CHAPTER VI.

Washington arrives at Mount Vernon. — Receives a letter from lodge at Alexandria. — His reply. — He resumes domestic employfr>«»ts. — Bin feel- ings on the occjusion. — Calls upon his time and attention burdensome to him. — Employs Mr. Leab as secretary. — A visit from Mr. Watson. — Receives invitation to attend celebration of St. John the Baptist by Lodge at Alexandria. — His reply. — He attends the celebration. — Is elected ar honorary member of the Lodge. — La Fayette visits America. — Presents Washington Masonic sash and apron. — Apron afterwards presented to Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. — Distinction between Watson apron and La Fayettk apron. — Laying of the cornerstone of the Acad- emy at Alexandria. — Grand Lodge of New York dedicates its first book of constitutions to Washington. — Such dedications to him usual during his lifetime. — Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania becomes an independent body, and requires her lodges to renew their warrants. — Washington president of convention to form Federal constitution. — Lodge at Alex- andria takes a new warrant from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and chooses Washington as Master. — Interesting records and correspondence at that time on the subject. — Washington elected President under the Federal constitution. — Masonic incidents relating to this election in Philadelphia. — Holland Lodge in New York elects Washington an honorary member. — Copy of its letter and certificate to him. — Old " Washington Chapter" of New -York. — Washington's last visit to his mother. — Her death and grave.
ASHINGTON proceeded to Mount Vernon immediately after resigning Ms commis- sion at Annapolis, and an-ived there on tlie foUoAving evening. It was the 2j:th of December, three days before- the an- niversary of St. John the Evangelist^-— _A_lodge of Freemasons had been formed in Alexandria, a few miles fi'om his home, in the preceding February. It
I
WASHIXGTOX. 99
was working under a warrant £i"om the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and numbered, 39. Egbekt Ada^i was its Master, and many of Washington's old fiiends and neighbors, in and about Alexandria, Avere its mem- bers. This lodge was prepaiing to celebrate the com- ing festival of St. Jolm the EvangeKst, on the 27th ; and the following letter, signed by the officers of the lodge, was addi'essed to General Washington :
"Alexaxdeia, 20th December, 1783.
" Sm — Whilst all denominations of people bless the happy occasion of your excellency's return to eujoj^ private and domestic felicity, permit us, sir, the members of Lodge No. 39, lately established in Alexandria, to assure your excel- lency, that we, as a mystical body, rejoice in having a brother so near us, whose pre-eminent benevolence has secured the happiness of millions; and that we shall esteem ourselves highly honored at all times your excellency shall be pleased to join us in the needful business.
" We have the honor to be, in the name and behalf of No. 39, your excellency's
Devoted friends and brothers,
Robert Adam, M., E. C. Dick, S. W., J. Allisox, J. W., Wxf. Ramsey, Treas. "His Excellexcy General WAsnrxGTON."'
Washington had but two days before returned to the quiet of his o-rti loved home, after years of toil and dangers in the cam]-) and in the battle-field, and he might well have said to them :
100 WASHINGTOX.
"Now give me rest; my J^ears demand A holiday, companions dear : My days are drawing to an end, And I would for that end prepare.
"Now give me rest; but when ye meet, Brothers, in that beloved spot, My name with loving lips repeat, And never let it be forgot."
Washington was unable to attend this festival, but he sent to the lodge the follo-ndng reply :
"Mount Veenon, 28th December, 1783. " Gentlemen — Witli a pleasing sensibility, I received your favor of the 26tli ; and beg' leave to offer n>y sincere thanks for the favorable sentiments with which it abounds. "I shall always feel pleasure when it may be in my power to render service to Lodge No. 39, and in every act of brotherly kindness to the members of it, being with great truth,
" Your affectionate brother
and ol>f>dipnt servant,
" G". WashixctTOX. "EoBEET Adam, Esq., Master,
Wardens and Treasurer of Lolge No. 39."
