thereby preserved your country in peace

"and promoted the prosperity and happiness of your

"fellow Citizens, and now that you have retired from

"the labours of public life to the refreshment of

"domestic tranquility, they ardently pray that you

"may long enjoy all the happiness which the Terres-

"tial Lodge can afford and finally be removed to that

"celestial Lodge where Love, Peace and Harmony

"for ever reign and where cherubims and seraphims

"shall hail you Brother.—

"By the unanimous desire of Lodge

"No. 22

"James Gillies, Master."

"Gen Geo Washington."

Washington attended the meeting of his Lodge at Alexandria, on Saturday, April 1, 1797, when his reply to Brother Gillies' address was read in open Lodge, viz.:

"Brothers of the Ancient York Masons of

Lodge No. 22.

"While my heart acknowledges with Brotherly

"Love, your affectionate congratulations on my re-

"tirement from the arduous toils of past years, my

"gratitude is no less excited by your kind wishes for

"my future happiness.—

"If it has pleased the supreme architect of the

"universe to make me an humble instrument to pro-

"mote the welfare and happiness of my fellow men,

"my exertions have been abundantly recompensed

"by the kind partiality with which they have been

"received; and the assurance you give me of your

"belief that I have acted upon the square in my

"public capacity, will be among my principles en-

"joyments in this Terrestial Lodge.

Fac-simile of Letter from W. M. of Alexandria Lodge to Bro. Washington, March, 1797. Letter Book II, Folio 294.

Fac-simile of Address from Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, to Washington, March, 1797. Letter Book II, Folio 294-295.

Fac-simile of Washington's Reply to Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Virginia, March, 1797.

After which the Brethren went in procession from their room to Abert's Tavern,60 where they partook of an "elegant" dinner, following which a number of toasts were offered. The tenth toast was by Brother Washington, "The Lodge at Alexandria, and all Masons throughout the World," after which he returned to Mount Vernon under an escort of mounted troops of the town.61

The copies of the letter, address and reply in Washington's Letter Book are in the handwriting of his secretary, Tobias Lear. Photostats of all are in the collection of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. No direct photograph of the original in possession of Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, was obtainable.

XIII

Correspondence With Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, March, 1797

AT a Grand Lodge in Quarterly Communication, held at Concert Hall, Boston, on the evening of March 18, A.L. 5797.

"On motion it was Voted, That a committee be appointed to draft an Address, to be presented to our Illustrious Brother, George Washington, Esq'r, when the M.W. Paul Revere, Grand Master, R.W. John Warren, Rev. Bro. Thaddeus M. Harris, R.W. Josiah Bartlett, Bro. Thomas Edwards, were appointed a committee for that purpose."

In response to above resolution the following address was sent to Brother Washington at Mount Vernon dated Boston, March 21, 5797, viz.:

"The East, the West and the South, of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

To Their Most Worthy George Washington."

"Wishing ever to be foremost in testimonials of respect and admiration for those virtues and services with which you have so long adorned and benefited our common country; and not the last nor least, to regret the cessation of them, in the public councils of the Union; your Brethren of the Grand Lodge embrace the earliest opportunity of greeting you in the calm retirement you have contemplated to yourself. Though as citizens they lose you in the active labors of political life, they hope, as Masons, to find you in the pleasing sphere of Fraternal engagement.

"From the cares of state and the fatigues of public business our institution opens a recess affording all the relief of tranquility, the harmony of peace and the refreshment of pleasure. Of these may you partake in all their purity and satisfaction; and we will assure ourselves that your attachment to this social plan will increase; and that under the auspices of your encouragement, assistance and patronage, the Craft will attain its highest ornament, perfection and praise. And it is our ardent prayer, that when your light shall be no more visible in this earthly temple, you may be raised to the All Perfect Lodge above; be seated on the right of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, and there receive the refreshment your labors merited.

"In behalf of the Grand Lodge, we subscribe ourselves with the highest esteem,

"Your affectionate Brethren,

"Paul Revere, Grand Master.

"Isaiah Thomas, S. Grand Warden.

