CHAPTER I.

Washington's birth contemporaneous with introduction of Warranted Lodges in America. — Date of his birth from family record. — Emigration of his ancestors to America. — Death of his father. — His boyhood. — Paternal in- struction.— Anecdote of his love of truth. — Faithfulness of his mother. — His early education. — His influence with his youthful associates. — E.vcels in athletic exercises. — His brother Lawrence an oflBcer under Admiral Vernon. — Receives a commission as midshipman in the British navy. — Relinquishes it at the wish of his mother. — Engages as a land surveyor. — His commission as such. — An old log-hut in Clarke County. — Surveys for Lord Fairfax. — Hlness of his brother. — Washington accompanies him to Barbadoes. — His death and will. — Washington becomes possessed of Mount Vernon. — Is appointed adjutant-general of Virginia militia. — Ap- pearance and general character when he came to manhood. — A candidate for Masonry.
HE introduction of Freemasonry into America, and the birth of Washington, had nearly a contemporaneous date. The annals of the fi'aternity give no account of regularly organized lodges in tliis country until the third decade of the eighteenth cen- tury, and in its second year Geohge Washington was born. For the record of his natal day, we are indebted to no heraldric college, no public register, but the old family Bible of his ancestors is still preserved, where,
16 WASHINGTON.
in the handwriting of his mother, as is supposed, the following record is found :
" Geokge Washington, son to Augustine, and Mary, his wife, was born y'' 11th day of February, 173^, about 10 in the morning, and was baptized the 3d of April fol- lowing. Mr. Beverly "Whiting and Capt. Christopher Brooks, godfathers, and Mrs. Mildred Gregory, god- mother."
This date is according to the old style calendar then in use, and is equivalent to the 22d of February, 1732, new style.
The ancestors of George Washington emigrated to America from the north of England during the protec- torate of Outer Cromwell. His great-grandfather, John Washington, is said to have inherited the blood of EngHsh nobility, both by paternal and maternal descent. He came to America and settled on the bor- ders of the Potomac, Westmoreland County, Vii'ginia, in 1657. From John, first in the line of descent was Lawrence ; second, Augustine ; and third, George Washington, who was the third child of Augustine, and the first by his second marriage. His mother was a daughter of Colonel Ball, of Virginia.
His father removed, while he was a child, to the banks of the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg, and died there when George was but eleven years old. We know but little of the paternal instruction he re ceived in his l^oyhood, for his early orphanage, and the sparseness of detail relating to the domestic history of the yeomanry of Yirginia at that period, leaves a blank in his youthful history, which his future greatness makes us wish were filled with all such incidents as
WASHINGTON. lY
became the germs of future character. It is said, how- ever, bj one of his early biogi'aphers, that his father instilled into his mind a noble and generous disposi- tion ; taught him to be kind and amiable to his play- mates, and liberal in sharing with them any presents of fruits or cakes he might receive ; telling him at the same time, that the gTeat and good God delights above aU things to see children love one another, and that He will assuredly reward all who act an amiable part.
The story of the cherry-tree and the h/itchet has been often told, but the moral heroism of the tale is so characteristic of the man in after-life, and has so often swelled the breasts of youthful listeners to whom it has been related, with resolution* to bravely tell the truth under all circumstances, that we again repeat it, to inculcate that noblest ifiasonic virtue, the love of truth.
"When George was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet, of which, hke most boys, he was immoderately fond, and was con- stantly going about chopping ever}* thing that came in his way. One day, in the garden, where he often amused himself hacking his mother's pea-bushes, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on tlie body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree, which he barked so terribly, that the tree never got tlie better of it. The next morning, the old gentleman finding out what had befallen his tree, which, by the by, was a great favorite, came into the house, and with nuich Avarmth, asked for the mischievous author, declaring at the same time that he would not have taken five guineas for the tree. Nobody could tell him any thing about it.
18 WASHINGTON.
Presently George and his liatcliet made their appear- ance. 'George,' said his father, ^ do you hioio ivJio Mlled that heautiful little cherry-tree yonder in the garden ?' This was a tough question, and George staggered under it for a moment ; but quickly recovered himself, and looldng at his father, the sweet face of youth bright- ened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, and he bravely cried oiit, ' I cant tell a lie, Pa ; you know I cant tell a lie. I cut it ivith my hatchet /' ' Run to my arms, you dearest boy,' cried his father in transports — ' run to my arms ! Glad am I, George, that you killed my tree, for you have paid me for it a thousand times. Such an act of heroism in my son, is worth more than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver, and their fruits of purest gold.' "
To Washington's mother has been also accorded, and is no doubt due, the credit of so directing the mental, moral, and rehgious character of his youth, as to give an exalted tone to every action of his after-life. Left, by her husband's death, with the weighty care of five children, she took upon herself the superintendence of their education, and the management of the compli- cated affairs of their estates, and so acquitted herself as to gain the proud satisfaction of seeing them all come forward into active hfe with fair prospects, and her first-born become tlie most beloved and exalted of American citizens. Though inheriting the name, the patrimony, and noble virtues of his father, history has paid its tribute to the faithfulness of his mother, by writing him a undotv's son.
The schools of the colonies did not aftord at that time great advantages for education, and WAsmxGTON'a
WASHINGTON. 19
attainments were comprised within a knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic at first ; but he after- wards studied surveying, geography, and history, in the first of which he became proficient. In such pur- suits his early years were spent. Even during his boyhood he is said to have manifested a military taste, and to have exerted a commanding influence OA'er his youthful associates, in aU theii' amusements ; and the well-remembered story of his casting a stone across the Rappahannock, a feat said never to have been accom- plished by another, is proof that he excelled in athletic exercises. It was such scenes that afterwards fitted him to encounter perils, and take pleasure in adven- tures that needed strength of body, perseverance, and confidence in his own powers to insure success.
Washington's eldest brother, Lawrence, was an offi- cer in the colonial troops, sent under Admiral Vernon, in the expedition against Carthagena, in South Amer- ica ; and through his influence, and in accordance with his own wishes, a commission as midshipman in a British ship of war, stationed oft' the coast of Vir- ginia, was procured for him, when he was fifteen years of age ; but in obedience to the wishes of his mother, he was induced to relinquish this commission, which his own desires and those of his brother made him anxious to retain. He engaged soon after as a land surveyor, and made such proficiency, that he soon became skilful in that profession. The records of Culpepper County state that on the 20th of July, 1749 (o. s.), " George Washington, Gent., produced a com- mission from the President and Master of William and Mary CoUege, appointing him to l)e surveyor of this
20 WASHINGTON.
county ; whicli was read, and thereupon he took the usual oaths to his majesty's person and government, and took and subscribed the abjuration oath and test, and then took the oath of surveyor according to law."
His employments as surveyor often called him into distant parts of the colony ; and there was standing a few years ago, in Clarke County, an old log-hut, which well authenticated tradition states was occupied by him while surveying lands there for Lord Fairfax. It was about twelve feet square, and was divided into an upper and a lower room, the upper one of which was used to deposit his instruments. It was at least an interesting memorial of his humble hfe, before his merits called him to a more public sphere of action.
Washington was engaged as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax nearly three years, during which the open seasons were spent among the rich, uncultivated val- leys and wild mountains of Virginia, and the winters with his mother at Fredericksburg, and his brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon. During the last year his brother became an invalid, and went to the Bar- badoes for his health, and Washington accompanied him. He returned in the spring of 1751, and soon after died, leaving his estate at Mount Vernon to his infant daughter, with a provision in his will, that if she died without issue, it should go to his brother George. She did so die in 1752, and Washington came into posses- sion of the spot, whose fame has since become im- mortal,— not from its bearing the name of an EngUsh noble, but fi-om its having been the cherished home and final resting-place of the greatest American cit- izen. Washington then was nineteen years of age,
WASHINGTON. 21
and held tlie position of adjutant-general in tlie Vir- ginia militia, with the rank of major. He was said by his contemporaries at this period of his Hfe to be grave, silent, and thoughtful, diligent and methodical in busi- ness, dignified in his appearance, strictly honorable in all his actions, and a stranger to dissipation and riot. Such was his early history and character when, in 1752, in the twenty-first year of his age, he offered himself to Fredericksburg Lodge as a candidate for the mysteries of Masonry.
CHAPTEE II.
First introduction of Warranted Lodo^es in America. — Firut in Boston. — Phil- adelpliia. — ('harleston. — Origin of lodge in Fredericksburg. — Its oflBcers in 1752. — Washington's initiation. — Passing. — R;iising. — The Bible and seal of Fredericksburg Lodge. — Brevity of early Masonic records. — Wash- ington but twenty years old when initiated. — Time intervening between that and further degrees. — Sent by the governor of Virginia with message to French commander on Ohio. — Incidents of his journey. — His Indian name. — Commencement of French and Indian War. — Washington placed in command of Virginia forces. — His capitulation at Fort Necessity. — Joins General Braddock's expedition. — Performs the burial-service of that officer. — Unjust distinction towards colonial officers. — Washington visits Boston on the subject. — Becomes enamored with Miss Phillipse. — Again takes command of the Virginia forces. — Participates in the capture of Duquesne. — Eetires from military service. — Claims of some that he was made a Mason in a British military lodge without foundation. — Lodges held under diflfereut authorities at this time in America. — Lodge of Fred- ericksburg takes a new warrant from Scotland. — Washington Masonic Cave. — Elected member of House of Burgesses. — His first appearance in the assembly. — His marriage. — His domestic life previous to the Revo- lution.— Want of Masonic records in Virginia of this period.
AEEANTED Lodges had not been in ex- istence in America twenty years, when Washington came to manhood ; for we have no record of a regular lodge in this country held under authority of any rec- ognized Grand Lodge previous to his birth. The first regular lodge, v/hose records exist, was estab- lished in Boston, in 1733, by Henky Price, by virtue
WASHINGTON. 23
of a dej)utation from tlie Grand Master of tlie Grand Lodge of England, appointing him Provincial Grand Master of New England. In the following year, under an extension of his authority over all America, regular warrants were granted to lodges not only in New England, but in Philadelphia and Charleston, S. C, ; so that while Washington was yet in his swaddhng-clothes, the star of American Masonry, which arose in the East about the period of his birth, may be said to have rested over the place where the young child was.
Before Washtngton came to manhood, a lodge had been organized in Fredericksburg, under authority from THoaLA.s Oxnaed, Provincial Grand Master at Boston, whose authority also extended over all the English colonies in America ; and in 1752, when Washington sought admission in this lodge, its offi- cers were, Daniel Campbell, Master ; John Neilson, Senior Warden; and Dr. Eobeet Halkekson, Junior Warden. The records of the few Masonic Lodges in America at that period are very concise, being limited in their details mostly to the election of officers, and tlie initiating, passing, and raising of members.