Washington's feelings and employments on return- ing to private life may be best seen fi'om his own cor- respondence ; and from various letters of his written at that period, the followdng extracts are given :
"The scene is at last closed. * * * * On the eve of Christ- mas I entered these doors, an older man by nine years than when I left them. * * * * I am just beginning to experience
WASHINGTON. 1 <> 1
that ease and freedom from public cares, which, liowcvcr desirable, takes some time to realize. It was not till lately I could get the better of my usual custom of ruminating-, as soon as I waked in the morning, on the business of the ensuing day; and of my surprise at finding, after revolving- many things in my mind, that I was no longer a public man, nor had any thing to do with public transactions. ***** I hope to spend the remainder of my daj^s in cul- tivating the affections of good men, and in the practice of the domestic virtues. ***** xhe life of the husbandman, of all others, is the most delightful. It is honorable, it is [ amusing, and with judicious management, it is profitable. ***** I have not only retired from all public employ- ments, but I am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk, and tread the paths of private life with a heartfelt satisfaction. Envious of none, I am de- termined to be pleased with all ; and this, my dear friend, being the order of my march, I will move gently down the stream of life, until I sleep with my fathers."
Such sentiments are so perfectly in accordance with the precepts of Masonry, that they are worthy of a place in Washington's Masonic history. But in his retirement to Mount Vernon he was not lost to the world, nor forgotten by his countrymen. With Vir- ginian hospitahty, his doors were ever o})en, and all who had a claim on his fi-iendship or his kindness were ever received'witli welcome ; and he was ready, too, to respond to letters written to him from people of every condition, and upon every subject. But tho anxiety of those who travelled abroad was so great to can-y some testimonial from him, and of those who remained at home to possess some memorial of his
102 WASHINGTON.
kindness, that the labor of replying to the numerous letters addressed to him became a burden. To an in- timate friend he wrote
"It is not, my dear sir, the letters of my friends which give me trouble, or add aught to my perplexity. I receive them with pleasure, and pay a& much attention to them as my avocations will permit. It is in reference to old matters with which I have nothing to do ; applications which often- times cannot be complied with; inquiries, to satisfy which would employ the pen of an historian; letters of compliment, as unmeaning, perhaps, as they are troublesome, but which must be attended to ; and commonplace business, which employ my pen and my time, often disagreeably. Indeed, these, with company, deprive me of exercise ; and unless I can obtain relief, must be productive of disagree- able consequences. Already I begin to feel their eifccts. Heavy and painful oppressions of the head, and other dis- agreeable sensations often trouble me. I am, therefore, de- termined to employ some person who shall ease me of the drudgery of this business. ****** To correspond with those I love is among my highest gratifications. Letters of friendship require no stud^^; the communications they con- tain flow with ease, and allowances are expected and made. But this is not the case with those which require research, consideration, and recollection."
Washington was compelled to employ a young gen- tleman of talents and education to relieve himseK of these irksome labors, and to his care such correspond- ence was afterwards committed. This was Toblvs Leae, who remained his private secret.'ii'y^ until his death. Many personal narratives have come down to us of the kind reception Washington gave his guesta
WASHINGTON. 103
at Mount Vernon, and among them is one from the pen of the late Hon. Elkanah Watson, who visited him in the winter of 1785. He had been the senior part- ner of Watson & Cassoul in France during the war, and has been ah-eady referred to in this sketch as having corresponded with Washington at that time, and sent him a box of Masonic regalia.
" The first evening'," says he, " I spent under the wing of Washington's hospitality, we sat a full hour at table by ourselves without the least interruption, after the family had retired. I was extremely oppressed by a severe cold and excessive coughing, contracted by the exposure of a harsh winter journey. He pressed me to take some reme- dies, but I declined doing so. As usual after retiring, my coughing increased. AVhen some time had elapsed, the door of my room was gently opened, and on drawing ni}'^ bed- curtains, to my utter astonishment I beheld Washington himself standing at my bedside, with a bowl of hot tea in his hand. I was mortified and distressed beyond expres- sion. This little incident occurring in common life with an ordinary man, would not have been noticed ; but as a trait of the benevolence and private virtue of Washington, de- serves to be recorded."
As Washington had been unable to attend the fes- tival of the Evangelist in December, his Masonic brethren in Alexandria resolved to give an entertain- ment for him in the following February, and the lodge directed its secretary to "UTite to him to know when it would be convenient for him to favor them Avith his company. At a subsequent meeting of the lodge, held on the 20th of February, the Worshipful Master,
104 WASHINGTON.
Mr. Adam, informed tlie brethren that it had been in- timated to him that it would be inconvenient for "Wash- INGTON to attend at present, and the invitation was postponed.
