CHAPTER XI.

Eumor of Washington's death reaches Congress at Philadelphia. — Becomes certain. — Becomes known in all parts of the country. — General sorrow. — Societies of the Cincinnati and Masonic lodges deeply mourn liis death.— Congress decrees a national mourning and funeral ceremonies at Phila- delphia.— Masonic Fraternity invited to attend. — Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania convened on the occasion. — Grand Master's address. — Eesolutions of the Grand Lodge. — It unites with its subordinates in the procession. — General Lee delivers the oration. — Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania meet on the following day. — liesolutions to wear mourning. — Sorrow lodge lield by French Lodge in Philadelphia. — Oration before it by Simon Chau- DRON. — Oration published and sent to public officers and Mrs. Washing- ton.— Her acknowledgment of it by Mr. Lear. — First news of Washing- ton's death in New York. — Action of the Common Council. — The Grand Lodge of New York convened. — Its action and resolutions on the occa- sion.— Miisonic Fraternity of New York join in the public funeral cere- monies.— Bible on which Washington's first oath as President was taken carried in the procession. — News of Washington's death reaches Boston. — Celebration of the "Landing of the Pilgrims" then being held. — Sensa- tions produced. — Action of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. — Lodges unite with citizens in funeral ceremonies. — Grand Lodge of Massachusetts address a letter of condolence to Mrs. Washington, soliciting a lock of her husband'.s hair. — Her reply, granting the request. — Masonic celebration . at Boston, February 11. — Ceremonies on that occasion. — Ceremonies by St. John's Lodge at Boston. — Masonic funeral ceremonies in New Hamp- shire.— In Vermont. — In Rhode Island. — In Connecticut. — Masonic Fra- ternity on all such occasions given a post of honor. — Funeral ceremonies in Fredericksburg, Va., by the lodge in which Washington had been made a Mason. — Address by Major Benjamin Day, Grand Master of Vir- ginia, on that occasion. — Public ceremonials at Fredericksburg. — Inven- tory of Washington's personal estate shows various Masonic articles. — List and price of them as given. — Conclusion.
RUMOR of Washington's death reached Philadelphia, where Congress was sitting, on Wednesday, December 18th, the day of his funeral. The next day the sad news U became painfully certain, and was for-
210 WASHINGTON.
mally announced by the President to Congress. It soon became known in all j)arts of the country, and produced more profound emotions of soitow than had been felt by the American people for the loss of any citizen. The great heart of the nation swelled for a moment with giief, and then beat with rapid throbs of unwonted agony. The National Congress, State le- gislatures, municipal bodies, religious societies, civic and scientific associations, military organizations, and all classes of citizens felt and manifested a common bereavement.
But whUe these all combined to express their deep sense of the national affliction, two other associations, with which Washington had been intimately connected, joined in the common bewailment with deep expres- sions of fraternal giief. These were the societies of the Cincinnati and the Masonic Lodges of America. With the Cincinnati, Washington had held from its first organization the highest oflicial membership, and they mourned their chief with processions, eulogies, and sable habihments suited to the genius of that in- stitution. The Masonic Fraternity, too, had long re- garded him as the chief ornament of their society, and wherever funeral ceremonies were held, they joined their fellow-citizens, with their emblems draped in symbolic sorrow, and expressed a mournful remem- brance of their loved and departed brother by many ancient and hallowed forms peculiar to their fra- ternity.
The genius of America lent its aid to express a nation's woe. The artisan gave his cunning skill, the artist all the rich hues of his pencil, the poet all the
WASHINGTON. 211
inspiration of liis pen, the orator all liis melting pathos, and fancy wove its fairest garlands to express in every varied form one common sorrow; and eulogies and dirges, catafalcos and urns, gave expression to the grief of America at her first great national bereavement.