The records of Fredericksburg Lodge show the pres- ence of Washington, for the first time in the lodge, on the fourth of November, 5752, leaving no doubt that he was initiated on that day, as on the fith of November, the record continues, *' Received of Mr. George Washington for his entrance £2:3."
" March 3d, 5753 — George Washington passed Fel- low Craft."
"August 4th, 5753 — George Washington raised Master Mason."
24
WASIIIXGTON.
SEiL or FREDERICKSBUKRH LOD3E-
The old record-book of the lodge is still preserved ; also the Bible on which he was obligated, and the seal of the lodge. The Bible is a small quarto volume, and bears date, " Cambridge, printed by John Field, printer to the University, 1688." The seal is beautifully en- graved, having for its principal device a shield crested with a cas- tle, "\vith castles also on each of its points, with compasses in its centre. Below the shield is the motto, " In the Lokd IS ALL CUE teust" — the whole surrounded -with " Feed- EEICKSBUEGH LoDGE," in a circle.
Had the lodge at Fredericksburg known how deep an interest would be felt by succeeding generations in all that pertained to Washington, his Masonic record, even at that period, would probably have been made with more fulness of detail ; and yet its very conciseness is confirmatory proof, if such were needed, of the verity of the facts there recorded. The lessons of history are progressive, and none could have known, as he passed through the mystic rites of Masonry in 1752, in presence of that chosen band of brethren in Fredericksbui'g Lodge, that the new-made brother then before them would yvm, in after-years, a nation's honor, gratitude, and love ; and that when a centory had passed, the anniversary of his initiation would be celebrated as a national Masonic jubilee.
Washington was initiated into Masonry a few months before he was twenty-one years of age. The lawful age at which a candidate may receive the
WASHINGTON. 25
mysteries is strictly conventioual ; while the 'principle upon which the requirement was founded is a land- mark in Masonry. Different nations have established different periods during which the child shall remain under the pupilage and government of its parents. Masonry supposes each candidate admitted to her mysteries to have the absolute legal control of his own actions, and that the obligations he assumes are such as he can comply with without interference. For this reason alone, a slave, a prisoner, and common soldier in the army in some countries, are under legal re- straints that disqualify them for being candidates for the mysteries of Masonry.
The custom of French lodges in admittmg the sons of Masons at the age of eighteen years as candidates for Masonry, is based upon the supposition that the obKgations they assume at that age (they being first approved of as discreet) they will fully comply with on account of the relation which the father bears to the lodge.
In Washington's admission to the fraternity a few months before he became twenty-one years of age, if the conventional rule in this country and in other Enghsh lodges as then existing was not fully complied with, no Masonic principle was thereby violated. "Without claiming for him a precocious manhood, we may safely assume from his early history, that at the age of twenty years, his physical, mental, and moral developments fitted him, not only for those active duties of citizenship which he had assumed under the civil laws of Virginia, but also as master of his own ac- tions, for forming relations Avith a brotherhood that
26 WASHINGTON.
requires for the admission of its candidates, their free, voluntary, and unrestrained devotion to its duties.
Four months intervened, as the records show, after he was initiated before he became a Fellow Craft Ma- son ; and still four more, before he became a Master Mason. He was soon after employed in important pubhc duties by the governor of Virginia. Pohtical considerations had required that a messenger should be sent to some French military posts on the Ohio, to demand, in the name of the governor of Virginia, who was the British king's representative in the territory of which the French had taken possession, that they should at once depart and cease to intrude on the claimed Enghsh domain. It was late in autumn be- fore such a commission was determined on by the governor, and the difficulties incident to the season, and the hazard of encountering, not only French, but Indian hostihties, were sufficient to try the fortitude of the boldest adventurer. Washington was sohcited by the governor to undertake the commission. His rei:)ly was, "For my own part, I can answer that I have a con- stitution hardy enough to encounter and undergo the most severe toils, and, I flatter myself, resolution to face what any man dares." Nobly spoken ! And yet it was but the reflection of a Masonic lesson he had learned on his admission into Masonry but oi^e year before. What lesson learned in Masonry was ever by him forgotten or unheeded?
He left Wilhamsburg on the 30th of November, 1753, taking with him, on his way, a gTiide and a half- dozen backwoodsmen, and traversing a country Uttle known, held conferences with Indian war-chiefs, and
WASHINGTON. 2Y
the French commandant, and returned after months of hardshij)S and dangers, and made his report to the governor. History has told how, in this adventure, he encountered hunger, and cold, and weariness, how the French officer evaded a comi^hance with his demands, and how the wily Indian lurked around his path. History has told all this, and we need not repeat it here. His report and daily journal during this first public service were pubhshed soon after, both in this covmtry and in Europe ; and his prudence and his di- plomacy met with general approbation. The Indians, during this interview vn.th. them, gave him the name oi Ca^'otocaeius.
The refusal of the French to evacuate the posts on the Ohio, Avas followed by the contest which is known in history as the French and Indian War. Although no formal declaration of war was made between France and England until May, 1756, yet in 17o4 hostihties commenced on the Anglo-American fi'ontiers ; and Washington was offered by the governor of Vu-giuia the first command of troops raised in that colony for its defence. He decHned the honor, as a charge too great for his youth and inexi^erience, but took rank second in command, as lieutenant-colonel. The death of his superior officer. Colonel Fry, however, soon l)laced him at the head of the Virginia troops ; and his first lessons in active military life were in the school of experience, where he had few to counsel, none to direct him. His campaign was a short one, ending early in July by his capitulation to the French commander at Fort Necessity. It was the only time in his life in which he ever struck his flag to the foe.
28 WASHINGTON.
In the following year, Washington joined General Beaddock as a voluntary aid in his unfortunate expedi- tion against Fort Duquesne. History has told of the hardships and dangers of that campaign, — how, when Beaddock fell upon the battle-field, and most of his officers were wounded or slain, Washington sldlfully conducted the little remnant of the army that remained from the fatal spot ; and when his commander's gi'ave was made, that he piously read by torchlight the prayers of the Church at his midnight burial.
From this time onward, Washington was the first colonial officer in Virginia during this war. He was, however, subordinate to officers of lower rank who held British commissions, his being only from the colonial government of Virginia. This imjust distinction was very distasteful to him, and in the winter of 1756 he visited Boston, to consult on this point with General Shieley, who had been sent by the British government as the successor of Beaddock. He made his journey on horseback, and stopped some time in Philadelphia and New York. History has woven into its pages traditions of his becoming enamored while in New York with a Miss ]\Lary Phillipse, the sister of the wife of his host, Colonel Beveely Eobinson. She is de- scribed as a lady of rare beauty and accomphshments, and it is said that Washington was so deeply interested in her charms, that when his military duties called him to Virginia, he intrusted the secret of his heart to a fiiend, who promised to keep him advised as to the prospect of any rival supplanting him in her esteem. His fears seem to have become a reahty, for she soon after married Colonel Moeeis, who had been an asso-
WASHINGTON. 29
ciate witli Washington iu Bkaddock's army. Her husband and her family afterwards adhered to the British interests during the Eevohition, and were all proscribed as traitors, and their property confiscated. It is said that man}^ years later, when deprived of her extensive estates on the Hudson, an exile fi"om her early home, a remark was made to one of her family, of the difference to her, between being the wife of an exile or of the hero of the Revolution and chief magis- trate of his country ; to which the reply was naively given, that "Washington would not, cou.ld not, have been a traitor with such a wife as Aunty MoriKis." With strong faith in woman's charms, we must still bo permitted to doubt whether we owe to cupid's fi'owns the patriotism of Washington. Tradition has told, too, of an earher charmer, a " lowland beaut}^" of Virginia, who had won the admiration of Washington in the days of his boyhood. It has been said that he then wrote sentimental verses to soothe his passion; and that in after-years, a son of this first flower that capti- vated his youthful heart became a favorite of his, in the person of General Henry Lee.
Although the ostensible object of the war was the defence and occupancy of the territories on the Ohio, yet its chief aim and final result was to overthrow all French power in America. For this purpose, numer- ous independent expeditions were planned and ex- ecuted by the various commanders against different and widely distant French posts, fi'om Nova Scotia to the Ohio. Washington was connected with none of these, except such as protected the western border of Virginia, or were directed against Fort Duquesne. Tlio
30 WASHINGTON.
capture of tliis post was liis darling -wish. lu tliis lie participated in November of 1758, and having secured its possession, lie repaired with his troops to the spot where, three years before, so many of their fi-iends and brethren had been slaughtered on Beaddock's ill-fated field, and gathering their whitened bones, buried them with funeral honors. It was a sad and solemn duty, and that burial-mound was watered with the tears of fathers, brothers, and sons. It was the scene in Koman history repeated, where the soldiers of Geemanicus gathered up the bones of Vaeus and his legions, that had lain in the forests for six years unbui'ied, and paid the last ofiices of tenderness to their fallen country- men. Washlngton now retired honorably from the army, and became a private citizen at Mount Vernon.
He had then been for six years a Mason, and the last five had been spent in mihtary campaigns. His attendance on the meetings of his own lodge during this period could not have been frequent, and no local lodge existed nearer Mount Vernon. Oiu' Enghsh brethren have claimed that Washington was made a Mason during the old French War, in a British mihtary lodge, holdihg a warrant fi'om the „Grand. Liodge of Ireland, granted in 1752. This lodge, called "The Lodge of Social and Military Virtues," was No. 227 on the registry of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and was held in the forty-sixth British regiment. It still ex- ists, we believe, as " Lodga_Qf_Autic|uity" in Canada, and claims to have the Bible in its possession on which Washington was obligated as a Mason.
