Chapter 1

Preface

✦

THE MASONIC PORTRAIT OF

BROTHER GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON.

ORIGINAL PASTEL PORTRAIT FROM LIFE BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS, PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER
1794, PAINTED AT THE REQUEST OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39, A. Y. M., WARRANTED BY THE
GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, FEBRUARY 3, 1783, NOW THE ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE,
No. 22, A. F. & A. M. OF VIRGINIA. REPRODUCTION FROM THE UNIQUE COPY IN THE MUSEUM
OF THE R. W. GRAND LODGE, F. & A. M. OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COPYRIGHTED BY ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE, No. 22, VIRGINIA, AND PRINTED BY ITS PERMISSION.

AS FOUND AMONG THE

WASHINGTON PAPERS

IN THE

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Compiled from the original records, under the direction of the
Committee on Library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, with
annotations.

JULIUS F. SACHSE

LIBRARIAN, MASONIC TEMPLE PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA

1915

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1915, in the Office of

the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C., by J. HENRY

WILLIAMS, R.W.G.M.

COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY

JOHN WANAMAKER, Chairman,
SAMUEL W. LATTA,
NORRIS S. BARRATT,
HARMAN YERKES,
HENRY DARRACH,
WALTER T. TAGGART.

JULIUS F. SACHSE, Librarian.

An Edition of One Thousand Copies has been printed, of
which this is No.

PRESS OF

THE NEW ERA PRINTING COMPANY
LANCASTER, PA.

322606

The position of eminence, the great respect and the pro
found reverence in which the name of WASHINGTON is en
shrined in the hearts of the American people, and particularly
so, with the members of this Fraternity, and of all true lovers
of liberty and freedom wheresoever dispersed, is the reason, if
any be needed, why everything relating to this great man and
worthy brother should be preserved for the future generations,
to be used by them as a guide, in the cultivation of those car
dinal virtues of Honor and Integrity, that should ever charac
terize the conduct of a good man and a good Mason.

The collection and reproduction of the letters of Brother
WASHINGTON, together with the text of this book, have been
prepared under my supervision, and its publication is heartily
approved.

Grand Master.
FEBRUARY 22, A.D. 1915-A.L. 5915.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Foreword 1

The Masonic Correspondence of Washington 5

Correspondence with Watson and Cassoul 19

Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 1783 . . 28

III

Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 1784 . . 34

Correspondence with King David's Lodge, No. 1, New
port, R. I., 1790 37

Correspondence with St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern,
N. C., 1791 44

Correspondence with Prince George's Lodge, No. 16,
Georgetown, S. C., 1791 51

flDasonic Correspon&ence of Wasbington

Correspondence with Grand Lodge of South Carolina,

1791 ....................................... 57

VIII
Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Georgia, 1791 ... 65

IX
Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania,

1792 ....................................... 69

Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,
1792 ....................................... 80

Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania,

1796 ....................................... 86

XII
Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Virginia,

1797 ....................................... 95

XIII

Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,
1797 ....................................... 102

XIV

Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Maryland, 1798. . Ill

Correspondence with G. W. Snyder, 1798 ........... 117

XVI
Index ........................................ 141

f»a$onfc Gorrespon&ence of Masbington

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Masonic Portrait of Washington Frontispiece.