Congress designated the 2Gth of December as the day on which a national tribute should be paid by that body to the memory of Washington, and all other public bodies in and about Philadelphia were invited to join on the occasion. The Masonic Fraternity were assigned a distinguished place in the procession on that day, it being among the chief mourners. Major- General Henry Lee, who was the orator of the day, was himself a Mason and member of Hiram Lodge No. 59, at Westmoreland Court House, Virginia.
The invitation by Congress to the Masonic Frater- nity to join in the funeral solemnities having been re- ceived by the Grand Master of Pennsylvania, he issued his orders on the 24th, convening his Grand Lodge at ten o'clock on the day appointed. That body accord- ingly met in extra Grand Communication on that day, and were thus addressed by their Grand Master Jona- than Bayaed Smith :
"Right Worshipful Deputy Gi-and Master, Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, and Brethren. You have been called to hold this special convention in consequence of an invitation to join the representatives of a great and grateful people in a solemn act of duty. With respect to the unex- pectedly early moment of executing this duty, we have been anticipated; but by the death of General George Washing- ton, we have felt ourselves impelled, irresistibly im])elled, to yield to the strongest emotion of the heart, and cordially
^212 WASHINGTON.
.■^ to join our fellow-citizens in public evidences of estimation and regret.
" The interesting event having been officially communi- cated to the public, I immediately directed that the sable emblements of our order should be borne in Grand Lodge by the members at our next communication, then to take place in a few days, wishing to give to ulterior orders on the occasion the force and the dignity of the spontaneous voice of the collected craft of Pennsylvania.
" While we respectfully leave to abler hands, to the ap- pointed organ of the councils of the United States, to the common voice of his country and of mankind, and to succeed- ing ages, which will venerate his name as long as they shall experience the happy effects of his civic virtues and public services, duly to appreciate his worth, the Masons of Penn- sylvania, impressed with their more immediate Masonic connections and character, may be allowed to deplore that their friend, their brother, their father is gone. Yes, my brethren, as such the Masons of Pennsylvania did long ago recognize him. It is now twenty-one years since they, by an unanimous suffrage, proposed him as Grand Master of Masons for the United States. They have on sundry occa- sions, and very lately, given attestations- of unabated at- tachment to his person, and a high sense of his unremitting endeavors in promoting order, unTon",~~and brotherly affec- tion among us, and in carrying forth the principles of the lodge into every walk of life. In our archives are found flattering evidences of his reciprocated esteem and appro- bation of our order, as relative more especially to those two chiefest concerns of man, religion and government. The public have seen him gracing .ajid-^gnilying our proces- sions by his attendance. - We have been made the almoners and dispensers of his charitable beneficence. But, my
WASHINGTON. 213
brethren, this pleasing intercourse is suspended. Since our last communication, this our brother has been removed from a terrene to expand his ample mind in the boundless duties and enjoyments of a celestial lodge of that eternal temple (to use his own expression to our Grand Lodge), whose builder is the Great Architect of the Universe. The Old as well as the New World reveres his name. He was indeed an illustrious brother, cftTzen, and chief, — in peace and in war, in council and in action, pre-eminent. The Masons of Pennsylvania have exulted that the name of Washington stood enrolled on their list of brethren ; and they will cherish the remembrance of his virtues and his services as a rich legacy for their emulous example. If devotion of time and talents to ameliorate the state of man be a virtue ; if obeying the calls of his country in times of the greatest difficulty and danger, at every risk, be a Masonic duty; of that virtue may Masonry boast that this our Washington has exhibited an instance beyond former example brilliant, and for the exercise of this duty will our Washington ever stand conspicuous in the foremost rank. Is a love of order and sacred regard to the laws of the social compact char- acteristic of Masons ? For his exemplary adherence to these Masonic virtues, through all the vicissitudes and variegated difficulties of a Revolutionary War, has our Washington re- ceived the plaudits of thirteen s(jvercign States.