If Y/ashington evei^~1reldr"any Masonic intercoui-se ^\ith that lodge, we believe it must have been during
WASHINGTON. 31
his \nsit to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, in the winter of 1756. Previous to that time, only two British remments were connected with the American service, and these were the fortj-foui'th and forty- eighth, which came over the year before with General Beaddock ; but we know of no military lodge-warrant being held by either of these regiments. The forty- sixth regiment was sent to America soon after Brad- dock's defeat, and it served in the northern campaigns, and not in Virginia, where Washington held command. If Washington, therefore, had any connection with the lodge above alluded* to, it must have been during his northern visit ; and as he had been made a Mason, and received'lils first three degrees more than three years pre^dous to that time, in an American lodge at Fredericksburg, held under authorit}^ fi'om the Provin cial Grand Masterof Massachusetts, if he was bbli gatedr~onTEe Bible of this British MiUtary Lodge, it must have been an obhgation given as a test oath to him as a visiting brother ; or this lodge may have deemed the authority under which he had been made as insufficient, and have required him to be healed and re-obligated, to entitle him to the privilege of Masonic intercourse with a lodge held under a warrant from the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
All warranted American lodges, pre\'ious to the French War, had worked the rituals and acknowledged the authority of the Grand Lodge of England only (sometimes denominated the Grand Lodge of Mod- erns); but during this war, lodges holding warrants fi'om the Grand Lodges- of Scotland, Ireland, and the Ancients of London, were working in America. They
4=-
32 washijstgton,
probably owed their introduction to the military brethren. It is well known that little or no inter- course Vv^as held between these lodges and those working under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England ; and it is a significant fact, that in 1758 Washington's own lodge in Fredericksburg relin- quished its authority from the Pro\ancial Grand Master of Itlassachusetts, and obtained a warrant from Scotland. These, and many other considerations, ren- der it not improbable that Washington may, during his yisit to the North in 1756, have met with this British MiHtary Lodge, and in it, been re-made, or healed, and re-obhgated, as was the custom of that day in admitting to Masonic intercourse Masons made under authority of Masonic bodies whose government and rituals varied from their own.
Traditions, which no Masonic records of that period now existing either verify or contradict, state that Washington and his Masonic brethren held mihtary lodges during the old French War ; and there is a cave near Charlestown in Virginia, a few miles from Win- chester, where his headquarters for two years were held, which to this day is called " JVashingfjniS- llamnic Cave." It is divided into several apartments, one of which is called " The Lodge Boom.'''' Tradition says that Washington and his Masonic brethren held lodges in this cavern. In the spring of 1844 thaMasons of that vicinity hold a celebration there to commemorate the event.
Washington's military services had not only gained the approbation of his countrj'men, but had met with the applause of English officers in the army, so that
WASHINGTON.
33
WASIIINOTON 8 MASONIC CAVE,
wlien lie left the command of tlie Vii'ginia provincials, lie was the most popular American officer in the west- ern military department. But in resigning his military command, he did not retire from the service of his native colony ; for in 1758, while holding his commis- sion as colonel, he was elected by the county of Fred- erick, of which Winchester was the county-seat, as its representative in the House of Burgesses in Virginia. As the election was a contested one, his expenses as a candidate for the office are thus given : " A hogshead and a barrel of punch, thirty-five gallons of wine, forty- three gallons of strong beer, cider, and dinner for his friends ;" all amounting to " thirty-nine pounds and six shilhngs, Virginia currency." He was absent at that time at Fort CuraborlaiHl, and Colonel Ward,
34 WASHINGTON.
who sat on the bench and represented him as his friend that day, was carried round the town in the midst of general applause, all huzzaing for Colonel Washington. If this Uttle episode in his life at the age of twenty-six is distasteful to the admirers of his staid dignity in after-years, they may remember that a century of changes has since passed over American society, but still leaving the popular heart bounding as wildly now at success in election contests, as in the settlements of Virginia, one hundred years ago.
When Washington made his first appearance in the Colonial Assembh-, in January, 1 759, the members of that body unanimously complimented liim with a vote of thanks for his pre^dous mihtary services ; and when the speaker communicated to him this vote in the most flattering terms, he rose fi'om his seat to express his acknowledgment of the honor ; and such was his extreme modesty and diffidence in his new situation, that he blushed and stammered, without being able to utter distinctly a word. The speaker relieved him fi"om his embaiTassing situation, by saying with a smile, " Sit down, Mr. Washington ; your modesty is equal to your valor, and that sui-passes the power of any language I possess."
The same month that Washington took his seat in the Colonial Assembly of Vu-ginia, he married Mrs. Martha Custis, a wealthy and accomj^lished widow, who had captivated his heart just at the close of his military services. She had been left about two years before, by tlie death of her former husband, Colonel Daniel Paeke Custis, with an ample fortune, and two lovely childi'en, a son and a daughter. Washington
WASHINGTON.
o(^
met lier by accident at the house of a friend in 1758, during a journey which his military duties called him to make to Williamsburg, and admiration, love, and the conquest of two willing hearts, soon succeeded. The nuptia,ls are described as having been on the grand- est scale, many gentlemen being present in gold-lace, but none 'looking like the man himself." She, too, is said by her contemporaries to have been of rare beauty and loveliness ; and it is not probable that Washington's honey-moon vv^as haunted by visions of either Mary Phillipse, or his " lowland beauty." She was amiable and exemplary through life, and the virtues of both the mother and wife of Washington have long been enshrined in a nation's heart, and the dust of Virginia is sacred Avhere they rest.
The succeeding fifteen years of Washington's hfe were spent in domestic retirement, interrupted only by his pubhc duties as member of the Colonial Assembly, in which body he continued his seat. His time was now devoted to agricultural and rural pursuits, but his ample fortune enabled him to maintain a style of hving equal to Virginia gentlemen of the first rank in society ; and his home, where all the domestic virtues clustered, became the unrivaUpd abode of refinement and hos- pitality. WiUiamsbiu'g and Annapolis were tlie seats of colonial go^^emmcnt of Virginia and Maryland, and during the v.dnter^the elite of society in these colonies wcre-^trctistomed to spend much of their time in those places, forming l)rilliant circles at the vice-regal courts of the royal governors. '^VVAjmNGTON_ and his family were stars of the^^rst magnitude in these galaxies of intelligence and fashion.
86 WASHINGTON.
We look in vain for the record of Washington's Masonic life during tliis period, for few of tlie annals "of Masonry in Yirginia at that time now exist. Both records and traditions assert that her most noble sons were Masons, but the lapse of time and the devasta- tions of war have left few memorials of their mystic labors. No general Grand East existed either in Yir- ginia or Maryland, in which the brethren might con- vene ; and the different lodges in these colonies, work- ing under no common authority, and having httle in- tercourse with their. parent heads, were often remiss in the preservation of their records, leaving us now only the faint footprints of Masonry there fi"om the old French War down to the Eevolution. Colonial New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Carolina, and Georgia had at this period each then- Provincial Grand Easts, whose master-workmen history has made her own ; and when along the pathway of Masonry in colonial Yirginia we see her noblest sons emerging from the obscurity of uni'ecorded Masonic fellowship, and wdth hand-grips strong and true greeting brethren from the North, the East, and the South, at the com- mencement of the Bevolution, we deeply deplore the loss of records relating to the Mystic Art in that col- ony pre^dous to that period. Enough yet remains to inspii-e the poet's pen, and a gifted brother has written :
" Brave old Virginia — proncl you well may be, When you retrace that glorious dynasty Of intellectual giants, who were known As much the nation's children as your own— r
WASHINGTON. 37
Your brilliant jewels, aye, yon gave them all. Like Sparta's mother, at your country's call ! The Senate knew their eloquence and power, And the red battle in its wildest liour. No matter whence — to glory or the gi*ave — They shone conspicuous, bravest of the brave. One o'er the bravest and the best bore sway — Bright is his memory in our hearts to-day ! His bosom burned with patriotic fire — Virginia's son became his country's sire ; And in those lofty claims we proudly vie, He was our brother of tlie Mystic Tie/"
CHAPTEK III.
Commencement of the Ecvolution. — State of Masonry in the colony at that time. — First Congress at Philadelpliia. — Peyton Eandolph, its president, a Mason.— "Washington a member. — Second Congress. — Death of Mr. Eandolph. — Washington appointed commander-in-chief of the army.— Death of General Warren. — Washington takes command of the army. — Mrs. Washington visits the headquarters. — Formation of American Union Military Lodge. — Seal of this lodge. — Origin of its design. — St. John's Eegimental Lodge. — Eemoval of American Union Lodge to New York. — Its disasters at the battle of Long Island. — Washington evacuates New York. — Crosses New Jersey, and after the battles of Trenton and Princeton, goes into winter-quarters at Morristowu. — State of Masonry in America at this period. — Washington selected as Grand Master by lodges in Virginia.— Campaign of 1777, and winter-quarters at Valley Forge. — Washington at prayer. — Statue of him at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. — Cam- paign of 1778. — Washington present at Masonic celebration in Philadel- phia.-— Dr. Smfth's sermon. — Published, with dedication to Washington. — Colonel Park's Masonic Ode. — "Washington," a Masonic toast. — Cam- paign of 1779. — Masonic celebration near West Point. — Washington Mili- ary Lodge formed. — Washington's visits to this lodge.
i]HE commencement of the American lie vo- lution was a new era in the Masonic as well as political history of our country. As the biographer of "Washington's pub- |] he history is obHged to trace it along the pathway of current pubhc events, so also his Masonic life, when fully given, must be blended with the Ma- sonic history of the times in which he lived. From the first introduction of warranted lodges into America
WASHINGTON. 39
in 1733, until the commencement of the Revolution, Masonry had been in a state of progress in this coun- try, so that in 1774 there were warranted lodges in each of the thirteen colonies, and in seven of them Pro- ^-incial Grand Lodges. Massachusetts and Pennsyl- vania had then each two grand bodies of this class, making nine supervising Masonic powers in the colo- nies ; and when we add to these the Grand" Lodges of Scotland, Ireland, and the two of England, which each exercised Masonic authority in this country, we find the sources of Masonic power in the colonies then to be thirteen. The number of their subordinate lodges is lost to history, and the roll of the workmen who wrought upon the first temple of American Masonry has passed into the archives of the Grand Lodge above. The foundations of that temple still remain, but
" Its walls are dust, its trowels rust — Its builders with the saiuts, we trust."
In 1774, when the clouds of poHtical adversity were gathering thick above our country, and seemed ready to burst upon it with all their complicated gloom, a congress of delegates from the different colonies was convened at Pliiladelphia, and Washington was a member from Virginia. There were assembled in that council-chamber men who had never met before. From New England, from the banks of the Hudson, the Delaware, the Susquehanna, and the Potomac, and from far down in the sunny South they came, and all looked kindly on each other then ; for common dangers aiid a common weakness bespoke the necessity of a
40 WASHINGTON.
unity of action. Many l3rothers of the mystic tie were members of that body, and oyer its deliberations Peyton Kandolph, the Provincial Grand Master of Yir- ginia, was selected from the bright roll of master workmen, to preside. Mr. Adams said it was a collec- tion of the greatest men upon this contment, in point of abilities, virtues, and fortunes. Washington's posi- tion in it may be seen from a remark made by Pateick Henry, who was also a member, to one who asked him whom he considered tlie greatest man in that body. " If you speak of eloquence," said he, " Mr. Eutledge of South Carohna is by far the greatest orator ; but if you speak of sohd information and sound judgment. Colonel Washington is unquestionably the greatest man on that floor."