"Joseph Laughton, J. Grand Warden.

"Daniel Oliver, Grand Secretary,

"Boston, 21st March, 5797."

For some unaccountable reason the delivery of the address was delayed and not received at Mount Vernon until late in April. The original draft of Washington's reply to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in his own handwriting and signature as well as an autograph note of apology for the seeming delay to Grand Master Paul Revere and his officers dated Mount Vernon, April 24, 1797, are in the Manuscript Department in the Library of Congress, viz.:

"To Paul Revere Grand Master, Isaiah

"Thomas Senior Grand Warden and

"Joseph Laughton Junr Grand Warden.

"Brothers,

"I am sorry that the en-

"closed answer to the affectionate address

"of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and

"Accepted Masons, of the Commonwealth

"of Massachusetts transmitted under your

"signatures, should appear so much out

from

"of season; but ^ the lapse of time between

"the date & reception of the address (from

"what cause I know not) it was not to be

"avoided, and is offered as an apology, for

"the delay. With brotherly affection

"I am always yours,

"Mount Vernon,

24th April 1797."

1735-1818.

GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1797.

Fac-simile of Autograph Letter from Washington to Paul Revere and the Officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, April 24, 1797.

Fac-simile of Original Draft of Washington's Reply to the Address from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in Library of Congress.

Following is a copy of Washington's original draft of his reply to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. It is written upon two pages of a letter sheet entirely in his handwriting and signed by him.

"To the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free &

"Accepted Masons, of the Commonwealth

"of Massachusetts.

"Brothers,

"It was not until within

"these few days that I have been favoured by

"the receipt of your affectionate Address

"dated in Boston the 21st of March

"For the favourable sentiments

"you have been pleased to express on the

"occasion of my past services, and for the

"regrets with which they are accompani-

"ed for the cessation of my public functions,

"I pray you to accept my best acknowledg-

"ments and gratitude.—

"No pleasure, except that wch

"results from a consciousness of having, to

"the utmost of my abilities, discharged,

"the trusts which have been reposed in

"me by my Country, can equal the satis

"faction I feel from the unequivocal proofs

"I continually receive of its approbation

"of my public conduct, and I beg you to be

"assured that the evidence thereof which

"is exhibited by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

"is not among the least pleasing, or grate

"ful to my feelings.—

"In that retirement which decli-

"ning years induced me to seek, and which

"repose, to a mind long employed in pub-

"lic concerns, rendered necessary, my wish

"es that bounteous Providence will conti-

"nue to bless & preserve our country in

"Peace & in the prosperity it has enjoyed, will

"be warm & sincere; and my attachment

"to the Society of which we are members

"will dispose me always, to contribute my best

"endeavours to promote the honor &

"interest of the Craft.—

"For the prayer you offer in

"my behalf I entreat you to accept the

"thanks of a grateful heart; with the as-

"surance of fraternal regard and best

"wishes for the honor, happiness & prospe-

"rity of all the members of the Grand Lodge

"of Massachusetts.

The original letter is said to be in possession of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. No photographic fac-simile of the document, however, could be obtained.

Ancient Jewel of the Grand Lodge of Maryland.

XIV

Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Maryland, November, 1798

IN the year 1798, the danger of a war with France had become so imminent, on account of the aggressions of that government towards the United States, that Congress ordered a provisional army to be raised, the command of which was tendered to Washington, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, an honor which was reluctantly accepted by Washington. During the summer a scourge of yellow fever had again visited Philadelphia, which caused Congress to adjourn, July 16, and the public offices to be removed for the time being to Trenton, N. J. All danger of the fever being over, Washington, on November 5, started for Trenton. He arrived at Baltimore, November 7, and was waited on at his quarters by William Belton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, his Deputy and other Brethren and presented with a copy of the New Ahiman Rezon and the following address,62 viz.:

"To George Washington, Esq.,

Lieutenant General and Commander-in-chief of the Armies of the United States.