" It now remains, my brethren, that in our several spheres we do likewise as our brother has done ; that by show- ing respect to merit, it appear that we value it ; that by cordial regret on the translation of virtue from among us, we evidence" that we revere it ; and while we drop our liortion amid the universal ellusion of sorrow on this mourn- ful occasion, we anticipate for our lamented brother the applause of nations and the veneration of a'^es.
214 WASHINGTON.
" I detain you no longer. The government of our country has this day honorably distinguished us as among the chief mourners of Washington, — its friend, its protector, and its ornament. The destined hour has come, and we move to the summons."
It was then
'^Resolved, That this Grand Lodge are deeply and sin- cerely afflicted with the melancholy event which has oc- casioned this communication, and will immediately proceed to join in the honors about to be shown to the memory of our illustrious deceased brother."
Tlie Grand Master tlien appointed Colonel I'homas Peoctor master of ceremonies for the day. The brethren then formed in due order in the Grand Lodge-room, and moving from thence joined the gen- eral procession, which proceeded to Zion Church, where reHgious services were performed by the Eev. Dr. White, and the oration was dehvered by General Lee ; after which they returned to the Grand Lodge- room, and their labors for the day were closed.
Upon the following day the Grand Lodge again met, the Grand Master recalled their attention to the mourn- ful occasion of the preceding day, and it was unani- mously
"Resolved, That the room committee be directed to put the Grand Lodge-room in mourning, in such a manner as they shall conceive to be most suitable and proper to testify our fraternal attachment to our late Brother Washington, and the high veneration we entertain for his memory and virtues.
"Resolved, Tliiit as a further mark of our warm regard
WASHINGTON. 215
for the memory of our deceased brother, and deep affliction for the loss we have sustained by his deatli, the members of the Grand Lodge Avear black crape on their left arm, as recommended by the President and Congress to the citizens of the United States ; and that the emblems on their aprons be covered with black for the term of six months, being until St. John's day next ; and that the same be recom- mended to all the lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge."
There existed in Philadelphia at that time, under a warrant from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, a French Lodge of Ancient York Masons, known as " L'Amenite, No. 71." On the following week (January 1, 1800), a sorrow lodge was held by these brethren, which was attended by the officers of the Grand Lodge and a great number of the Fraternity in that city. After the conclusion of ceremonies peculiar to such a lodge, an oration was delivered by its orator, Simon Chaudron, ui the French language, which was followed by an address in English by the Master, Joseph de la Grange. This oration was published in both the Frenclf and English languages, and copies were sent to the President and Vice-president of the United States, to the governor of Pennsylvania, and to Mrs. Washington at Mount Vernon. They all acknow- ledged their receipt by letter ; and Mrs. Washington's, by the hand of the private secretary of her lato hus- band, was as follows :
"Mount Vkrnox, May 15, 1800. "Sir — In compliance with Mrs. Wasiiin(;ton'3 reqiKJst, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of y(jnr letter to
216 WASHINGTON.
her of the 15th of March, with three copies of the funeral oration which the French Lodge, L'Amenite, in Philadelphia, have consecrated to the memory of her husband.
" Impressed with a lively sense of this testimonial of re- spect and veneration paid to the memory of the partner of her heart, Mrs. Washington begs the lodge will be assured of her grateful acknowledgments ; and you will be pleased to accept her best thanks for the obliging manner in which you have communicated their sympathy in her affliction and irreparable loss.
" I am, sir,
" Very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant, " Tobias Lear, " Secretary to the late General Washington."
The news of Washington's death reached New York oh Friday, December 20th. The Common Council on that day publicly announced it to the citizens, and signified to the different religious societies of the city their wish that their churches be draped in mourning, and their bells muffied and tolled every day from twelve till one o'clock until the 2'4tli inclusive.