A second congress, of which Washington was also a member, assembled the following year in Philadelphia, and Mr. Randolph was again called to preside over its councils. His health, however, failing, John Hancock was elected his successor as president ; and before the session closed, Mr. Eandolph died, and his remains were taken to Virginia and buried with Masonic honors. The contest at arms between the colonies and the mother country had ah-eady begun at Concord and Lexmgton, and Washington was elected commander- in-chief of the American arm}". He was at this time forty-three years of age. He had left his home at Mount Vernon but a few weeks before, expecting soon to return ; but the duties of his appointment admitted of no delay, and after giving a few written directions for his domestic business, and executing a will, which he inclosed in an affectionate letter to his wife, he
WASHINGTON. 41
repaired to Cambridge, wliere the army was then stationed.
The British troops then held possession of Boston ; and the very day that Washington received his com- mission, the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and in it fell General Joseph "Warren, Grand Master of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. It was the first grand offering of American Masonry at the altar of liberty, and the ground-floor of her temple was blood-stained at its eastern gate. The second Grand Master who fell at the post of duty, was Peyton Eandolph, in the follo^ving October, whose death has been ah*eady noticed. One fell on the battle-field, and the other in the council-chamber of our country. Both their graves were wet with a nation's tears, and their Masonic brethren placed on each the green acacia.
Washington reached Cambridge on the 2d of July, and on the following day took command of the army. There were gathered around him a stern band of determined men, who had left their peaceful avoca- tions and taken arms to defend their hearth-stones. Of uniform they had little, and then* arms were such as were found in possession of men unused to war. Some of their officers had before held command in the old French and Indian War, and some had never held a sword before. To maintain his numbers, provide for their necessities, and reduce them to disciphue, was Washington's first care. But the year closed dark and gloomy upon the prospects of the army. Mrs. Washington left Mount Vernon late in the fall to spend the winter months at headquarters, and many of the officers were also joined by their wives ; but the
^
WASHINGTON.
other officers and soldiers had few pleasures in their winter- quarters to make them forget the homes they had left.
During the previous French and Indian War, military lodge warrants had been granted by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to brethren in the army ; and at the
E^ 3se of wearisome marches, and in theii' cheerless ,mps, the Masonic lodge-room became a bivouac in e tired soldier's hfe, where his toils and privations , yeie forgotten, and the finest feelings of his heart r Cilltivated. T^Tiile the Connecticut line of the army was encamped during this \vinter at Boxbury, near Boston, a movement was made by the brethren in it, early in February, to estabhsh a Masonic lodge in their camj). For this pui'pose they applied to the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, of which John Eowe was Grand Master, and Colonel RicavED Gridley his Deputy, for the necessary author- ity. The petition was signed by Colonel SAsniEL H. Paesons, Colonel Samuel TVyllys, Colonel Joel Clvrk, Major John Paek, Major Thomas Chase, Captain Eze- KEEL Scott, and stmdry other brethren, prayitig that they might be formed into a regular lodge.
By appointment from Colonel Richaed Geedley, the Deputy Grand Master, a meeting of the brethren was held in the Roxbury camp, on the„13th of February-, 1776. At this meeting, it was agreed that Colonel Claek be recommended as Master, Major Paek as Senior Warden, Major Chase as Junior Warden, Col- onel Paesons as Treasurer, and Ensign Jonathan Haet as Secretary. The foregoing proceedings having been presented to the Deputy Grand Master, who was not
WASHINGTON. 43
present at tlie meeting, npon tlie 15tli of the same mouth he issued to them a warrant or dispensation to hold a lodge in theii" camp at Eoxbuiy, or wherever theii' body shoidd remove on the continent of America, provided it was where no other Grand Master held authority.
It was called American Union Lodge, and both its name and the device on its seal were significant of the aid lent by Masonry in the hour of our couutr} 's need. Both were expressive of the great sentiment M'hich then pervaded the American heart. If Liberty was its key-note, Union was its watchword. The union of the Anglo-American colonies for mutual defence had been proposed in 1741, by Daniel Coxe of New Jerse}^, the first Provincial Grand Master in America. It had again been advocated in 1754 by Dr. Franklin, Pro- vincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania, who also sym- bolized the idea at the close of an essay, which he pubHshed on this subject, by a wood-cut representing a snake di^dded into j^arts, with the initial letter of each colony on a sej)arate part, underneath which he placed the motto, "Join or die."
The purposes for which both Coxe and Franklin had unsuccessfully advocated a federal union of the colo- nies, had been to protect them against the French. When the Revolution commenced, and the union of the colonies against British aggression was urged, many of the newspapers adopted Franklin's device and motto. When the Union had taken place, tho device was clianged as a newspaper heading, and a coiled rattlcKiiako, witli its head erect to strike, was substituted, with the motto, "Don't tread on me." Both
u
WASHINGTON".
these devices and mottoes were inscribed on flags and other ensigns of war of the provincial troops at the commencement of the Eevohition. This device, as a colonial emblem, was soon after changed to a circle consisting of a chain with thirteen links, containing in each an initial letter of one of the thirteen colonies. It was also placed upon some of the currency of the col- onies as early as 177G.
The seal of American Union Lodge bore the same popular f^/iCn ..r^!v7;ir>^T^J\' \ American idea in its symbohsm, having as its principal device a chain of thirteen circular Hnks, around a central part, on which was the square and compasses, with the sun, moon, and a star above, and three burning tapers beneath them, the extremities of the chain being united by two clasped hands. For the leading idea of the symbohsm of the chain representing the union of the colonies, the brethren were 4)robabIyiiidebted to Dr. Franklin, who visited the American camp in 1776, as one of a committee from Congress to confer with Washington on the affairs of the war ; and the seal is supposed to have been engraved by Paul Eevere, a distinguished Mason and patriot of Massachusetts, who was often emj)loyed at that period to engi'ave such designs.
Although a Military Lodge warrant had been granted by the Masonic authorities of New York on the 24th of Jidy, 1775, for a lodge in the provincial troops of that colony, which was called St. John's Regimental
8BAL OP AMREICAN UNIO:>' LODGE.
WASHINGTON. 45
Lodge, jet the American Union Lodge was the first organized in the Continental army, and may be justly regarded as the eldest Masonic daughter of the Amer- ican Union. It was organized in troops of which Washington had command, and though his mihtary duties did not admit of his attendance on its meetings during the time the army was encamped around Boston, he subsequently often joined his Masonic brethren within its walls, and ever inculcated among its members, both by precept and example, a love of Masonry. This lodge went with his army, when it re- moved to New York, and held its meetings there while the city remained in his possession. Its last meeting there was on the 15th of August, 1776, a few days be- fore the disastrous battle on Long Island. The next subsequent record of this lodge states:
" The British troops having landed with a large body on Long Island, the attention of the American army was ne- cessary to repel them. On the ever memorable 27th of August, the Right Worshipful Joel Clark, Elisha Hopkins, OziAs Bissell, Joseph Jewett, Nathaniel Gore, being taken prisoners ; and on the 13th of September, Brother James Chapman, AIicajah Gleason, kihed ; William Cleavland and John P. Wyllys taken prisoners, and Brijtlier Otho H. Wil- liams taken prisoner at Fort Washington, l)y whicli mis- fortunes the lodge was deprived of its Master, and some most worthy members, and many other brethren were called to act in separate departments, wherefore the lodge stood closed without day.
"(Signed) Jonathan Hart, Secretary."
No further meetings of tliis lodge were held untU
46 WASHINGTON.
March, 1777 ; and in the mean time, Joel Clark, its Master, died in captivity.
After the disastrous battle of Long Island, Wash- ington found it impossible for the safety of his army to retain possession of New York, and he evacuated the city about the middle of September, after having his headquarters there five months. From this time until the close of 1776, he did not long enjoy a resting- place for his troops. His strongholds upon the Hud- son were lost, and he retreated from river to river in New Jersey, till he had crossed the Delaware, and en- camped on its Pennsylvania side. There he tm-ned upon his pursuers, and on the 25th of December re- crossed the river amidst floods of ice, surprised a por- tion of the British army while engaged in their Christ- mas revels at Trenton, and gained a decided victory. This at once turned the tide of war, and after fui-ther successes at Princeton, his army went into winter- quarters at Morristown.
The close of 1776 was the darkest period in the his- tory of American Masonry. Every Grand East on the American continent was shrouded in darkness. Massachusetts and Virginia had each lost a Grand Master since the commencement of the war ; the old Grand Lodge of New York was dissolved, by its Grand Master, Sir John Johnson, fleeing fi-om his home, and becoming an officer in the British army ; the labors of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania were suspended, and their hall was soon after made a prison-room for citizens who were disafl'ected to the Ameiican causa La the spring of 1777 a ray of hght first arose in the East. The members remaining of Dr. Warren's Grand
WASHINGTON. ~ 47
Lodge were convened, and they resolved, that as the pohtical head of this country had destroyed all con- nection between the States and the country from which that Grand Lodge derived its commissioned authority, it was their privilege to assume an elective supremacy, and they accordingly elected Joseph Webb their Grand Master. Yirginia, too, a few months later, called a convention of its lodges, which recommended to its constituents George Washestgton as the most proper person to be elected the first independent Grand Master of Yirginia. Washington at that time had held no official position in Masonry, and he modestly dechned the intended honor, when informed of the ■svish of liis Virginia brethren, for two reasons : first, he did not consider it masonically legal, that one who had never been installed as Master or Warden of a lodge, should be elected Grand , Master ; and second, his country claimed at the time all his services in the tented field. John Bi^vir, therefore, the Master of Williamsburg Lodge, who was an eminent citizen of Virginia, was elected in his stead.
The military campaign of 1777 gave to history, in quick succession, the battles of Brandywine and Ger- mantown, the evacuation of Philadelphia by Congress, and its occupation by British troops, and closed by the retirement of the American army into winter-quarters at Valley Forge. Here, as the shoeless army marched to their cheerless encampment, hundi'eds of bare feet left footprints of blood in their frozen path. Wash- ington was moved to tears at the sight, and his touch- ing exclamation of "poor pUows,'' was responded to by a " God bless your Excellency, your poor soldiers'
48 WASHINGTON.
friend," by the suffering soldiers. Masonic traditions state that military lodges were held in the camfL^at Valley Forge, which Washington often attended, but the loss of their records prevents us fi'om verifying the statement. His headquarters that winter were at the house of a Quaker j^reacher ; and tradition has told us how the man of peace surprised him one day in a retired place, praying audibly and fervently for the success of the American arms, and that he thereupon assured his family that America would finally triumj)h, for such prayers would surely be answered.