J. Henry Williams, R. W. Grand Master iii

Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh

on the Hudson Facing page 22

Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, Virginia. ... 35

Moses Michael Hays (Portrait) " " 15

Washington, (Houdon Portrait), 1786. . " " 36

Mordecai Gist, (Portrait) " " 57

Residence of President Washington in

Philadelphia " " 69

Fac-Simile of Address " " 72

Jonathan Bayard Smith, (Portrait) " " 76

Rev. William Smith, D.D., (Portrait) ... " " 88

Mount Vernon, 1783-1799 " " 95

Paul Revere, (Portrait) " " 105

Washington, (St. Memin Portrait), 1798. " " 117
Draft of Letter to Grand Lodge

of Maryland Between pages 112-113

Press copy of Washington's letter

to G. W. Snyder, September 25,

1798 " " 124-125

Press copy of letter, October 24,

1798 . " " 130-131

vii

FOREWORD

WASHINGTON'S Masonic correspon
dence as found among the WASHING
TON papers in the Manuscript depart
ment of the Library of Congress,
affords an insight of the great esteem in which
Washington held the Masonic Fraternity, of which
since his early days he had been an honored member.
This is further shown by his great courtesy to the
Brethren, in his replies to their addresses, no matter
whether they were from a Grand or Subordinate
Lodge. In this collection, were also found some of
the original drafts of WASHINGTON'S replies, together
with copies of the various masonic addresses and let
ters to him, and in the case of Dominie Snyder, press
copies of his answers.

In the present work an attempt has been made to
group this matter together in chronological order,
also to show some of the surroundings and conditions
under which this correspondence was made, and of
the Brethren who were prominent in the presentation
2 1

fiDasontc Corre0pon&ence of Wasbtngton

of these Eleven Addresses, which came to him from
Seven of the Thirteen Colonies.

A complete set of photostatic fac-similes of these
documents in the Library of Congress, has been
secured for the Museum of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania. Efforts were also made to obtain
photographic copies of such of the WASHINGTON
Masonic letters as were still in existence, which were
successful except in two instances as noted in the
text.

It will be noted that on April 30, 1789, Washing
ton, while Master of his Lodge, was inaugurated
President of the United States; this is the only in
stance where one of the fourteen Presidents, who
were Members of our Fraternity was a Master of a
Lodge during their term as President.

The esteem in which WASHINGTON held the Ma
sonic Fraternity, is shown by the fact, that in almost
every case he had both the address and his reply,
copied upon opposite pages of one of his folio letter-
books, now in the Library of Congress. These copies
are respectively in the handwriting of WASHINGTON'S
private secretaries, viz: — Major William Jackson:
Tobias Lear: Bartholomew Dandridge and G. W.
Craik.

In addition to the above copies we have WASHING
TON'S original drafts of his letters to Watson and
Cassoul, to the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts,
South Carolina, and Maryland, to Paul Revere, and

Wneration of Washington

as before stated press copies of his answers to Mr.
Snyder.

A perusal of these original documents, as here pre
sented, affords an excellent illustration of the entente
cordiale, which existed between WASHINGTON and
his Masonic Brethren.

Upon the other hand, how the Masonic Fraternity,
during WASHINGTON'S lifetime, venerated their august
Brother, is shown by the addresses of this correspon
dence as retained by WASHINGTON.

Also by the various Masonic Memorial services
held, after WASHINGTON'S death, the chief of which
was in Philadelphia, under the auspices of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania. The Masonic services held
in every State of the Union, the many Eulogies and
Sermons delivered and printed are matters of history.

How this veneration of the great WASHINGTON
continued during the past years, is shown by the fact
that there are no less than 53 Masonic Lodges in the
United States, named after the illustrious Brother.
This is independent of the numerous Royal Arch
Chapters, Commanderies, and other Masonic bodies,
that bear the name "WASHINGTON."

Washington Lodges are found in thirty-eight of
the forty-eight States of the American Union.

The other ten States, which thus far have no
" Washington Lodge " within their Jurisdiction, are
Mississippi and Texas, together with the newer west
ern States lately admitted into the American Union,

fiDasontc Correspon&ence of Wasbineton

viz: — Nevada, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho,
Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

In addition to the fifty-three Washington Lodges,
there is also one each in Canada, the Island of Cuba
and the District of Columbia.

In the Masonic Fraternity throughout the world,
the name of WASHINGTON is ever kept in remem
brance, as one of the brightest luminaries in the
Masonic constellation, one of the most prominent ex
amples, being his full length oil portrait in Masonic
clothing in the Hall of the Grand Lodge of England
at London.

Acknowledgments are due to the Hon. Herbert
Putnam, Librarian of Congress, for placing these
documents at the disposal of the writer, and giving
permission to have photostat copies made of same;
also to J. Henry Williams, Esq., R. W. Grand
Master of Masons in Pennsylvania and Masonic
Jurisdiction thereunto belonging, for suggestions and
encouragement in the preparation of this work.

PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 22, A.D. 1915-A.L. 5915.

The Masonic Correspondence
of Washington

UCH has been written pro and con
about WASHINGTON and his connec
tion with the Masonic Fraternity.
Thus far no complete set of his Ma
sonic writings have been compiled or published.
Such portions as have been printed were fragmen
tary, and issued for what may be called local
purposes.

How careful WASHINGTON was of his Masonic
correspondence is shown by the fact that he had
copies made, in his private letter books, of most all
letters sent him by the various Masonic Grand and
Subordinate bodies, and his answers thereto, usually
upon opposite pages. He thus had both the ad
dresses and his reply at hand for easy reference.
This fact shows the esteem in which WASHINGTON

fiDasontc Correspon&ence of Washington

held his Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity, as well
as his own opinion of Freemasonry.

These letter-books are now in the Library of Con
gress, and photostat copies of such as relate to Free
masonry have been made for the Library of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

As to the authenticity of the Washington Letter
Books, and how they came into the possession of the
United States Government is explained by the fol
lowing statement by Mr. Galliard Hunt, chief
Manuscript division, Library of Congress:1

" They are a part of the Washington papers in
"the Government's possession, purchased from the
"Washington family, one lot in 1834 and the re-
"mainder in 1849, and deposited in the Department
"of State until 1903, when, by the President's order,
"they were sent to this Library. They range in
"date from 1754 to 1799. Some of them are partly
" or wholly in Washington's hand- writing, and others
"in the writing of his secretaries and their clerks.
" There are no volumes of press copies, but there are
" some press copies among the papers."

WASHINGTON in writing his answer to the various
greetings, in most cases would first make a rough
copy of his reply, then digest, alter, correct or change
such parts or sentences as he thought proper. Then

i Letter to Julius F. Sachse from Manuscript Division, December 19,
1914 — in Library of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Original 2>rafts

after deliberate consideration, a fair copy would be
made either by WASHINGTON or one of his Secre
taries and signed by him, and sent to the Masonic
bodies for which they were intended.

Fortunately some of the original drafts of these
Masonic letters have come down to us; thus far five
autographic copies have been found among the
Washington papers in the Library of Congress at
Washington.

1. Draft of letter written at Newburg, New York,
August 19, 1782, to Watson and Cassoul of Nantes,
France, thanking them for the Masonic Apron, em
broidered by the nuns at Nantes, and which is now
in possession of Alexandria- Washington Lodge, No.
22, at Alexandria, Virginia.

2. To the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

3. To the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. -

4. To the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.

5. To the Grand Lodge of Maryland; this draft
is a two-page letter written upon a letter sheet and
shows many changes and corrections; it is dated
1798.

In addition to the above original drafts there were
found several addresses and the accompanying an
swers, which thus far have never been published, in
fact no mention of them has ever appeared in print,
viz: —

1. An address from the Grand Lodge of Georgia,
together with WASHINGTON'S reply.

f»a0onic Correspon&ence of Washington

2. A letter to Paul Revere, Grand Master of
Massachusetts and his Grand Officers.

3. An address from the Brethren of Prince
George's Lodge, No. 16, Georgetown, South Caro
lina, presented to President WASHINGTON during
his visit to South Carolina, April 30, 1791, also his
reply to same.

4. An address from the Brethren of St. John's
Lodge, No. 2, of Newbern, North Carolina, and the
reply to same.

Photostat copies of the above have also been ob
tained which make the most complete collection of
the Masonic Correspondence of WASHINGTON which
has thus far been compiled.

A careful study of this correspondence so care
fully cherished by WASHINGTON puts an entirely new
phase upon WASHINGTON'S connection with the Ma
sonic Fraternity, and his esteem of Freemasonry.

These papers absolutely thrust aside all of the
statements, arguments and libels, brought forth by
our misguided enemies at the time of the Anti-
Masonic craze during the last century, and in a small
way kept alive even down to the present day by
some people who are blinded by their ignorance or
malice.