Upon Monday, the 23d, the Grand Lodge of New York was convened in an extra Grand Communication. General Jacob Mokton, the Deputy Grand Master, pre- sided on the occasion, and
" Announced that the reason for convening this extra meeting of the Grand Lodge was, the mournful intelligence of the death of their illustrious and much beloved Brother George Washington, late President of the United States, and commander-in-chief of the army ; and urged with energy
WASHINGTON. 2 1 7
and respectful expressions the duties which belong- to every Mason on such a painful event, and the necessity of this Grand Lodge to take such steps as are proper and Masonic, to pay the tribute of respect due to a brother, who, being called to the Celestial Lodge above, lives in the heart of the virtuous and the wise.
" Whereupon the following was decreed : ' The Grand Lodge, with the deepest and sincerest sorrow, announces to the Lodges under its jurisdiction the death of their illus- trious and much beloved Brother George Washington, late President of the United States, and commander-in-chief of its army. He closed his useful and honorable life at bis seat at Mount Vernon on the night of the 14th instant, in the 68th year of his age.
'"When, in the dispensations of Providence, the great and the good, when those whom we love and revere sink into the silent tomb, the afflicted heart seeks it§ solace in render- ing to their memories every honorable tribute which affec- tionate gratitude can devise. This is a feeling engrafted in our natures, as an incentive to honorable ambition ; and the expi'ession of those feelings is a duty which the customs of civil society have enjoined ; but in decreeing a tribute of respect to our deceased brother on this occasion, there is naught we can devise which will fully evince our venera- tion of his virtues or our sorrow for his loss.
" ' To decree honor to that illustrious name upon which glory hath already exhausted all her store ; to render a trib- ute of affection to his memory who lived in the hearts of a grateful people, arc duties which we feel wc can never satis- factorily perform. That humble tribute which wo arc en- abled to pay, we decree.
"^Eesolved, Therefore, that all the lodges under our j'uriK- diction be clothed in mourning for the space of six months,
10
218 WASHINGTON.
and that the brethren also wear mourning for the same space of time,
" ' Resolved, That a committee be appointed to erect at the expense of this Grand Lodge a monumental memorial to the virtues of our illustrious brother, to be placed in the room occupied by the Grand Lodge for its sittings ; and that the Right Worshipful Jacob Morton, Deputy Grand Master ; the Right Worshipful Martin Hoffman, Senior Grand War- den ; the Right Worshipful Abraham Skinner, Junior Grand Warden ; the Right Worshipful Revier John Vanden Broeck, Grand Secretary ; and the Worshipful Bi'ethren Cadwala- der D. Golden and Peter Irvin be a committee for that purpose.
" ' Resolved, That the said committee have authority to meet and concur with such other committees of our fellow- citizens, as shall bo appointed to devise some public testi- monials of respect and veneration to the memory of our de- parted brother,
" ' Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to write circular letters to the different Grand Lodges in the United States, condoling^ vnth'Tffiem^gltlieJos^^^ we have sus-
tained in the death of our beloved brother, who was the chief ornament of his country, and the pride of our in- stitution.
"'Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to forward immediately a copy of these resolutions to the several lodges in this city.'"
In accordance with these resokitions, the Masonic Fraternity joined in the pubHc proceedings held in the city of New York on the 31st of December, to express sorrow at the death of Washington. The place as- signed them was among the chief mourners. The
WASHINGTON. 219
Bible on which Washington had taken his first oath of office as President of the United States was borne be- fore the Grand Master, and all the decorations they carried in the procession were mournfully impressive. They marched to St. Paul's Church, where an oration was dehvered by Gouvekneur Moepjs, accompanied by appropriate music.
The tidings of Washington's death reached Boston on the 23d of December, during a celebration held that day to commemorate the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620. In the morning a rumor came that Washington was dead ! Before noon its truth was confirmed. Com- mon festivals ujDon such intelligence would have been omitted. But the impressions arising from the cele- bration were thought not inconsistent with a due sensibihty to the sad event which was announced. The usual expressions of gayety had no place, and the guests assembled together rather for condolence than festivity.