On the approach of the festival of St. John the Bap- tist in June, the lodge addressed "Washington an invi- tation to join them, to which he sent the__f olio wing reply :
"MoxTNT Veenox, June 19, 1784.
"Dear Sir — With pleasure, I received the invitation of the master and members of Lodge No. 39, to dine with them on the approaching anniversary of St. John the Baptist. If nothing unforeseen at present interfei'es, I will have the honor of doing it. For the polite and flattering terms in which you have expressed their wishes, you will please accept
my thanks.
" With esteem and respect, " I am, dear sir,
" Your most ob't serv't,
" G". Washington. "Wm. Heebeet, Esquire."
The records of the lodge, which are still extant, ac- cordingly show that Washington attended as a Mason this festival ; and that its Master, Robert Adam, read to the lodge a most instructive lecture on the rise, prog- ress, and advantages of Masonry, and concluded -ndth a prayer suitable to the occasion. The Master and brethren then proceeded to Mr. Weise's tavern, where they dined ; and after spending the afternoon in Ma- sonic festivity, returned again to the lodge-room, where, as the record states, " The Worshipful Master, with the unanimous consent of the brethren, was pleased to
WASHINGTON.
105
admit his Excellency General Washington, as an honorary member of Lodge No. 39. Lodge closed in perfect harmony at six o'clock."
In the autumn of 1784, La Fayette came to Ameri- ca, and visited Washington at Mount Vernon. Of all the generals of the lievolutiou he had been the most beloved by Washington ; and both to him and to his wife in France had the hos])italities of Mount Vernon
A
jlM WASHINGTON.
/ been often tendered by Mr. and Mrs. Washington. Madame La Fayette had wrought with her own hands in France a beautiful Masonic apron of white satin groundwork, with the emblems of Masonry delicately delineated with needle-work of colored silk ; and this, with some other Masonic ornaments, was placed in a highly finished rose-wood box, also beautified with Masonic emblems, and brought to "Washington on this occasion as a present by La Fayette. It was a com- phment to Washington and to Masonry delicately paid, and remained among the treasures of Mount Vernon till long after its recipient's death, when the apron was presented by his legatees to the Washing- ton Benevolent Society, and by them to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, in whose possession the apron now is, while the box that contained it is in possession of the lodge at Alexandria. The apron jsresented to Washington by Messrs. Watson & Cassoul "fwo^ years before, and which is still in possession of Lodge No. 22 at Alexandria, has been often mistaken for this ; ; but the two aprons may be easily identified, by the \ Watson & Cassoul apron being wi-ought with gold land silver tissue, with the American and French flags jcombined upon it, while the La Fay'ETTE apron is Wi'ought with silk, and has for its design on the front- let the Mark Master's circle, and mystic letters, with a beehive as its mark in the centre. The same device is beautifully inlaid on the lid of the box in which it was originally presented to Washington ; and as this box is also in possession of Lodge No. 22 at Alexandria, and kept with the Watson & Cassoul apron, it has by many been supposed that this was the apron pre-
WASHINGTON. 1 07
sented in 1784 by La Fayette. This mistake has also, perhaps, been perpetuated by a statement, that when La Fayette visited this k^dge during his visit to America in 1824, he was furnished with the apron now in possession of Lodge No. 22, and in the box in which he had in 1784 presented one to Washington, to wear on the occasion ; and that he there alhided to it as the one he had in former years presented to his dis- tinguished American brother. Even were this state- ment true, a lapse of forty years might have misled him in the identity of the apron, particularly as it was handed to him for the occasion in the well-remembered box in which he had, in his early Masonic life, pre- sented one to Washington. The historic descriptions of the aprons leave no doubt as to the identity of each, and both are among the valued memorials of Wash- ington's Masonic history. The Watson & Cassoul sash and apron, and also the Masonic box in which the La FaytiITTE apron was presented to Washkgton, were presented to Lodge No. 22, at Alexandria, June 3, 1812, by Major Lawrence Letatls, a nephew of Washington, in behalf of his son, Master Lorenzo Lewis.