"Sir and Brother:

"The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free Masons for the State of Maryland, wishing to testify the respect in which the whole fraternity in this State hold the man who is at once the ornament of the Society and of his country, vote a copy of the Constitution of Masonry, lately printed under its authority, to be presented to you.

"Accept, Sir and Brother, from our hands this small token of the veneration of men who consider it as the greatest boast of their Society, that a WASHINGTON openly avows himself a member of it, and thinks it worthy of his approbation. With it accept also our warmest congratulations in the name of the body which we represent, on your reappointment to that elevated station in which you formerly wrought the salvation of your country; and on your restoration to the inestimable blessing of health which, that the Almighty disposer of events may continue to accord to you uninterruptedly, is the most earnest prayer of your most respectfully affectionate Brethren and most humble servants.

"Signed, Wm. Belton, R.. W..G..M..

"Peter Little, Grand Secretary,

"Baltimore, November 5th, 1798."

FAC-SIMILE (REDUCED) OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO THE GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.—ELKTON, MD., NOV. 8, 1798.

To this address Washington sent a reply, the original draft of which is in the Library of Congress, written upon two pages of a letter sheet, and differs somewhat from the final copy sent to the Grand Lodge from Elkton, where Washington spent the next day. It will be recalled that but two weeks had elapsed since he wrote his last letter to Dominie Snyder of Fredericktown, and this fact was evidently in his mind when he wrote this letter to the Maryland Brethren.

Upon second thought he eliminated the lines bearing upon the insinuations in Snyder's letter. Following is a copy of the letter as originally written, viz.:

"To the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free

"Masons for the State of Maryland.

"Gentlemen & Brothers,

"Your obliging & affectionate

"letter, together with a copy of the Constitutions of

"Masonry has been put into my hands by

"your Grand Master; for which I pray you to

"accept my best thanks.—

"So far as I am

"acquainted with the principles & Doctrines of

"Free Masonry, I conceive it to be founded

"in benevolence and to be exercised only

"for the good of mankind. If it has been a

"Cloak to promote improper or nefarious

"objects, it is a melancholly proof that

"in unworthy hands, the best institutions

"may be made use of to promote the worst

"designs.—

"While I offer my grateful

"acknowledgements for your congratulations on my

"late appointments, and for the favorable sentiments

"you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit

"me to observe, that at this important &

"critical moment, when repeated and

"high indignities have been offered to this

"government your country and the rights & property

"of our Citizens plundered without a prospect of

"redress, I conceive it to be the indispensable

"duty of every American, let his situation & cir

"cumstances in life be what they may, to come

"forward in support of the government of his country

"and to give all the aid in his power toward

"maintaining that independence which we have

"so dearly purchased; and under this impression,

"I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal

"considerations and accept my appointment.

"I pray you to be assured that I ap-

"preciate, with sincerity your kind wishes for

"my health & happiness.

"I am Gentln & brothers

"very respectfully

"Yr most obt servt."

Before this letter was sent, the five words on the tenth line and the whole of next five lines were eliminated; there was also a slight change made in the last paragraph on the second page.

Following is a copy of the letter as received by the Grand Lodge of Maryland. The original letter was in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, as late as 1833, but it has since disappeared.63

"To the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free Masons for the State of Maryland.

"Gentlemen and Brothers:

"Your obliging and affectionate letter, together with a copy of the Constitution of Masonry, has been put into my hands by your Grand Master, for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. So far as I am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I conceive them to be founded on benevolence, and to be exercised for the good of mankind; I cannot, therefore, upon this ground withdraw my approbation from it.

"While I offer my grateful acknowledgements for your congratulations on my late appointment, and for the favorable sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit me to observe, that, at this important and critical moment, when high and repeated indignities have been offered to the Government of our country, and when the property of our citizens is plundered without a prospect of redress, I conceive it to be the indispensable duty of every American, let his station and circumstances in life be what they may, to come forward in support of the Government of his choice and to give all the aid in his power towards maintaining that independence which we have so dearly purchased; and under this impression, I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal considerations and accept my appointment. I pray you to be assured that I receive with gratitude your kind wishes for my health and happiness and reciprocate them with sincerity.