On the 28th of this m^onth the following circular was issued by the Grand ^aster-of-Massachusetts to the Fraternity in that State : .
" Grand Lodge of Massaohttsetts,
Boston, December 28, a.d. 1799.
[l. s.] " To testify their veneration of the exalted char- acter and pre-eminent virtues, and their respect for the memory of their highly distinguished Brother George Washington, it is recommeiKled to the brethren of the Fra- ternity of Free and Accepted Masons in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to wear, for the term of six weeks, com- mencing on the 1st day of January, 180(T, aTblack crape on
220 WASHINGTON.
.■yrt^
the left arm below the elbow, interwoven with a narrow ribbon running- direct.
" By order of the Most Worshipful,
" Samuel Dunn, Esq.,
"Daniel Olitee, Grand Secretary.''''
Some of the lodges in and about Boston solemnized the event of Washington's death, either in their pri- vate meetings or by uniting with citizens in pubhc ceremonies soon after this order was given ; but the Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction took no steps towards a public testimonial of their respect for his memory until the 15th of the following month (January, 1800), when they resolved to pay funeral honors to his memo- ry on the 22d of February. But finding that the au- thorities of the General and State governments had also designated that day for pubhc ceremonies in honor of Washington, it was subsequently thought by the Grand Lodge, that distinct Masonic ceremonies were more appropriate for the Fraternity, and they changed the time of their own funeral ceremonies fi'om the 22d to the 11th of February.
The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had, however, previous to this, written a letter of condolence to Mi's. Washington, and sohcited a lock of her deceased hus- band's hau\ This she comj)Ued with, as the following correspondence shows :
"Boston, January 11, 1800.
"Madam — The Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have deeply participated in the general grief
WASHINGTON.
/]. 221
of their fellow-citizens, on the melancholy occasion of the death of their beloved Washington'.
"As Americans, they have lamented the loss of the chief who led their armies to victory, and their country to glory ; but as Masons they have, wept J,he_d^ssoIution of that en- dearing- relation by which they were enabled to call him their friend and their brother. They presume not to ofier you those consolations which might alleviate the weig-ht of common sorrows, for they are themselves inconsolable. The object of this address is not to interrupt the sacred oflSces of grief like yours ; but whilst they are mingling tears with each other on the common calamity, to condole with you on the irreparable misfortune which you have individually ex- perienced.
" To their expressions of sympathy on this solemn dis- pensation, the Grand Lodge have subjoined an order, that a Golden Urn be prepared as a deposit for a lock of hair, an invaluable relique of the Hero and the Patriot whom their wishes would immortairze ; and that it be preserved with the jewels and regalia of the society.
" Should this fav0r"T5e granted, madam, it will be cher- ished as the most precious jewel in the cabinet of the lodge, as the memory of his virtues will forever be in the hearts of its members. We have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your most obedient servants,
" John Warren, ""v " Paul Revere, " JosiAH Bartlett. " Mrs. Martha Washington." ^^^^^ ^^^^'
To this request Mrs. Washington repKed tlirough Mr. LEx\h, inclosing a lock of Washington's hair, which was duly received.
222 WASHINGTON.
" MorxT Veexon, January 27, 1800.
" Gentlemen — Mrs. Washington has received, with sensi- bility, your letter of the 11th instant, inclosing a vote of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, requesting a lock of her deceased husband's hair, to be preserved in a Golden Urn, with the jewels and regalia of the Grand Lodge.
" In complying with this request by sending the lock of hair which you will find inclosed, Mrs. Washington begs me to assure you that she views with gratitude the tributes of respect and affection paid to the memory of her dear de- ceased husband ; and receives with a feeling heart the ex- pressions of sympathy contained in your letter.