During the interval Ijetween the close of the Revo- lution and the first presidency of Washington, al- though engrossed with a multitude of cares, he was ever mindful of the interest of society around him, and became the benefactor of the churches and schools. The citizens of Alexandria in 1785 engaged in the erection of an academy in that town, and its corner- stone was laid with Masonic ceremonies on the 7th of September of that year, by Egbert Adam, Master of Lodge No. 39 of Alexandria, assisted by the brethren
108 WASHINGTON.
of that lodge. Upon this stone was deposited a plate vnth the following inscription.
" The foundation of the Alexandria Academy was laid on the 7th of Septemher, 178.5, in the ninth year of the indepen- dence of the United States of North .ynerica. Robert Adam, Esquire, Master of Lodge No. 39, Ancient York Masons, attended by the brethren, and as a monument of the generosity of the inhabitants, stands dedicated to them, and all lovers of literature."
The master then made a present, in the name of the lodge, of five dollars to the workmen, as was the custom on such occasions at that period. General WashevG- TON was one of the tiTistees and patrons of this acad- emy ; and in the following December he endowed it with one thousand pounds, the interest of which he directed should annually be appropriated for the ed- ucation of orjDhans and indigent children. The num- ber who were the yearly recipients of this endowment was twenty ; and hundreds have thus been since aided by this fund in fitting themselves for useful and honorable stations in life. The building still stands on the foundation-stone which Egbert Adam and his Masonic brethren laid in 1785 ; and the lapse of time and the devastations of war have neither laid it waste nor diverted it fi'om its original pui-pose.
Masonrv' was at that time fast assuming in this 'country an independent American polity; and in 1785 the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, whi'h had been chartered as a Provincial Grand Body whde the British troops held possession of its commercial city, virtually renounced its fealty to its parent head in
WASHIXGTOX. 10&
London ; and under Eobeet E. Liyingston, a Grand Master of its own election, it formed for itself a new Book of Constitutions, wliicli was dedicated to Wash- INGTOX as follows :
" To HIS Excellency George Washixgtox, Esq. — In tes- timony, as well of his exalted services to his country, as of his distinguished character as a Mason, the following Book of Constitutions of the ancient and honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, by order, and in behalf of the Grand Lodge of the State of Xew York, is dedicated. " By his most humble servant,
" James Giles, Grand Secretary. "A. L., 1785."
The honor of receiving the dedication of Masonic publications had not been conferred on any American Mason previous to Washington ; and this was the thiixl time this distinction was shown him. It is worthy of note in this sketch, that to him such honors were gen- erally given in this country during his lifetime, and they were multiphed until the period of his death, both by Grand Lodges and indi\'idual Masons ; and when the acacia had fallen on his cothu-lid, some Masonic funeral eulogies were dedicated to Mrs. Washington.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania terminated its provincial existence in 178G, and became an indepen- dent Grand Body. It therefore required its former suliordinates to take out new warrants under its new organization. No. 39 at Alexandria had for three years been workmg under the provincial authority of this Grand Lodge, although at the same time a Grand Lodge of rightful jurisd'ction existed in Virginia.
110 WASHINGTON".
The American Masonic rule, of conceding to eacli State Grand Lodge Masonic supremacy in its own civil limits, was not universal under tlie provincial system ; and it was no doubt Washington's frequent intercourse witb the brethren of Philadelphia which had led the Masons of Alexandria to seek their first warrant from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The lodge at Alexandria did not renew their warrant when the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania first became indepen- dent, but continued until 1788 to work under their first authority.
During this period the Convention w^hich formed the Federal Constitution met in Philadelphia. Washing- ton was its president, and many disting-uished Masons were its members, among whom was Edmund Ran- dolph, Grand Master of Yirginia. As Philadelphia was at that time the most important Grand East in America, there can be no doubt but that the state of Masonry in the new relations of the country was often discussed there ; and that fi'om circumstances there considered, the lodge in Alexandria was ioduced-socui after to change its fealty from the Grand^Lodge of Pennsylvania to that of Vii'ginia. Its records are of interest at this period, and arenas follows :
''May 29, 1788. — The lodge proceeded to the appoint- ment of Master and Deputy Master to be recommended to the Grand Lodge of Virg-inia, when George Washington, Esq., was unanim Deputy Master ; Wm. Hunter, Jun., Senior Warden ; Jno. Allison, Junior Warden.