Referring to some of their published statements
that WASHINGTON never belonged to the Masonic
Fraternity, and that there were no authentic Masonic
letters nor copies thereof among his records so fre-

TRitner's " Wn&icatfon

quently made during the political Anti-Masonic
craze, which swept over New England and the Mid
dle States about eighty-five years ago, the following
quotations from the Masonic literature of the period
will prove interesting examples.

One of the chief statements made by these people,
and brought before all their conventions and heralded
in the public prints was: "That though General
Washington caused to be carefully copied in books
kept for that purpose, all his letters on every sub
ject, no trace whatever of any of the five letters
under consider ation,la nor any letters to any other
Lodge or Masonic body whatever, are to be found
among the records of his correspondence."2

The chief authority upon whom the leaders of the
Anti-Masonic movement at that time depended in
their defamation of WASHINGTON, was Jared Sparks
of Boston, who at the time was engaged writing a
life of WASHINGTON,, and then had access to all the
Washington letter-books and papers, and from his
connection with the Washington correspondence, was

ia The letters referred to by the Anti-Masons were the one to King
David's Lodge at Newport, two to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,
and one to Charleston, S. C., and to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
The above five Masonic Letters were all that were known to the Anti-
Masons at that time.

This address during the Anti-Masonic period was regarded as an im
portant state paper,

flDasonic Correspondence of Washington

supposed to be the best qualified to pass upon their
authenticity.

Another of the charges made by the Anti-Masonic
bigots whose chief object was to controvert facts
was:

"That although WASHINGTON was extremely
scrupulous in preserving his correspondence with all
public or private bodies, there is not a line of his
relating to Freemasonry, to be found among all
his papers, except the correspondence with Mr.
Snyder!3 It is also a fact, that WASHINGTON was
equally scrupulous in dating his letters, and it is
believed that not one can be found, which is without
a date."4

It appears that the chairman of a committee of
citizens of Boston called upon the officers of the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to submit their two
Washington letters to Jared Sparks for his inspec
tion. This the Grand Officers refused to do.

In return Sparks sent the following letter to the
Chairman:

"BOSTON, February 18, 1833.

"Sir, — I received this morning your letter of the
15th instant, in which you inquire:

" Whether I have yet seen or had in my possession

3 Letter press copies of the Snyder letters were retained by WASHING
TON. Photostat copies of same are in the Archives of the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania.

* " Proceedings of the Third State Anti-masonic Convention, of Massa
chusetts, Worcester, 1832," p. 27.

3are& Sparfcs

any original letter or letters, in the hand writing of
General Washington, addressed to any body of men
denominating themselves Freemasons.

"In reply, I can only state that I have seen no
letters from General Washington of the kind de
scribed in yours, nor received any communication on
the subject, either verbal or written.5
"I am, Sir,

16 Very respectfully,

"Your ob't servant,
"JARED SPARKS."

How Sparks could have overlooked the numerous
entries in the letter books whose numbers and folios
are here quoted, also the drafts of replies in WASH
INGTON'S hand-writing and signed by him (copies of
which are here given in this work), can only be ac
counted for by the fact that he must have been car
ried away by the political excitement of the day.

WASHINGTON'S connection with the Masonic Fra
ternity has been exhaustively traced by Brother
James M. Lamberton, Past Master of Perseverance
Lodge, No. 21, in his address "WASHINGTON AS
A FREEMASON," from the day of his entrance into
Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, of Virginia, Sep
tember 1, 1752, until the day of his death, Decem
ber 14, 1799, before the Grand Lodge of Penn
sylvania, at its celebration of the Sesqui- Centennial

5 Vindication of Washington before quoted, p. 13.

flDasontc Correspon&ence of Masbineton

Anniversary of the Initiation of Brother GEORGE
WASHINGTON into the Fraternity of Freemasons,6
held in the Masonic Temple, in the city of Phila
delphia on Wednesday, November 5, 1902.