" Oil ! who shall know the might Of the words he utter'd there ? The fate ot nations then was turn'd By the fervor of that prayer.
" But woiildst thou know his words, "Who wander-'d there alone ? Go, read enroU'd iu heaven's archives The prayer of Washington !"
There is an interesting Masonic memorial of Wash- ington at this period, which has long been in posses- sion of Lodge No. 43, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While Congress held its sessions in York, duiing the time the British occupied Philadelphia, Washington visited that borough, and his striking and majestic appearance so impressed a young man of tliat vicinity, that he carved a life-size statue of him fi-om a single block of wood, which was afterwards presented to Lodge No. 43, and is still in its possession. The name of the young self-tauglit artist who carved it has long been forgotten, but the outlines and expression of the
WASHINGTON. 49
statue are said to bear a striking resemMance to Washington at that period.
During the following year the British troops evac- uated Philadelphia, and the campaign of 1778 closed with the contending armies in nearly the same posi- tion as they were in the summer of 1776. In the latter part of December, Washington visited Philadelphia, where Congress was in session; and while there, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania celebrated the festival of St. John the Evangelist. Washington was present on the occasion, and was honored with the chief place in the procession, being supported on his right by the Grand Master, and on his left by the Deputy Grand Master. More than three hundred brethren joined in this procession. They met at nine o'clock, at the college, and being properly clothed, the officers in the jewels of their office, and other badges of their dignity, the procession moved at eleven o'clock, and proceeded to Christ Church, where a Masonic sermon, for the benefit of the poor, was preached by the Eev. Bro. William Smith, D. D., Grand Secretary O'f the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. In it he beautifully alluded to Washington, who was j)resent, as the Cincinnatus of America-;_sayin^ also," Such, too, if we divine aright, will future ages pronounce the character of a **********; but you all anticipate me in a name, which delicacy forbids me on this occasion to mention. Honored with his presence as a Brother, you \vill seek to derive virtue from his example," Great poverty and distress Had beenjQCcasiosed in Philadelphia by the British troops during their occupancy of the city, and in accordance with Masonic custom, a call was
3
^50/
WASHINGTON.
made on the fraternity in tliis sermon for the rehef of those in distress. Having eloquently presented the duty of charity, the Rev. Brother closed his discourse by saying: " But I will detain you no longer, brethren! you all pant to have a foretaste of the joy of angels, by calling into exercise this heavenly virtue of charity, whereby you*-wiU give glory to the Thrice Blessed Three, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God over all !" At the word " glory," the brethren rose to- gether ; and in reverential posture^ on pronouncing the names of the Triune God, accompanied the same by a corresponding repetition of the ancient sign or symbol of Divine homage and obeisance, concluding with the following response, " Amen ! So let it ever be !" More than four hundred pounds were immedi- ately collected for the relief of the poor, and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was made on the occa- sion the almoner of Washington's bounty. This ser- mon of Dr. SsHTH was pubHshed soon after, by direc- tion of the Grand Lodge, and the profits arising from its sale were also given to the poor. The pamphlet was prefaced with the following dedication to "Washingtgn :
"To his Excellency, George Washington, Esq., general and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States of North America — the friend of his countrj'^ and mankind, ambitious of no higher title, if higher were possible — the following sermon, honored with his presence when delivered, is dedicated in testimony of the sincerest brotherly affectioa and esteem of his merit.
" By order of the Brethren,
" JoHX Coats, " Grand Secretaiy, i)ro temJ^
WASHINGTON. 61
No earlier production, either literary or Masonic, had been dedicated to Washington. We regret the want of Masonic records to give the names of other visiting brethren who were present at this festival. An ode commemorative of Washington's participating in the ceremonies, and the position he occupied, was written a few months after by Colonel John Park, a distin- guished member of American Union Lodge, addressed to Colonel Pkoctoe, of Pennsylvania, bearing date, February 7, 1779, in which he says :
" See "Washington, lie leads the train, 'Tis he commands the grateful strain ; See, every crafted son obeys. And to the godlike brother homage pays.
Let fame resound him through the land, And echo, '' Tis our Master Grand !
'Tis he our ancient craft shall sway, Whilst we, with three times tJiree^ oheyy
We have no doubt, from this time onward it was the desire of many of the brethren, especially those in the army, to see Washington placed at the head of Ameri- can Masonry. At a public festival of American Union Lodge, held at Reading, in Connecticut, on the 25tli of March, 1779, the first toast given was, " General Washington ;" which was followed by one to " The memory o/' Warren, Montgomery, and Wooster," three distinguished Masons who had fallen on the battle- fields of the Eevolution. From this time onward the name of Washington became a Masonic toast, and the first in order at all Masonic festivals.
62 WASHINGTON.
On the 23d of June, Washington established his headquarters at New Windsor, on the Hudson, near Newburg. The following day Amencan Union Lodge met at Nelson's Point, and proceeded from thence to West Point to celebrate the festival of St. John the Baptist. Being joined by a number of Masonic breth- ren from the brigades there, and on Constitution Island, they proceeded from General Pattekson's quar- ters, on the opposite side of the river, to the Robinson House, where they retired to a bower in front of the house, and were joined by General Washington and his family. Here addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. Hitchcock and Major William Hull (afterwards Gen- eral Hull of the war of 1812). Dinn^, music, toasts, and songs closed the entertainment. Washington then returned to his barge, attended by the wardens and secretary of the lodge, amidst a crowd of brethren, the music playing " God save America ;" and as he and his family embarked to recross the river to New Windsor, his departure was announced by three cheers from the shore, which were answered by three from the barge, the music beating the " Grenadiers' March." Many distinguished officers of the army, who were Masons, were present at this festival ; and the brethren in the Massachusetts line soon after petitioned the Massa- chusetts Grand Lodge for a warrant to hold a travel- ling lodge in their camp. The petition was granted on the 6th of October, 1779, constituting General John Pattekson, Master, and Colonel Benjamin Tuppek and Major William Hull, Wardens. The lodge was called " Washington Lodge." Captain Moses Geeent^af of the Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment afterwards be-
WASHINGTON. 63
came Master of this lodge. His son, Simon Geeenleaf, late Past Grand Master of Maine, said he had often heard his father mention Washington's visits to this lodge while commander-in-chief, and the high gratifi- cation they gave to the ofl&cers and members, es- pecially as he went without ceremony, as a private brother.
CHAPTEE IV.
Washington's headquarters again at Morristown. — Attends Masonic cele- bration there, December 27, 1779. — Masouic army convention proposed. — Its meeting and proceedings. — Its address to American Grand Masters. — Existing Grand Lodges at this time. — Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania pro- pose a General Grand Lodge, and choose Washington as General Grand Master. — Sends notification of these proceedings to other Grand Lodges.— Letter to Joseph Webb. — His reply. — Second letter to Mr. Webb. — Grand Lodge of Massachusetts submits proposition from Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania to subordinate lodges. — Resolutions of Warren Lodge at Machias, Maine, in favor of Washington as General Grand Master. — Final action of Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in the matter. — Pennsylvania ever aftei opposes a General Grand Lodge. — Washington afterwards considered as General Grand Master. — Eeeeives letters as such from Cape Frangois. — His Masonic medal. — Pennsylvania Ahiman Rezon dedicated to him. — Copy presented to him. — Military Lodges of the Kevolution. — Lodges in the British army. — Anecdotes of. — Action of King David's Lodge at Newport. — Capture of Cobnwallis. — News of in Philadelphia. — Death of John Parke Custis. — Washington visits his mother.
T the close of 1779, Washington's head- quarters were again at Morristown, New Jersey, where they had been during the winter of 1776-77. Here the American Union Lodge was again at work, and also various other mihtary lodges, which had been organ- ized in the American army. On the 27th of December, the American Union Lodge met to celebrate the festi- val of St. John the Evangelist. Besides the regular members of the lodge present, the record shows the
WASHINGTON. 55
names of sixty-eiglit visiting brethren, one of -wliom was Washington. At a previous meeting of this lodge, held on the 15th of December, its records show that its Master, Major Jonathan Hart, was aj^pointed one of a joint committee from the various mihtary lodges in the army " to take into consideration some matters for the good of Masomy." At the festival meetuig on the 27th, " a petition was read, representing the pres- ent state of Free-Masonry to the several Deputy Grand Masters in the United States of America, desir- ing them to adopt some measures for appointing a Grand Master over said States." It was ordered that this petition be ckculated through the different Mnes of the army ; and also " that a committee be appointed from the different lodges in the army, fr-om each line, and from the staff of the army, to convene on the first Monday of February next, at Morristown, to take the foregoing petition into consideration." This committee accordingly met at Morristown, on the 7th day of Feb- raary, 1780, and the following is a copy of its pro- ceedings :
" At a committee of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, met this 7th day of the second month in the year of Salva- tion, 1780, according to the recommendation of a Convention Lodge, held at the celebration of St. John the Evangelist.
"Present, Brother Johx Pierce, M. M,, delegated to repre- sent the Masons in the military line of the State of Mas- sachusetts Bay, and Washington Lodge, No. 10 ; Brother Jonathan Hart, M. M., delegated to represent the Masons in the military line of the State of Connecticut, and American Union Lodge ; Brother Charles Graham, F. C, delegated to represent the Masons in the military line of tlie State of
56 WASHINGTON.
New York ; Brother John Sanford, M. M., delegated to rep- resent the Masons in the military line of the State of New Jersey ; Brother George Tudor, M. M., delegated to repre- sent the Masons in the military line of the State of Pennej'^l- vania ; Brother Otho Holland "Williams, M. M., delegated to represent the Masons in the military line of the State of Dalaware; Brother Mordecai Gist, P. W. M., delegated to rep- resent the Masons in the military line of the State of Mary- land ; Brother Prentice Brown, M. M., delegated to represent St. John's Regimental Lodge ; Brother John Lawrence, P. W. M., delegated to I'epresent the brothers in the staff of the American army; Brother Thomas Machin, M, M., dele- gated to represent the Masons in the corps of artillery."
The brothers present proceeded to elect a president and secretary, whereupon Brother Moedecai Gist was unanimously chosen president, and Brother Otho Hol- land Williams unanimously chosen secretary of this committee.
The committee proceeded to take into consideration an address to be preferred to the Bight Worshipful Grand Masters in the respective United States, where- upon Brother Williams presented the following ad- dress : "'"'' =;:::::."
"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL,
the grand masters of the several lodges in the KESPECTrVE united states of AMERICA.
union. force. love.