" Ordered, That Brothers McCrea, Hunter, Allison, and
WASHINGTON. Ill
Powell wait on General Washington, and inquire of hira whether it will be agreeable to him to be named in the charter. " Ordered, That Brothers Huxter, Jun., and Allison ap- ply to the Grand Lodge at Richmond for a charter fur this lodge, and that they be repaid the expenses attending the procuring of it."
" October 25, 1T88. — Motion, made by Brother Hunter, and seconded by Brother Simms, that a committee be appointed to draw up a letter to the Grand Lodge at Richmond, agreeable to th.e former order of this lodge, requesting a new charter from that honorable body, and that Brother Hunter apply Tor the same at the expense of this lodge. It is also further ordered, that Brothers McCrea and Simiis be appointed to write to the Grand Lodge at Richmond accordingly."
The records of the lodge, under date of November 22, 1788, contain the following copy of the letter Avrit- ten on the occasion :
" The brethren of Lodge No. 39, Ancient York Masons, were congregated, and have hitherto wrought under a war- rant from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, who having since the Rev(jlution declared themselves independent of any foreign jurisdiction, and also notified us that it was necessary that we should renew our warrant under the new established Grand Lodge ; the brethren comprising this lodge, taking the same under consideration, and having found it inconvenient to attend the different connnunica- tions of that honorable society in Philadelphia, and as a Grand Lodge is estaldished in our own State at Richmond agreeably to the ancient landmarks, whose communications we can with more ease and convenience attend, have at
112 WASHINGTON.
sundry preceding meetings resolved to ask your honorable society for a new warrant, which has already been com- municated to you by letter, and also by our Brother Huxtek personally, who hath obtained an entry of this lodge on your minutes. We have now to observe that at a meet- ing of this lodge, on the 25th instant, it was unanimously resolved, that an application should be immediately made by this lodge to your honorable society for a charter, which we now do, and pray that it may be granted to us.
"It is also the earnest desire of the members of this lodge that our Brother George Washington, Esq., should be named in the charter as Master of the lodge. The names of the other necessary officers of the lodge will be mentioned to you by our Brother Hunter."
The Grand Lodge of Virginia, in accordance with this request, granted a new warrant to the lodge at Alexandria, constituting Bro. George Washington its first Master under its new warrant; and its registry number~wa^ changed from No. 39 of Pennsylvania, to No. 22 of Yirginia. The following is a verbatum copy of its Virginia warrant :
" Edmund Randolph, G. M.,
" To all and every to whose knowledge these presents shall come, Greeting : " Whereas it lias been duly represented to us, that in the county of Fairfax and borough of Alexandria in the Com- monwealth of Virginia, there reside a number of the brethren of the Society of Freemasons, who have assembled as n lodge agreeably to the regulations of Masonry by the title of the Alexandria Lodge ; and it appearing to be for the good and increase of tlio Fraternity that the said l)rethren
WASHINGTON. 113
should be encouraged to proceed aud work, as heretofore they have done in a regular lodge.
" Know Ye, that we Edmund Randolph, Esquire, governor of the Commonwealth aToresaid and Grand Master~©f_the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Freemasons, wiihin the same,Hbyand with the consent of the Grand Lodge of Virginia,' do hereby constitute 'a"nd"'app6int our illustrious and welT-beloved Brother George Washington, Esquire, late general and commander-in-chief of the forces of the United States of America, and our worthy brethren Robert McCrea, William Hunter, Jr., and John Allison, Esqrs., together with all such other brethren as may be admitted to associate with them, to be a just, true and regular lodge of Free- masons, by the name, title, and designation of the Alexandria Lodge No. 22.
" And further do hereby appoint and ordain, all regular lodges to hold and acknowledge, and respect them as such ; hereby granting and committing to them and their suc- cessors full power and authority to assemble and convene as a regular lodge, to enter and receive Apprentices, pass Fellow drafts and raise Master Masons according to the known and established customs of Ancient Masonry and NO" otherwise ; and also to elect and choose Masters, Wai-dens, and alt' other officers annually, at such time or times as to them shall seem meet and convenient ; and to exact from their members such composition as they shall judge necessary for the support of their lodge, the relief of their bretlu'en in distress and contribution towards the Grand Charity and agreeably to the Book of Constitutions and the laws of the Grand Lodge of Virginia ; and recommending to the breth- ren aforesaid to receive and obey their superiors in all things lawful and honest as becomes the honor and harmony of Masons ; and to record in their books this present charter