It must also be remembered that WASHINGTON
made a public profession of his membership in Phila
delphia, Monday, December 28, 1778, when he
walked in procession with his brethren of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, from the College at Fourth
and Arch Streets to Christ Church on Second Street
above Market Street, Philadelphia, where, after a
prayer by Rev. William White, a sermon was
preached for the "[Benefit of the POOR] by ap
pointment of and before ] The General Communica
tion | of | Free and Accepted | MASONS | of the |
State of PENNSYLVANIA, | on Monday, De
cember 28, 1788, | Celebrated, agreeable to their Con
stitution, | as the Anniversary of | ST. JOHN the
Evangelist, | by William Smith, D.D., | Provost of
the College and Academy of Philadelphia." |

This Sermon was printed and dedicated to Brother
WASHINGTON and a copy sent to him, which was
bound with other pamphlets in a volume lettered
"Masonic Sermons," and is so mentioned in the in
ventory of his estate and now in the Boston Athe-

6 The Ancient Minute Book and Ledger of Fredricksburg Lodge,
No. 4, in Virginia, of which we have a photostat, is still in possession of
the Lodge, showing that " GEORGE WASHINGTON- was entered November
4, 1752, and on November 6, paid for his entrance £2. 3. 0, March 3, 1753,
GEORGE WASHINGTON was passed to Fellow-Craft; August 4, 1753, GEORGE
WASHINGTON was raised Master Mason."

Sermons b? IRev. Miliiam Smitb

naeum.7 At this service over four hundred pounds
were collected for the relief of the poor.

Rev. Brother William Smith, D.D., preached a
number of Masonic Sermons in Pennsylvania, Dela
ware and Maryland; three of which delivered at the
request of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania were
printed, viz.:

Sermon 1. — On Brotherly Love, &c. Preached
on the Anniversary of St. John the Baptist, June
24, 1755,

Sermon 2. — Preached on Monday, December 28,
1778, celebrated as the Anniversary of St. John the
Evangelist. With an Appendix on the Character
of Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus,

Sermon 3. — Preached before the Grand Lodge of
Communication, on St. John the Baptist's day, June
24, 1795.

Original copies of the above are in the Library
of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Rev. Brother Smith reprinted the above in a
Volume of Sermons with the following note:8

"N. B. The above three Sermons were preached
at the request of the Grand Lodge of Communica
tion, for Pennsylvania, and contains in substance all
that the Author thinks it necessary to bequeath to

7 Catalogue of Washington Collection in Boston Athenaeum, Boston,
1897, p. 185.

s Cf. " Works of William Smith, D.D.," Philadelphia, 1803, Vol. II,
pp. 27-88, also " Life and Correspondence of Rev. William Smith, D.D.,"
Philadelphia, 1880, Vol. II, p. 9. Et seq.

fiDasonic Correspondence of Washington

the Brotherhood, by way of Sermons, preached at
different times and in sundry of the neighboring
States, during 48 Years past."

By referring to the following letters and Docu
ments it is shown that WASHINGTON'S interest in
Freemasonry and the Fraternity continued until the
time of his death.

These documents cover the period from 1782 to
1798.

As these copies in our possession are photostat
fac-similes of the original documents in the Library
of Congress, there can never be any question of cor
rectness or of their authenticity.

The finding and collating of this material will
settle for all time to come the question of Washing
ton's connection with the Ancient Fraternity, and
his opinion and esteem of Freemasonry.

The earliest record we have of any Masonic Body
proposing a masonic address to General WASHING
TON, was the resolution offered in King David's
Lodge, No. 1, at Newport, Rhode Island, during
WASHINGTON'S visit to Newport in March, 1781,
while the French Army under Rochambeau was
quartered there. WASHINGTON arrived in Newport
on the sixth of March and remained there until the
thirteenth, when he left for Providence by way of
Bristol.

It was in anticipation of this visit that the Breth
ren of King David's Lodge, of which Brother Moses

W. M. KING DAVID'S LODGE, No. 1, NEWPORT, R. I., 1780-1781.
GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1788-1793.

flDoees flMcbsd t>aff

Michael Hays9 was Worshipful blaster, that a ma
sonic greeting to General ^GTOK was pro
posed. The follown y from the old Minute
Book of the Lodge n why the pro
failed to material!