" The subscribers, Ancient Free and xVccepted Masons in convention, to you, as the patrons and protectors of the craft upon this continent, prefer their humble address.
"Unhappily, the distinctions of interest, the political views, and national disputes subsisting between Great Britain and
WASmNGTON. 57
these United States have involved ns, not only in the gen- eral calamities that disturb the tranquillity which used to prevail in this once happy country, but in a peculiar manner affects our society, by separating- us from the Grand Mother Lodge in Europe, l)y disturbing our connection with each other, impeding the progress, and preventing the perfection of Masonry in America.
"We deplore the miseries of our countrymen, and par- ticularly lament the distresses which many of our poor brethren must suffer, as well from the want of temporal re- lief, as for want of a source of light to govern their pursuits and illuminate the path of happiness. And we ardently de- sire to restore, if possible, that fountain of charity, from which, to the unspeakable benefit of mankind, flows benev- olence and love : considering with anxiety these disputes, and the many irregularities and improprieties committed by weak or wicked brethi-en, which too manifestly show the present dissipated and almost abandoned condition of our lodges in general, as well as the relaxation of virtue amongst individuals.
"We think it our duty. Right Worshipful Brothers and Seniors in the Craft, to solicit your immediate interposition to save us from the impending dangers of schisms and ajKjs- tasy. To obtain security fr(jin those fatal evils, with affec- tionate humility, we beg leave to recommend the adopting and pursuing the most necessary measures for establishing one Grand Lodge in America, to preside over and gov(>rn all other locrges~uf''T7hirt:s(Tever degree or denomination, licensed or to be licensed upon the continent ; that the an- cient principles and discii)line of Masonry being restored, we may mutually and univcrsttlly enjoy the advantages arising from frequent communion and social intercourse. To accomi^lish this beneficial and essential work, permit us to propose that you, th(! Right Worsliipfiil (Jraiid Masters, or
3*
68 WASHINGTON.
a majority of your number, may nominate as Most Worship- ful Grand Master of said lodge, a brother whose merit and capacity may be adequate to a station so important and elevated, and transmitting the name and nomination of such brother, together with the name of the lodge to be estab- lished, to our Grand Mother Lodge in Europe for approbation and confirmation, and that you may adopt and execute any other ways or means most eligible for preventing imposi- tions, correcting abuses, and for establishing the general principles of Masonry; that the influence of the same in propagating morality and virtue may" be far extended, and that the lives and conversation of all true Free and Accepted Masons may not only be the admiration of men on earth, but may receive the final approbation of the Grand Archi- tect of the Universe, in the world wherein the elect enjoy eternal light and love.
" Signed in convention, at Morristown, Morris County, this 7th day of the second month, in the year of our Saviour 1780, Anno Mundi, 5780. Which being read, was unani- mously agreed to sign, and ordered to be forwarded with an extra copy of their proceedings, signed by the president and secretary, to the respective Provincial Grand Masters; and the committee adjourned without day."
There were Grand Lodges in active existence in but three of the States at this time — viz., Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia ; and although the name of Washington for General Grand Master does not appear in the foregoing petition from the Masonic convention in the army, yet it was formally signified to these Grand Lodges that he was their choice. The events of the period we are now sketching are of great interest, not only in the Masonic liistory of Washington, but also in the Masonic history of oiTr country. Our rec-
WASHINGTON. 59
ords show that the action of the brethren in the army was the prehide to the great changes that were soon wi'onght in the pohty of American Masonry, and that he was first in the hearts of Masons, as well as first in the hearts of his countrymen. Previous to the recep- tion of the address of the Aiiny Convention by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, but while these pro- ceedings were in progress, an emergent meeting of that grand body was convened at Philadelphia, on the 13th of January, 1780, to consider the propriety of appoint- ing a General Grand Master over all the Grand Lodges formed or to be formed in the United States ; and its records show, that
" The ballot was put upon the question whether it be for the benefit of Masonry, that a Grand Master of Masoxs throughout the United States shall now be nominated on the part of this Grand Lodge ; and it was unanimously determined in the aflBrmative.
" Sundry respectable brethren being put in nomination, it was moved that the ballot be put for them separately, and his Excellency, Georgk Washington, Esq., general and commander-in-chief of the army of the United States, being first in nomination, he was balloted for as Grand Master, and elected by the unanimous vote of the whole lodge.
" Ordered, that the minutes of tliis election and appoint- ment be transmitted to the different Grand Lodges in the United States, and their concurrence therein be requested, in order that application be made to his excellency in due form, praying that he will do the brethren and Craft the honor of accepting their appointment."
A committee was chosen to expedite the business, and to inform themselves of the number of Grand
GO WASHINGTON.
Lodges in America, and tlie names of their officers, and prepare a circular letter to be sent them. So little was known, at this time, by the Proyincial Grand Lodges in this oonntrj of theu- sister Grand Bodies in other States, that months elapsed before the necessary in- formation came before the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl- vania, on which to act in carrying out the resolution of January 13th, relative to a correspondence in relation to the appointment of a General Grand- Master. On the 27th of the following July, having learned that there was a Grand Lodge in Virginia, of which John Blahi was Grand Master, the Grand Secretary was du'ected to write to Mr. Blair and. request the concur- rence of that Grand Lodge {if Ancient Masons)^ in. the appointment of General Washington as Grand Master General of Masons in America. A similar letter was also directed to be written to Colonel Whuam Mal- colm, of FishkUl, New York ; and as they had learned that there was a Grand Lodge at work in Boston, of which Colonel William Palfrey was a member, Colonel Proctor, of Philadelphia, was directed to confer with him. Having made these preHminary inquiries, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania addressed the following letter to Joseph Webb, Grand Master of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge :
"Philadelphia, August 19, 1780. " Joseph Webb, Esq. :
" Sir — I do myself the honor to address you, by orders from the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons, regularly constituted in the city of Philadelphia. This Grand Lodge has under its jurisdiction, iu Pennsylvania and the State?
WASHINGTON. 61
adjacent, thirty-one different regular lodges, containing in the whole more than one thousand brethren. Inclosed, you have a printed abstract of some of our late proceedings; and by that of January 13th last, you will observe that we have, so far as depends on us, done that honor which we think due to our illustrious brother, General Washington — viz., electing him Grand Master over all the Grand Lodges formed, or to be formed, in these United States ; not doubt- ing of the concurrence of all the Grand Lodges in America to make this election efiFectual.
"We have been informed by Colonel Palfrey that there is a Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons in the State of Massachusetts, and that you are Grand Master thereof As such, I am, therefore, to request that you will lay our pro- ceedings before your Grand Lodge, and request their con- current voice in the appointment of General Washington, as set forth in the minutes of January 13th, which, as far as we have been able to learn, is a measure highly approved by all the brethi'en, and that will do honor to the Craft.
" Willi Ail Smith,
" Grand Secretary."
To this, Mr. Webb returned the following answer :
" Boston, September 4, 1780. "Sir — Your agreeable favor of the 19th ult. I duly re- ceived on the 31st, covering a printed abstract of the pro- ceedings of your Grand Lodge. I had received one near three months before, from the Master of a travelling lodge of the Connecticut line ; but the evening after I received yours, it being Grand Lodge, I laid it before them, and had some de- bate on it. Whereupon it was agreed to adjourn the lodge
62 WASHINGTON.
for three weeks, to the 22d inst.: likewise, to write to all the lodges in this jurisdiction to attend themselves, if con- venient, by their Masters and Wardens ; and if not, to give instruction to their proxies here concerning their acqui- escence in the proposal.
" I am well assured that no one can have any objection to so illustrious a person as General Washington to preside as Grand Master of the United States; but at the same time it will be necessary to know from you his prerogatives as such ; whether he is to appoint Sub-Grand or Provincial Grand Masters of each State. If so, I am confident that the Grand Lodge of this State will never give up their right of electing their own Grand Masters and other officers annu- ally. This induces me to write to you now, before the re- sult of the Grand Lodge takes place ; and I must beg an answer by the first opportunity, that I may be enabled to lay the same before them. I have not heard of any States, except this and yours, that have proceeded as yet, since the independence, to elect their officers, but I have been hoping they would. I do not remember of more Grand Masters being appointed when we were under the British govern- ment, than in South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts ; but now it may be ne- cessary.
" I have granted a dispensation to New Hampshire, till they shall appoint a Grand Master of their own, which I suppose will not be very soon, as there is but one lodge in that State. Inclosed, I send you a list of the offi9ers of our Grand Lodge, and have the honor to be,
" With great respect and esteem,
" Your affectionate brother and
"Humble servant,
"Jos. Webb, G.M."
WASHINGTON. 63
This communication was laid before tlie Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at a special Grand Commiinication, on the 16tli of October ; and a committee, consisting of Colonel Palfkey and the Grand Secretary, Dr. Wil- liam Smith, was appointed to prepare an answei ; and they laid the same before the Grand Body on the fol- lowing evening, to which it adjourned. The following is a copy :
"Philadelphia, October 17, 1780. " Joseph Webb, Esq. :
" Respected Sir, and Right Worshipful Brother — Your kind and interesting letters of the 4th and 19th ult., by some delay in the Post-Office, came both to my hands together, and that not before the 10th inst. They were both read and maturely considered at a very full Grand* Lodge last evening; and I have it in charge to thank yon, and all the worthy members of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, for the brotherly notice they were pleased to take of the prop- osition communicated to you from the Grand Lodge of this State..^
"We are happy to find that you agree with us in the necessity of having one complete Masonic jurisdiction under some one Grand Head throughout the United States. It has been a measure long wished for among the brethren, especially in the army; and from them the request came originally to us, that we might improve the opportunity, which our central situation gave us, of setting the measure on foot. From these considerations, joined to an earnest desire of advancing and doing honor to Masonry, and not from any affected superiority, or of dictating to any of our brethren, we put in nomination for Grand Master over all these States (and elected so far as depended on us) one of
64 WASHINGTON.
the most illustrious of our brethren, whose character does honor to the whole Fraternity, and who, we are therefore persuaded, would be wholly unexceptionable. When our proposition and nomination should be communicated to other Grand Lodges, and ratified by their concurrence, then, and not before, it was proposed to define the powers of such a Grand Master General, and to fix articles of Masonic union among the Grand Lodges, by means of a convention of com- mittees from the different Grand Lodges, to be held at such time and place as might be agreed upon. Such convention may also have powers to notify the Grand Master General of his election, present him with his diploma, badges of office, and install with due form and ceremony.