114 WASHINGTON.
with their own regulations and bye-laws, and their whole acts and proceedings from time to time as they occur, and by no means to desert their said lodge hereby constituted, or form themselves into separate meetings, without the con- sent and approbation of their Master and Wardens for the time being. All which by accejitance hereof they are holden and engaged to observe ; and the brethren aforesaid are to acknowledge and recognize the Grand.„Mastei-. ..and Grand Lodge of Virginia as their superiors^ and shall pay due re- gard and obedience.J»--»ll--such_instructions asthey ha^ received or hereafter shall receive from thence. And lastly, they are requested to correspond with the Grand Lodge, and to attend the meetings thereof by their Master and Wardens, or their proxies being Master Masons and members of their said lodge.
" Given under the Seal of the Grand Lodge at Richmond in the State of Virginia, the 28th day of April a.l. 5788,
A.D. 1788.
" By the Grand Master's Command.
"William Waddill,
" Grand Secretary. " Witness.
" Wm. Waddill, G. S." [seal.]
After the death of Washington,^ this lodge, while Colonel George Dene ale was its Master, desu-ed to change its name from Ahxarudria Lodge iVb. 22, to Wasli- i i/jfon Alexandria Lodge No. 22. Its records therefore show, under date of October 11, 1801, the following resolution :
" Resolved, Tliat the Worshipful Master of this lodge apply
WASHINGTON. 115
to the Grand j\raster of the Grand Lodge of Virginia for permission to alter the designation of this lodge from that of the Alexandria Lodge No. 22, to that of the Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22."
The following extract fi'om the records of the Grand Lodge of Yirginia shows its compliance with the re- quest ; and the memory of Washington as a Mason, and the first Master of this lodge under its Virginia charter has been perpetuated in this name.
"At a Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia hegun and held in the Masons' Hall, in the city of Richmond, on the 9th day of Decemher, Anno Lncis 5805, Anno Domini 1805.
" Whereas, at the last Grand Annual Communication a request was made by the Alexandria Lodge No. 22 for per- iiiission to change the name of the said Lodge to that of the Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22, which request was acceded and a new charter ordered to be issued ; and whereas this order did not meet the wishes of the Brethren of the said Lodge, who having had our illustrious Brother General George Washington for their first Master, whose name is inserted as such in their original charter, they then rji/^^ were and still are desirous of preserving their said charter/ i /_ as an honorable testimony of his regard for them and only t
wish to be permitted by the Grand Lodge to assume tnC;-^" name of the Alexandria Wa^hijngtQii Lodge, No. '22,"'withoiit ■ changiug_tbei£-.s.aid charter t-herpfof .
" Resolved, That the said lodge be permitted to assume the said name, and that it be henceforth denominated the Alex- andria Washington Lodge, No. 22 ; and that an authen-
116 WASHINGTON.
ticated copy of this resolution be attached to their said charter.
"Duly copied by me from the records of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, as witness my hand and the seal of the said Grand Lodge, this llth day of Decem- ber, A.L. 5805, A.D. 1805.
"Wh. H. FrrzwHYLsoNN, [seal.] " Grand Secretary."
The foregoing records conclusively show, not only Washington's connection Antli this lodge while under its Pennsylvania warrant, but also that by the choice of his brethren, and by the terms of its Virginia war- rant, he became its firsOIasler under it. If further eiadence were wanting, it is found in the records of this lodge under date of December 20, 1788, which state :
" His Excellency, General WAsmNGTox, unanimously elected Master ; Robert McCrea, Senior Warden ; Wm. Hunter, Jun., Junior Warden ; W>i. Hodgson, Treasurer ; Joseph Greenway, Secretary ; Dr. Frederick Spanbergen, Senior Deacon ; George Kichards, Junior Deacon ;"
At this meeting it was also resolved, that the breth- ren of the lodge dine together on the 27th, and " that his Excellency General Washington be invited." The imperfect records of the lodge, however, leave us no account of the festivities on that occasion.