"I am, Gentlemen and Brothers,

"Very Respectfully,

"Your most Ob't Servant,

"Elkton, November 8th, 1798."

BY CHARLES BALTHAZAR FEVERET DE SAINT MEMIN.

THE LAST PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON FROM LIFE, TAKEN IN PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER, 1798.

XV

Correspondence with G. W. Snyder, 1798

AS to the correspondence with one G. W. Snyder (Schneider), who represented himself as a preacher of the Reformed Church of Fredericktown, Maryland, our late Brother James M. Lamberton, in his address before the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at the celebration of the "Sesqui-centennial Aniversary of the initiation of Brother George Washington into the Fraternity of Freemasons," held in the Masonic Temple, in the City of Philadelphia on Wednesday, November the fifth, A. D. 1902, states:64

"It is well known that during the French Revolution religion was dethroned, and reason installed in the place of Deity. The spreading of such doctrines was by many ascribed to the 'Illuminati,' who were supposed to be Masons. During this period clubs like the Jacobin Clubs in France were formed in this country, and the spread of these doctrines was greatly feared, especially by the clergy, and in 1798 one of them, one G. W. Snyder, of Fredericktown, Maryland, wrote to Washington sending at the same time a book entitled 'Proofs of a Conspiracy,' etc., by John Robison,65 the conspiracy being 'to overturn all government and all religion'."66

This letter, sent to Washington at Mount Vernon covered no less than six pages; following is a verbatim copy of the original now in the Library of Congress.

"To His Excellency George Washington.

"Sir,—You will, I hope, not think it a Pre | sumption in a Stranger, whose Name, | perhaps never reached your Ears, to ad | dress himself to you, the Commanding | General of a great Nation. I am a | German, born and liberally educated | in the city of Heydelberg, in the Pa | latinate of the Rhine. I came to this | Country in 1776, and felt soon after my | arrival, a close Attachment to the | Liberty for which these confederated | States then struggled. The same attachment | still remains not glowing, but burning in | my Breast. At the same Time that I am | exulting in the Measures adopted by our | Government, I feel myself elevated in | the Idea of my adopted Country, I am | attached, both from the Bent of Educa | tion and mature Enquiry and Search | to the simple Doctrines of Christianity, | which I have the Honor to teach in | Public; and I do heartily Despise all the | Cavils of Infidelity. Our present Time | pregnant with the most shocking Events | and Calamities, threatens Ruin to | our Liberty and Government. | The most secret Plans are in Agitation; | Plans calculated to ensnare the Unwary, | to attract the Gay irreligious, and to | entice even the Well-Disposed to combine in | the general Machine for overturning all | Government and all Religion.

"It was some Time since that a Book | fell into my hands, entitled 'Proofs | of a Conspiracy, &c. by John Robison,' which | gives a full Account of a Society of Free | Masons, that distinguishes itself by the | name of 'Illuminati,' whose Plan is to over | throw all Government and all Religion, even | natural; and who endeavor to eradicate | every Idea of a Supreme Being, and distin | guish Man from Beast by his shape only. | A Thought suggested itself to me, that some | of the Lodges in the United States might | have caught the Infection, and might co-oper | ate with the Illuminati or the Jacobin Club | in France. Fauchet is mentioned by Robinson | as a zealous Member; and who can doubt | Genet and Adet? Have not these their con | fidants in this country? They use the same | Expressions, and are generally Men of no | Religion. Upon serious Reflection I was led | to think that it might be within your | Power to prevent the horrid Plan from | corrupting the Brethren of the English Lodges | over which you preside.

"I send you the 'Proof of a Conspiracy,' &c. | which I doubt not, will give you Satis | faction, and afford you matter for a | Train of ideas, that may operate to our | national Felicity. If, however, you have | already perused the Book, it will not, | I trust, be disagreeable to you that I | have presumed to address you with this | Letter and the Book accompanying it. | It proceeded from the Sincerity of my | Heart, and my ardent Wishes for the | common Good.