" To you who are so well learned in the Masonic Art, and acquainted with its history, it needs not to be observed that one Grand Master General over many Grand Lodges, hav- ing eaeh their own Grand Master, is no novel institution : even if the peculiar circumstances of the Grand Lodges in America, now separated from the jurisdiction from whence they originated, did not render it necessary. We have also a very recent magnificent example of the same thing in Europe, which may serve, in respect to the ceremonies of installation, as a model for us. I will copy the paragraph as dated, at Stockholm, in Sweden, the 21st of March last, as you may not have seen it.
'"The 19th of this month (March, 1180) will always be a remarkable day to the Free Masons established in this Kingdom, for on- that day the Duke of Sundermania was installed Grand Master of all the lodges throughout this Kingdom, as well as those in St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Brunswick. Hamburg, etc. The lodge at St. Petersburg had sent a deputy for this purpose, and others had intrusted the diploma of instalment to Baron Leganbrepud, who had
"WASHINGTON. 65
been last year to Copenhagen and Germany on this ne- gotiation.
" ' The instalment was attended with great pomp. The assembly was composed of more than four hundred mem- bers, and was honored with the presence of the king, who was pleased to grant a charter to the lodge, taking it under his royal direction, at the same time investing the new Grand Master with an ermine cloak ; after which he was placed upon a throne, clothed with the marks of his new dignity, and there received the compliments of all the mem- bers, who, according to their rank, were admitted to kiss the hand, sceptre, and cloak of the new Grand Master, and had delivered to them a silver medal, struck to perpetuate the memory of this solemnity, which passed in Exchange Hall. It is said that the king will grant revenues for 'the commanders, and that this Royal Lodge will receive each year an annual tribute. This solemnity hath raised the or- der of Free Masons from a kind of oblivion into which they were sunk.'
" What the particular authorities of the Grand Master of the United States were to be, we had not taken upon us to describe, but, as before hinted, had left them to be settled by a convention of Grand Lodges or their deputies. But this is certain, that we never intended the different Pi'o- vincial or State Grand Lodges, should be deprived of the election of their own Grand OflScers, or any of their just Masonic rights and authorities over the different lodges within the bounds of their jurisdiction.
" But when new lodges are to be created beyond the bounds of any legal Grand Lodge now existing, such lodges are to have their warrants from the Grand Master General. And when such lodges become a number snfTicient to bo formed into a Grand Lodge, the bounds of such Grand
66 WASHINGTON.
Lodge are to be described, and the warrants be granted by the General Grand Master aforesaid ; who may also call and preside in a convention of Grand Lodges, when any matter of great or general importance to the whole United Fraternity of these United States may require it. What other powers may be given to the Grand Master General, and how such powers are to be drawn up and expressed, will be the business of the convention proposed.
" For want of some general Masonic authority over all these United States, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, ex necessitate, have granted warrants beyond its bounds, to Delaware and Maryland States ; and you have found it ex- pedient to do the same in New Hampshire : but we know that necessity alone can be the plea for this.
" By what has been said above, you will see that our idea is to have a General Grand Master over all the United States, and each lodge under him to preserve its own riglits, jurisdiction, etc., as formerly under the Grand Lodge of Great Britain, from whence the Grand Lodges of America had derived their Warrants, and to have this new Masonic Constitution, and the powers of the General Grand Master, fixed by a convention aforesaid.
" Others, we are told, have proposed that there be one Grand Master over all the States, and that the other Masters of Grand Lodges, whether nominated by him, or chosen by their own Grand Lodges, should be considered as his depu- ties. But we have the same objection to this that you have, and never had any idea of establishing such a plan, as has been suggested before.
" This letter is now swelled to a great length. We have, therefore, only to submit two things to your deliberation : 1st. Either, whether it would be best to make your election of a General Grand Master immediately, and then propose
WASHINGTON. 67
to us a time and place where a committee from your body could meet a committee from ours to fix his powers and proceed to instahnent ; or, 2d. Whether 3'ou will first ap- point a place of meeting, and the powers of the proposed Grand Master ; then return home and proceed to the elec- tion, and afterwards meet anew for instalment. This last mode would seem to require too much time, and would not be so agreeable to our worthy brethren in the army, who are anxious to have this matter completed.
" As you will probably choose the first mode, could not the place of meeting be at, or near, the headquarters of the army, at, or soon after, St. John's-day next ? At any rate, you will not fix a place far northward, on account of some brethren from Virginia who will attend. For we propose to advertise the business, and the time and place of meeting, in the public papers, that any regular Grand Lodges which we may not have heard of, may have an opportunity of sending representatives. Your answer, as soon as possible, is requested, under cover to Peter Baynter, Postmaster of Philadelphia.
" I am, etc., by order,
" William Smith,
'" Grand Secretai'y."
The Grand Loclgo of Massachusetts having suhinit- ted the consideration of the matter to her subordi- nates, one of her lodges at Machias, in Maine, passed the following resolutions, as shown by this record.
"At a meeting of Warren Lodge, held at Machias, Maine, October 31, 1180, the subject of appointing^ a General Grand Master of all the United States was proposed, and the fol- lowing resolutions were adopted :
y'^8 WASHINGTON.
"First, That it will be for the advancement of Masonry, that a Grand Master of Masons be appointed throughoxit the United States of America.
" Second, That the said Grand Master be chosen annually on the feast of St. John the Baptist, by a majority of the Grand Lodges throughout the United States of America, or at such other time as they shall judge necessaiy.
"Third, That the said Grand Master shall have no power but what shall, from time to time, be delegated to him by a majority of the Grand Lodges throughout the United States of America.
"Fourth, That the said Grand Master call a convention of all the Grand Lodges in the United States, within three months after his election, at such place as he shall judge most conducive to the good of the Craft; such convention to consist of one person chosen from each Grand Lodge.
"Fifth, That the Grand Master sit as president of the convention, to examine into any abuses that may have crept into Masonry, and rectify the same, examine the Book of Constitutions, abrogate, make, or alter laws, if they shall judge necessary, and lay their proceedings before the Grand Lodges for their approbation.
" Sixth, That his Excellency General George Washington be General Grand Master of Masons throughont the United States of America.
" The Right Worshipful Master and Wardens are directed to write to our representatives in the Grand Lodge, inform- ing them of our resolutions."
The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, however, hav- ing more fully considered the subject, thought the election of a General Grand Master of the United States, at that time, premature and inexpedient, and
1
WASHINGTON. 69
ordered the following resolution of their Grand Body to be sent to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
"Boston, January 9, 1181. " As the Grand Lodge have not been acquainted with the opinions of the various Grand Lodges in the United States, respecting the choice of a Grand Master General, and the circumstances of our public aifairs making it impossible we should at presents obtain their sentiments upon it, there- fore, voted. That no determination upon the subject could, with the^]pr"opriety and justice due to the Craft at large, be made by this Grand Lodge, until a general peace shall hap- pily take place throughout the continent.
" From the Grand Lodge records,
"Wm. Haskins, Secretary. ^^
This correspondence with the Q^and Lodge of Mas- sachusetts was the last effort made by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to establish a General Amer- ican Head over all the lodges in ijais country ; and in later times, when the project has been advocated by other Grand Bodies, her voice has been invariably against it. From her action in 1780 arose, undoubt- edly, the wide-spread appellation of the title of General Grand Master to Washington, — an historical error, which has not yet been eradicated in the minds of all Masons. There is no doubt that in the minds of all his Masonic compeers, after ttie independence of this country was attained, he was justly regarded as the Great Patron of the Fraternity in America, which led many to belieVerat the time of his death, and long after, that he had held official rank as General Grand Master.
70
"WASHINGTON.
Nor was "Washington's fame as a Mason, or the be- lief that he was General Grand Master, confined to this country ; for, in 1786, two letters in French were ad- dressed to him, from Cape Frangois, as " Grand Master of America" soliciting a lodge-warrant for brethren on that island; which letters "Washington caused to be laid before the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and they accordingly granted the warrant. A venerable brother in Virginia also informs us that his father, who was a Mason in Scotland, emigi'ated to this country soon after the close of the Revolutionary War ; and that he had often heard him say, that his Masonic brethren in Scotland congratulated him, when he left, on the ad- vantages and protection he would enjoy from Ma- sonry in this country, as General Washington they said was Grand Master of Masons here. This illusion
WASHINGTON MASONIC MEDAL, 1797.
was also perpetuated by a Masonic medal, which was struck in 1797, having on its obverse side the bust of Washington in military dress, -vNdth its legend, "(?. "Washington, President, 1797 ;" and on its reverse side, the emblems of Masonry, surrounded by the inscription,
WASHINGTON.
71
"Amor, Honoe, et Justicia," and tlie initials, "G. W., G. G. M."
Althougli the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania did not succeed in creating a General Grand Mastership, and elevating Washington to that office, as was her desire, and also that of the Military Lodges of the arm}', from whom the proposition first sprang, yet that Grand Body still continued to regard him as first among
AU.M8 OF TIIK I T.EEMASONS.
American Masons. At her first meeting for reorgani- zation, after the British troops evacuated Philadelphia, she had appointed a committee, of which the Rev. Dr. Wm. Smith was chairman, to prepare a new Book of Constitutions. Dr. Smith accordingly digested and
72
WASHINGTON.
abridged the English Book of Constitutions used by the Ancient York Masons ; and on the 22d of Novem- ber, 1781, submitted to the Grand Lodge the result of his labors, which was a Book of Constitutions, &e., which has since been kno^vn as " Smith's Ahiman
Eezon." It was approved and nnanimouslj adopted at that meeting, and ordered to be printed, with the Masons' coat of arms as a fi'ontispiece ; and the Grand Lodge further resolved, "In case onr beloved and illustrious brother General AVASHBiGTON permit it to
WASHINGTON. 73
be dedicated to liim, tliat his Excellency's arms be prefixed to tlie dedication." At a meeting of the Grand Lodge, in December, 1782, it was further re- solved that Dr. Smith's Masonic sermon and prayer, which had been deHvered in jDresence of Washington, on the 28th of December, 1778, should also be pub- Hshed in the work. The book was printed in 1783, with the following dedication, but Washington's coat of arms was not inserted :
"To His Excellency George Washixgton, Esq.,
" General and Commandei'-in- Chief of the Armies of the United States of America : " In testimony, as well of his exalted services to his country, as of that notle philanthropy which distiug-uishcs him among Masons, the foUowing- Constitutions of the most ancient and honorable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, by order and in behalf of the G-randr Lodge of Penn- sylvania, etc., is dedicated, by his Excellency's most humble servant and faithful brother,
" William Smith, G. Secretary. ''June 2^, 1782."
At a meeting of the Grand Lodge, held on the 10th of June, 1787, it was ordered that the Eight Worship- ful Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master present to General Washington a copy of this Book of Consti- tutions ; and in an inventory of his library, made by the appraisers of his estate after his death, this book ap- pears in the schedule.