From these interesting, but humble records of Wash- ington's Masonic life, we turn for a moment to the an- nals of his public history, and find that at the same time he was directing the tide of the mighty events
WASHINGTON. 117
that were affecting the welfare of o^^r infant republic. When the constitution of 1787 was submitted to the people of the several States for their ratification, he anxiously watched its fate, believing, as he said, that if it was not adopted, the next one luould he ivritten in blood. "WTien this corner-stone of the Federal Union was ac- cepted, and a master builder was to be chosen to preside over the rising temple of a republican govern- ment, he looked mth a c'alm, but not wishful eye, on the position he might be called to fill, and in the early months of 1789 again obeyed his country's man- date, and exchanged the domestic quiet of Mount Vernon for the supreme magistracy of the Union. We look through the \ista of near fourscore years, and contemplate Washington as the unanimous choice of the citizens of each State for President. He was in- deed the unanimous choice of the States, but not of all the citizens in them ; and M'hen the dust of three- quarters of a century is brushed from the record-book of the oldest lodge in the city of Philadelphia, we find' by the report of a committee of that lodge, made a few years ago upon its history, that —
"In the winter of 1188-9, discord and dissension were so rife as to cause serious distnrl)anc('s among the breth- ren, arising' from the political questions of tli(> day, when the government was first organized upon its present basis, and Brother George Washington was elected the first Pres- ident of the Uiiit(!d States. It appears the members were pretty equally divided on the question ol" his election, and scones arij thing but harmonious took place at the meetings held that winter.
118 WASHINGTON.
" Contention and strife obtained such a foothold in the lodge, that at the first Grand Quarterly Communication of 1789, the lodge surrendered its warrant to the Grand Lodge.
" Brother Washington was elected President in March 1789, and those brethren who had advocated his election, united in a petition to the Grand Lodge for a return of the warrant; and this was granted at the second Grand Quarterly Communication held in June of the same year. Union and harmony now prevailed, and _ the lodge prospered in its labors."
How strangely an institution divine in its teacliiags, / thus reveals the human passions of its members !
But while such dissensions were distui'bing the harmony of the oldest lodge in Philadelphia, the Ma- sonic brethren in New York were rejoicing on the elevation of so distinguished a brother to the presi- dency, and preparing to welcome his advent to their city, which was then the Federal capital. Hollantl Lodge of New York, therefore, whose membership embraced a distinguished class of citizens, elected him an honorary member, and transmitted to Mount Vernon a certificate of the same, as shown by the fol- lowing extracts from their records :
"Holland Lodge, March 6, 5789. "Resolved, That the Worshipful Master Vaxden Broeck. Senior Warden Stagg, Junior Warden Wilcoces, Brothers Baron Steuben and Edward LI^^NGST0N, he a committee to communicate to his Excellency, in any mode they may deem ' most proper, this proceeding of the lodge."
This committee, therefore, addressed to Washington
WASHINGTON. 11^ '
the following letter, inclosing a certificate of honorary membership :
"Holland Lodge, "New Yoek, March 7, 5789.
"Sir — As a committee appointed fur that purpose, we have the honor of transmitting to j'our Excellency the in- closed certificate from the Holland Lodge.
" We are directed, sir, to express a hope that the earnest wishes of our constituents on this subject may not be dis- appointed ; that the name of Washington may adorn as well the archives of our lodge as the annals of our country; and that we may salute as a Masonic Brother, him whom we honor as the political father of our country. " We have the honor, etc.,
" R. J. Vanden Broeck, Master, "John Stagg, Jun., Senior Warden, " William Wilcocks, Junior Warden,
" Fred. De Steuben, )
til? T c Members,
" Ldward Livingston, ) '
of Holland Lodge.
" His Excellency, Geo. Washington, Esq."
For the benefit of the curious Masonic reader, we give a copy of this certificate.
"In the East the place of Liglit, ) j And the Darkness
Where Peace and Silence reign, j | Comprehended it not.
"To all men enlightened and spread abroad on tlie fac(; of the Earth, Greeting: "We, the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of Holland Lodge, Ancient Masons, held in the city and State of New York, in North America, do hereby certify that in considera- tion of the Masonic virtues which distinguish our worthy
120 WASHINGTON.
Brother George Washingtox, he was unanimously elected an Honorary Member of our lodge.
" In testimony whereof, we, the Master and
Wardens, have hereunto set our hands, and