" With great respect and esteem, I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" Tobias Lear. " John "Waeeen, )
" Paul Eeveee, > Past Grand Masters." " Josiah Baetlett, j
Agreeably to previous notice, upon the lltli of Feb- ruary, the Grand Lodge performed Masonic funeral ceremonies in honor of their illustrious brother. At eight o'clock in the morning the beUs commenced toll- ing, and at eleven a grand procession, composed of upwards of sixteen hundred brethren, was formed at the Old State House, and moved in Masonic order. Each brother bore a sprig of acacia, and the Golden Urn that contained the lock of WASHiNGTOx's.hair was borne by six distinguished brethren. Many appro- priate devices and emblems decorated the procession, and it was probably the most imjDosing one the Fra- ternity had ever formed in America. It passed through
WASHINGTON. '' 223
several of the principal_stre.ats of Boston to the Ohl South Meeting House, where public solemnities were performed, with prayers, odes, dii'ges, and a eulogy by Dr. Timothy Bigelow. From the Old Soutli Church the procession then moved to the Stone Chapel, where a funeral service was performed Ijy the Rev. Brother Bentley, Grand Chaplain, assisted by the Rev. Brother Dr. Waltee. Flowers were then strewn, the acacia deposited, and the brethren returned to the Old State House, where the procession had formed, and there separated. The Golden Urn, with its precious treasure was deposited in the archives of the Grand Lodge, where it has since remained.
St. John's Lodge, at Boston, the oldest Masonic daughter of England on this continent, held in its hall, one week previous to the above Grand Lodge proceed- ings, private funeral solemnities, at which a eulogy was delivered by Bro. George - Blake. At a meeting of that lodge, held on the 2Gth of March, it was voted that a copy of that eulogy, handsomely bound, together with a Golden Medal, be transmitted to the Grand Lodge of England, accompanied with an address ; and a com- mitter was appointed to form the address and trans- mit these memorials to their mother Grand Lodge ; but we have failed to find the evidence that it was carried into effect.
In New Hampshire, Masonic funeral honors to "Washington were shown by most of the lodges in that State, by joining with the citizens at large, in testify- ing gi-icf for his loss and respect for his memory. Tlie Now Hampshire Gazette of January 8, 1800, contains the following paragi-aph :
224 WASHINGTON. V J^ ^
I^'^^v^
"The Grand Lodge of Now Hampshire are unanimous in opinion, that to mourn with our fellow-citizens at large, would be more respectable to our late illustrious brother, and more honorable, than particular society lodges of mourning. The loss is deep and universal ; so ought to be our testimonials of respect decent and uniform throughout the United States. But in our lodges will be the seat of sorrow."
Nathaxeel Adams was at that time the Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire, and in his " Annals of Portsmouth" he says : """-• — . J
" 1199. — Tuesday, the 31st day of December, was set apart to commemorate the death of the illustrious Washing- ton, who departed this life on the 14th of this month. At an early hour all public offices, stores, and shops were closed. Business and pleasure were suspended. At eleven o'clock a procession moved from the Assembly-room to St. John's Church, in the following order :
" The companies of Artillery, Light Infantry, and Gover- nor Gilman's Blues, with muffled drums, music in crape, arms reversed, side-arms with black bows ; martial music playing the Dead March in Saul ; the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, accompanied by St. John's Lodge, and .many visiting brethren in the habiliments of their order; the orator and rector of St. John's Church ; United States mili- tary officers ; cormnissioned officers of the militia ; select- men; clergy; citizens and strangers two and two.
"When the procession i-eachedthe church, a solemn piece of music was performed on the organ. Rev. Mr. Willard read the service of the church, and Jonathan Mewell, Esq., pronounced an eulogy on the sorrowful occasion. A vast concourse of people attended, and almost every individual
WASHINGTON. 225
of respectability wore a crape as a badge of mourning, and all the shipping in the harbor hoisted their flags half-mast high."
Although the ceremonies on this occasion "were not designed as Masonic, yet the ode which was sung was strictly so. It was composed by the Eev. Brother Geoege Eichards ; and so highly did the brethren of St. John's Lodge appreciate it, that, at their next meet- ing, they Yoted that it be sung each lodge-night for the three following months, and that all other songs be ex- cluded dui'ing that time.