The MiHtarv Lodges of the Revolution shoulil not bo forgotten, in a just tribute to the memory of Washing-
4
74 WASHINGTON.
TON. There were ten of these instituted in the Amer- ican army, in the following order, and by the following authorities :
1st. St. John's Eegimental Lodge, in the United States Battalion, July 24, ] 775, by the old Provin- cial Grand Lodge of New York (Moderns).
2d. American Union Lodge, in the Connecticut line, February 15, 1776, by the Grand Lodge of Massachu- setts (Moderns).
3d. No. 19, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg- istry, in the first regiment of Pennsylvania artillery, May 18, 1779, by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
4th. Washington Lodge, in the Massachusetts line, October 6, 1779, by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge (Ancients).
5th. No. 20, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg- istry, in a North Carohna regiment, 1779, by the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
6th. No. 27, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg- istry, in the Maryland hue, April 4, 1780, by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
7th. No. 28, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg- istry, in the Pennsylvania line, 1780, by the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
8th. No. 29, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg- istry, in the Pennsylvania line, July 27, 1780, by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
9 th. No. 31, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg- istry, in the New Jersey line, March 26, 1781, by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
10th. No. 36, on the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Reg-
WASHINGTON. 75
istry, in the New Jersey line, September 2, 1782, by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (Ancients).
Masonic records, and the concurrent testimony of Washington's compeers, both show that while com- mander-in-chief of the American revolutionary army he countenanced the estabhshment and encouraged the labors of these MiUtary Lodges, wisely considering them as schools of urbanity, well calculated to dissem- inate those mild virtues of the heart, so ornamental to human character, and particularly useful to correct the ferocity of soldiers, and alleviate the miseries of war. The cares of his high office engrossed too much of his time to admit of his engaging in the duties of the chair ; yet he found fi'equent opportunities to visit these lodges, and thought it no degradation to his dig- nity to stand there on a level with his brethren.^
There were many Masonic Lodges also connected with the British army during this period, and on sev- eral occasions the warrant and other property of such lodges were captured by American troops, but in each case they were promptly returned. One of these lodges was No. 227, on the registry of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, which has claimed that Washington was made a Mason in it during the old French War. The " Lon- don Freemasons Revkiv" states, that " during the Eevo- lution, its lodge-chest fell into the hands of the Amer- icans ; they reported the circumstance to General Washington, who embraced the opportunity of testify- ing his estimation of Masonry in the most marked and gi'atifying manner, by directing a guard of honor, un-
* See Bigp:lo\v's address on the death of WASiirNOTON.
76 AVASIIIXGTON.
der a distinguished officer, should take charge of the chest, with many articles of value, and return them to the regiment. The surprise, the feehng of both officers and men, may be imagined, when they perceived the flag of truce that announced this elegant compliment from their noble opponent, but still more noble brother. The guard of honor, vnth their flutes playing a sacred march, the chest containing the constitution and imple- ments of the craft, borne aloft, like another Ai'k of the Covenant, equally by EugHshmen and Americans, who, lately engaged in the strife of war, now marched through the enfiladed ranks of the gallant regiment, that with presented arms and colors hailed the glorious act by cheers, which the sentiment rendered sacred as the hallelujahs of an angel's song."
On another occasion, " during the war of the Ee volu- tion, while the army was encamped in New Jersey, a party of American troops was sent out on a foraging expedition, and on theii' way fell in with a number of British soldiers, who had been placed as a guard over some baggage which was being removed to a distant place. A skirmish ensued, the}' were taken prisoners, and with their baggage removed to the American army. On an examination of the baggage, a Templar's sash and Master's apron were found, Avhich excited some surprise among the soldiers, and were immediate- ly carried to the tent of the commander-in-cliief. As soon as his eye fell upon them, he gave instructions that the baggage should be carefully protected from all injury, that inquiries should be made after the owner of these articles, and if found, that he be requested to repair immediately to his tent.
■WASHINGTON, 77
" He soon made his a^Dpearance. Kind words and friend- ly greetings attended his reception. He was treated with the utmost care while a prisoner, and was soon after sent home to England on parole, attended by all the comforts and conveniences which it was possible t-o bestow upon him in those times of trouble. This person wa^ Sergeant Kelly of the British-army^, who, after his arrival home, lived to a good old age, and preserved that sash and apron with the greatest care. On his dying bed, surrounded by his kindred — and among the number was an old and tried friend, who was a brother Mason — he ordered the sash and aprcm to be produced, and calling his old friend and brother to his side, exacted from him a promise, to forward, after his death, the same to Montgomery Lodge, in the city of New York, with an accompanying letter, stating it to be a memento to the fraternity, of the kindness and fraternal regard of George Washixgtox towards an humble brother and a stranger ; and as a testimonial that ' the memory of the just is blessed, and shall live and flourish like the green bay-tree.' These relics were presented to Montgomery Lodge in 1838, where they now remain, and are preserved with care."*
A military alliance with France had been formed in 1778, by which auxiliary rrencli troops were sent to America ; and early in 1781, Washington visited Ilhode Island to confer with the French commander (m the approaching campaign. A lodge existed there, known as King David's Lodge, Avhose warrant had been gi'anted by George Harrison, Provincial Grand Master of New York, to Moses M. Hays, a Jewish citi-
* See FoLGEii's address, November 4, 1852, before Benevolent Lodge, New York.
78 WASHINGTON.
zen of New York.jcitj, bearing date Feteuary 17, 1769, empowering him to hold a lodge in that city. This warrant he had taken to Ehode Island in 1780, and was then holding a lodge under it in NeT\^ort. Hav- ing learned that Washington was daily expected there, this lodge, upon the 7th of February, 1781, appointed a committee, consisting of Mr. Hays and others, for the purpose of preparing an address, in behaK of the lodge, to present to him. At a meeting of the lodge, held at the request of the Master, February 14th, this com- mittee reported, " That, on inquiry, they find General "Washington not to be a Grand Master of North America, as Avas supposed, nor even Master of any particular lodge; they are therefore of opinion, that this lodge would not choose to adth'ess him as a private brother, and at the same time they think it would not be agreeable to our worthy brother to be addressed as such." The lodge therefore voted that the address be entirely laid aside for the present.
The campaign of this year is ever memorable for the capture of Coenwallis at Yorktown. " In that village," says the Honorable Robert G. Scott, of Vii'gioia, "was Lodge No. 9, where, after the siege had ended, Wash- ington, La Fayette, Marshall, and Nelson came to- gether, and by their union bore abiding testimony to the beautiful tenets of Masonry."*
The surrender of Coenwallis was a day of jubUee in the American army, and Washington ordered all offend- ers in the camp who were under arrest, to be par-
* See Brother Scott's address at lajMng the corner-stone of the Wasliington Monument at Richmond. This statement we have been unable to verify.
WASHINGTON. 79
cloned and set at liberty. He also acknowledged an oveiTuKug Pro^ddence in their success, by directing that di^dne services should be held in the army, and jDublic acknowledgments rendered to God for his signal interposition in their behalf. ' But it was not the army alone that gave way to joy and thanksgiving on this oc- casion, for the whole country was jubilant, " The news of the surrender," says a writer of that day, " reached Philadelphia between one and two o'clock at nigld. The watchman in those days were in the habit of calling the hour. They w^ere all Germans, and the welkin re- sounded— ' Oh,hast two 0 clock; w^icZ Coenwallis is taken f Windows were thrown up by ladies in night-caps to catch the sound, and forthwith every house was illu- minated." Congress also appointed a day of national thanksgiAdng, and voted thanks and other testimonials to Washington and his officers.
But while the heart of America beat wildly with joy on this occasion, that of Washington was smitten with grief by a deep domestic affliction ; for he was com- pelled to hasten from the field of his recent triumph to Eltham, a few miles distant, to attend the deathbed of his stepson, John Parke Custis, the only remaining one of the two children of his wire at the time of his marriage. Washington, who had never had childi'en of his own, had loved these with all a parent's fondness. The daughter had died just before the war, and his grief on that occasion was equalled only by that of Mrs. AVash- INGTON. She had then just grown to womanhood, and was called the dark-eyed lady of Mouid Vernon.
The loss of John Parke Cuhits, who had served as one of his aid-de-camps during a ]>art of the war, and who
80 WASHINGTON.
had contracted liis deatli-fever at Yorktown, was keenly felt by Washington, and lie at once adopted his two youngest children as his own, and they became the children of 3Iount Vernon of after-years. These, too, were a boy and girl, whose names as " Geoege "Wash- ington Paeke Custis" and " Nehly Custis," were long- interwoven with the associations of Mount Vernon.
We may be permitted to give one other scene in Washington's domestic relations at this time, and carry the reader with us to the home of his mother at Fred- ericksburg, which he visited soon after the battle of Yorkto-^^Ti. No pageantry of war, no sounding trum- pets, no waving banners announced his coming. She was alone, and her aged hands were dihgently em- ployed in domestic industry, as Washington approached her threshold. A smile of recognition, a warm em- brace, and the endearing name of Geoege, uttered with trembling lips, were a mother's greeting. As she in- quired concerning his health, she marked the Knes of care and toil that seven years had traced on his manly brow, and then spoke of old fiiends and associations, but of his present fame and glory not a word. Wash- ington had been accompanied to Fredericksburg by many distinguished officers of the French and Ameri- can armies, and the citizens of Vhginia for many miles around gathered there to welcome the conquerors of CoENWALLis. In the evening a splendid entertainment was provided, to which the mother of Washington was specially invited. She remarked that her dancing days were past, but tbat she should feel happy in con- tributing to the festivities of the occasion, and con- sented to attend. When the elegant chicle, composed
WASniKGTON. 81
of French, jaiicl Americau chiyalrv, graced witli tlie beauty of tlie smiling daughters of Virginia, was formed, "Washington entered the room with his mother leaning on his arm, dressed in the plain but becoming garb of the Virginia lady of the olden time. To the attentions and greetings she received fi'om the companions in arms of her son, the renowned warriors of two conti- nents, her words were dignified and courteous, al- though her manners were reserved. No complimentary attentions that were shown to her produced haughti- ness in her demeanor ; and at an early hour, wishing the company much pleasure in their entertainment, she remarked it was " high time for old folks to be in bed," and retired, leaning as before on the arm of her son. Those foreign officers who had seen the pageantry and pride of the artificial distinctions of society in the Old World, looked with wonder and admiration on the Spartan plainness of the mother of WAsmNGTON ; and remarked, that a country which produced such moth- ers, might well boast of illustrious sons.