EXTRACT FIK OHJIS OF KINO DAVID'S

LODGE.

"Regi night, held at the house of Mr.

Jame& .nesday evening, the 7th February,

178L >T*1.

••«m being made that as our worthy brother,
ncy General VVrashington, was daily ex
isted amongst us, a committee should be appointed
to prepare an address in behalf of the Lodge, to pre
sent him. Voted, That the Right Worshipful Mas
ter (Moses Michael Hays) together with brothers
Seixas, Peleg Clark, John Handy, and Robert
Elliot, be a committee for that purpose, and that
they present the same to this Lodge at their next
meeting for their approbation/*

44 At a Lodge held by request of the Right Wor
shipful Master, Feb. 14th, 1781. 5781,

* The committee appointed to draught an addnw
to our worthy brother, His Excellency G< - . raJ
Washington, report, that on inquiry the > en-

eral Washington not to be a Grand' Master of North

» For an exhaustive sketch of Brother Mom* M!«rwfv Hays, see The
American Freemason, Vol. V, p, 576.

W. M. KING DAVID'S LODGE, No. 1, NEWPORT, R. I., 1780-1781.
GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1788-1793.

HDoses fliMcbael

Michael Hays9 was Worshipful Master, that a ma
sonic greeting to General WASHINGTON was pro
posed. The following entry from the old Minute
Book of the Lodge will explain why the project
failed to materialize.

EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS OF KING DAVID'S

LODGE.

"Regular Lodge night, held at the house of Mr.
James Tew, Wednesday evening, the 7th February,
1781. 5781.

" A motion being made that as our worthy brother,
his Excellency General Washington, was daily ex
pected amongst us, a committee should be appointed
to prepare an address in behalf of the Lodge, to pre
sent him. Voted, That the Right Worshipful Mas
ter (Moses Michael Hays) together with brothers
Seixas, Peleg Clark, John Handy, and Robert
Elliot, be a committee for that purpose, and that
they present the same to this Lodge at their next
meeting for their approbation."

" At a Lodge held by request of the Right Wor
shipful Master, Feb. 14th, 1781. 5781,

" The committee appointed to draught an address
to our worthy brother, His Excellency General
Washington, report, that on inquiry they find Gen
eral Washington not to be a Grand Master of North

» For an exhaustive sketch of Brother Moses Michael Hays, see The
American Freemason, Vol. V, p. 576.

fiDasontc Correspondence of Wasbington

America; as was supposed, nor even Master of any
particular Lodge. They are, therefore, of opinion
that this Lodge would not choose to address him as
a private brother at the same time, think it would
not be agreeable to our worthy brother to be ad
dressed as such.

"Voted, That the report of the committee be re
ceived, and that the address be entirely laid aside for
the present."10

Now as to the cause for this uncertainty how to
address Brother WASHINGTON, it will be recalled
that just at that time, the proposition sent out by the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania nominating General
WASHINGTON as Grand Master of all the Colonies,
was then before the various grand bodies, but did not
find favor in New England, in fact the Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts was the chief objector, and finally
defeated the scheme to elect WASHINGTON the Grand
Master General.11

The means of intercourse between the different

10 "Newport, ss. Newport, August 18th, A.D. 1832. I certify that
the extracts taken from the records of King David's Lodge, Newport,
contained in the above and three foregoing pages, have been by me com
pared with the minutes contained in two books purporting and appear
ing to be the original records of said Lodge, and found to be true and
accurate copies of the same.

"Quid attestor, " GEO. C. MASON.

"Jus. Peace and Pub. Not'y."

Cf . " Antimasonic Republican Convention of Massachusetts held at
Worcester, September 5-6, 1832," p. 23.

n For a full account of this episode, see " Freemasonry in Pennsyl
vania," Barratt and Sachse, Philadelphia, 1908, Vol. 1, Chapter XII;
" WASHINGTON as General Grand Master," p. 393 et seq.

Xetters an&

Masonic Bodies at that early day were so limited and
uncertain that it offers a clear explanation for the
uncertainty under which the brethren of King
David's Lodge, No. 1, at Newport labored at that
time.