The news of the death of Washington reached Ben- nington, Vermont, on the 25th of December. The court of the county was there in session, and upon the sad event being therein announced, it was adjourned for the day, and in the evening a large meeting was held, at which Isaac Tichneoe, the governor of the State, pre- sided ; and it was determined that a public demonstra- tion of sorrow should be made by a procession and suitable discourses on Friday the 27th.
At two o'clock on that day, a large number of citizens convened at the courthouse, and a procession was formed, in which the Masonic Fraternity occupied a conspicuous place. With muifled drums and music playing a solemn dii-ge, the procession moved to the church, where the Rev. Mr. Swiet delivered a discourse to the general audience, after which, Anthony Has^t.ll delivered an oration in bchaK of the Masonic breth- ren. The ceremonies at the church were closed by an ode prepared by Brother Haswell for the occasion. The procession then returned to the courthouse,
10*
226 WASHINGTON.
where tlie Fraternity partook of a repast prepared for them. By recommendation of the Grand Master of Vermont, the brethren there wore a badge of mourning for Washington six months.
In Rhode Island, also, the principal demonstrations of sorrow for the death of Washington, were in con- junction with the public ceremonies of all classes of citizens in that State. As soon as his death became known, the Grand Master of Masons in that jurisdic- tion issued the following order :
" By order of the Most Worshipful Peleg Clark, Grand Master of the State of Rhode Island.
" All brethren under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge,
are required to wear a black scarf ou the left arm for nine
days, as a token of regard for the loss of our late illustrious
Brother George Washington.
" By order,
"John Handy, G. Secretary.
" Newport, December 23, 1799."
The records of the subordinate lodges, both in Rhode Island and Connecticut, show that a general mourning was adopted on the sad ,,§veM;_.9!&iL- that in all the numerous pubhc processions and ceremonies, the Fra- ternity were assigned a post of dignity, in considera- tion of the well-known connection Washington had with their Society. It is impossible in this sketch to give even a synopsis of the rich treasures such records in the various States contain, relating to funeral cere- monies on that occasion. They are worthy of a volume. From our portfoho of these rich memorials of merited regard, we will select but one other. It is the mourn-
WASHINGTON. 227
ing of the brethren at Fredericksburg, where Wash- DTGTON had been made a Mason nearly fifty years before. Youthful craftsmen had in those long years taken the places of most of the ancient brethren of that lodge ; but there were some who still remembered, how, when youth and manhood were minghng their lines upon his brow, he sought their altar and bound himself to them in vows of brotherhood. These un- broken vows had been kept in their memory. There was now sadness in their hearts when they were sum- moned by their Master to meet and commemorate his loss. It was the second Sabbath after his death, and amidst the toUing of bells, which had commenced at sunrise, they met in their lodge-room at ten o'clock. The Grand Master of Virginia, Major Benjamin Day, was with them, and haidng taken the chair in the East, he thus addressed the lodge :
" We are now, brethren, to pay the last tribute of affec- tion and respect to the eminent virtues and exemplary con- duct that adorned the character of our worthy deceased Brother, George WAsmNGTON. He was early initiated in this venerable lodge, as I am respectably informed, in the mysteries of our ancient and honorable profession ; and having held it in the highest and most just veneration, the fraternal attention we now show to his memory is the more incumbent on us. He is gone forever from our view ; but gone to the realms of celestial bliss, where the shafts of malice and detraction cannot penetrate, where all sublunary distinctions cease, and merit is rewarded by the scale of unerring justice. While the tear of sympathy is excited for a loss so generally and deservedly lamented, let us recol- lect that posterity will not less justly appreciate the talents
228 WASHINGTON.
and virtues he possessed. As a man, he was frail ; and it would he a compliment to which human nature cannot as- pire to suppose him free from peculiarities, or exempt from error. But let those that best know him determine the measure to which they extend. In the offices of private life, he was most endeared to those who were most in his familiarity and intimacy. In the various important ap- pointments of public confidence. let not the sin of in- gratitude sully the historic page, by denying him the in- cense of public applause. Abler panegyrists will attend at the sacred altar, and do that justice to his memory to which his merits entitle him ; while attendant angels await his immortal spirit in the mansions of eternal peace.