During the Anti-Masonic craze in the last cen
tury, the above minute was extensively used by the
political leaders of the Anti-Masonic party to
strengthen their claim that WASHINGTON had never
presided over any Masonic Lodge.

Following is a complete list of the Washington
Masonic Correspondence, thus far found among the
Washington papers in the Library of Congress.

Draft of Letter to Watson and Cassoul, Nantes,
France, August 10, 1782.

Letter to Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, Virginia,
December 28, 1783.

Address from King David's Lodge, No. 1, Rhode
Island, August 17, 1790, and WASHINGTON'S Reply.

Address from St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern,
North Carolina, April 20, 1791, and his reply.

Address from Prince George's Lodge (Moderns)
Georgetown, South Carolina, April 30, 1791, and
his reply.

Draft of reply to Grand Lodge of South Carolina,
May 5, 1791.

Address from Grand Lodge of Georgia, May 14,
1791, and his reply.

3 17

flDasonic Correspondence of Masbinston

Address from Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania,
March, 1792, and his reply.

Address of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,
December 27, 1792, and his reply.

Address from Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, De
cember 27, 1796, and his reply.

Address from Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Vir
ginia, April, 4, 1797, and his reply.

Letter to Paul Revere and Grand Officers, April
24, 1797.

Draft of Letter to Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
in reply to an address, April 1797.

Draft of a reply to an address from the Grand
Lodge of Maryland, November 8, 1798.

Letter from G. W. Snyder to WASHINGTON,
August 22, 1798.

WASHINGTON'S Reply to Snyder, September 25,
1798.

WASHINGTON'S Reply to Snyder's letter of Octo
ber 17, 1798.

ELKANAH WATSON,
e SIYMOUTH, MASS., JANUARY 22, 1758, D. AT PORT KENT, N. v., DECEMBER B,

'*rHO. TOGETHER WITH HIS PARTNER CASSOUL, PRESENTED TO WASHINGTON A
*^HON MADE BY THE NUNS AT NANTES, FRANCE.

NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON ICOGE, NO. 22,

CORRESPONDENCE WITH WATSON & CASSOUL,
NANTES, FRANCE, AUGUST, 1782.

earliest letter of General GEORGE
WASHINGTON of Masonic Import known
is the one written while in camp at New-
burgh in New York, dated State of New
York, August 10, 1782, to the firm of Watson and
Cassoul in Nantes, France, in which his friend,
Brother Elkanah Watson was the chief partner,
thanking the firm for the Masonic Apron and orna
ments sent him from Nantes, France.

This apron is now in the possession of the Alex
andria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, at Alexandria,
Virginia.

Elkanah Watson in his Memoirs states:13

" Wishing to pay some mark of respect to our be
loved Washington, I employed, in conjunction with
my friend M. Cossoul, nuns in one of the convents

is " Men and Times of the Revolution, or Memoirs of Elkanah Wat
son," New York, 1856, pp. 135, 136.

fiDasomc Correspondence ot Washington

at Nantes to prepare some elegant Masonic orna
ments, and gave them a plan for combining the
American and French Flags on the apron designed
for this use. They were executed in a superior and
expensive style. We transmitted them to America,
accompanied by an appropriate address."

By the above extract is shown beyond all doubt
the error in the statement so repeatedly made, that
the apron at Alexandria is the one made by the
Marquise de Lafayette, and presented to WASHING
TON by General Lafayette, during his visit to
Mount Vernon in 1784, and the one in the Museum
of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, that of Wat
son and Cassoul.14

Following letter was sent to WASHINGTON, to
gether with the Masonic Apron and "Ornaments,"
by Messrs. Watson and Cassoul, from France under
date "east of Nantes," 23d 1st Month, 5782.15

" To HIS EXCELLENCY, GENEKAL WASHINGTON,

AMERICA.
"Most Illustrious and Respected Brother:

" In the moment when all Europe admire and feel
the effects of your glorious efforts in support of
American liberty, we hasten to offer for your accept
ance a small pledge of our homage. Zealous lovers
of liberty and its institutions, we have experienced

i* Cf . " Proceedings Grand Lodge of New York," 1867, p. 28.
is " Memoirs of Elkanah Watson," p. 135.

flDasonic Hpron an& ©rnamente

the most refined joy in seeing our chief and brother
stand forth in its defence, and in defence of a new
born nation of Republicans.