" Suffer me, brethren, on this solemn occasion, to remind you of the instability of all human concerns, and the un- certainty of our continuance in this transitory state of our existence. Let the example of our worthy deceased brother, and the amiable precepts of our institution, guide us in our conduct to each other ; and the sacred volunia, always open for our instructiQD_ia--«»i'-d'nty to the inconceivably great, omnipotent, and merciful Architect of the Universe I That when it shall please Hiin to relieve us from the cares and solicitude of this— probationary state, we may not be dis- mayed, but with a well-grounded hope, familiarized to the expectation of a change, the awful, yet the inevitable lot of mortality, and the entrance into a lodge"bf perfect hafinony and eternal happines."
The lodge then formed a procession, and moved from their hall, preceded by music puij ing a solemn dirge, to the public parade-ground, where they were received by the military with reversed arms, who es- corted them to the church, where a discourse was
WASHINGTON. 229
delivered by the Eev. Mr. Stephenson, from the words : " And the Lord spake unto Joshua, the son of Nun, Hoses' minister, saying. Hoses ony servant is dead."" The so- lemnities of the day were concluded by the military firing sixteen minute-guns as the brethren returned to their lodge-room.
The official inventory of Washington's estate after his death was duly entered in the records of Fairfax County, and fi'om it we are able tq show that he treasured in his cabinet and in liis Hbrary, to the close of his life, the Masonic souvenirs he had at various times received from his brethren, thus verifying also our records and traditions of his reception of them. The statements which we have given in the foregoing sketch, embrace his reception of Masonic regalia from Messrs. "Watson & Cassoul; a box containing a Ma- sonic apron and sash from La Fayette ; the Pennsyl- vania Ahiman Rezon from the Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania ; the Book of Constitutions pf the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, from that Grand Lodge ; "Proofs of a Conspiracy," from the Rev. Mr. Snyder; and an Ahiman Rezon, or Book of Constitutions, from the Grand Lodge of Maryland. All of the above books we find inventoried by the appraisers of his personal estate, as follows : The Pennsylvania Ahiman Rezon, one dollar ; the Massachusetts Grand Lodge Constitu- tion, one dollar ; " Proofs of a Conspiracy," one dollar and fifty cents ; Maryland Ahiman Rezon, one doUar and fifty cents. We also find in the same inventory, a volume of Masonic Sermons, fifty cents. The same list also contains a "Japan box containing a Mason's apron," inventoried at fifty dollars ; and a " Piece of
230 WASHINGTON.
oil-cloth coutaining Orders of Masonry," fifty dollars. The first of these was probably the box and apron sent by La Fatette, — the term Jaimn referring to the fine exterior pohsh of the box. The last was doubtless what is called the Masons carpet ov floor-cloth. We have never met with any other mention of this last Masonic rehc of Washington's, except in this official inventory, and are at loss to know when it came into his posses- sion, and what finally became of it. So interesting and valuable a relic of Washington should not be lost ; and we here request that if its history or existence be known, it be communicated to the Fraternity of which our iDustrious brother was the pride and ornament.
Keader, we have sketched for you Washington as a IVIason. Learn from it, that —
" Ere mature manhood marked his youthfol brow, He sought our altar and he made his vow — Upon our tesselated floor he trod, Bended his knees, and placed his trust in God ! Through all his great and glorious life he stood A true, warm brother, foremost e'er in good; And when he died, amid a nation's gloom, His mourning brethren bore him to the tomb ! '