"Your glorious career will not be confined to the

•~*-~^*-^'t4-im^ f*£ A y*->/->-irir»ri:EX liVi/af-tlT V>ii-i- -i-t-o 1 1 1 "fr i m O "fr/a

NOTE: — The Masonic Apron presented by Watson
& Cassoul to General Washington, August 1782, is
now in possession of Alexandria- Washington Lodge,
No. 22, at Alexandria, Virginia. No sketch or
photograph of same could be obtained for use in this
work.

numbers."

"Your affectionate brothers,

"WATSON & CASSOUL."
" East of Nantes, 23d 1st Month, 5782."

Owing to the uncertain intercourse between the
two countries, it was almost seven months before
Brother WASHINGTON received the Masonic apron,
ornaments and letter from France. He at that
time was in camp with the army at Newburg on the
Hudson.16

In reply WASHINGTON sent the following auto
graph letter to the donors in Nantes, viz. :

is Cf. " Itinerary of General WASHINGTON from June 15, 1775, to
December 23, 1783," by William S. Baker, Philadelphia, 1892, p. 271.

fiDasomc Correspon&ence of Washington

at Nantes to prepare some elegant Masonic orna
ments, and gave them a plan for combining the
American and French Flags on the apron designed
for this use. They were executed in a superior and

gether with the Masonic Apron and "Ornaments,"
by Messrs. Watson and Cassoul, from France under
date "east of Nantes," 23d 1st Month, 5782.15

" To HIS EXCELLENCY, GENERAL WASHINGTON,

AMERICA.
"Most Illustrious and Respected Brother:

14 Cf. "Proceedings Grand Lodge of New York," 1867, p. 28.
is « Memoirs of Elkanah Watson," p. 135.

masonic Hpron ant) ©rnaments

the most refined joy in seeing our chief and brother
stand forth in its defence, and in defence of a new
born nation of Republicans.

"Your glorious career will not be confined to the
protection of American liberty, but its ultimate
effect will extend to the whole human family, since
Providence has evidently selected you as an instru
ment in his hands, to fulfill his eternal decrees.

"It is to you, therefore, the glorious orb of
America, we presume to offer Masonic ornaments,
as an emblem of your virtues. May the Grand
Architect of the Universe be the Guardian of your
precious days, for the glory of the Western Hemi
sphere and the entire universe. Such are the vows
of those who have the favor to be by all the known
numbers."

"Your affectionate brothers,

"WATSON & CASSOUL."
" East of Nantes, 23d 1st Month, 5782."

In reply WASHINGTON sent the following auto
graph letter to the donors in Nantes, viz. :

16 Cf. " Itinerary of General WASHINGTON from June 15, 1775, to
December 23, 1783," by William S. Baker, Philadelphia, 1892, p. 271.

flDasonfc Correepon&ence of Wasbtngton

"STATE OF NEW YORK

"Augfc 10th 1782.
fGentn'

"The Masonick Ornam*8
"which accompanied your Bro
therly Address of the 23d of
" Jany last, tho' elegant in
"themselves, were rendered
"more valuable by the flattering
"sentiments, and affectionate
"manner, in which they were
" presented. —

"If my endeavours to
"avert the evil, with which this
" Country was threatned by a
"deliberate plan of Tyranny,
" should be crowned with the sue
"cess that is wished — The praise
"is due to the Grand Architect
"of the Universe; who did not see
"fit to suffer his superstructures
"and justice, to be subjected to the
"Ambition of the Princes of this
" World, or to the rod of oppression,
"in the hands of any power upon
"Earth.—

"For your affectionate
"Vows, permit me to be grateful;
" — and offer mine for true Brothers

fltasonic Correspondence of

"STATE OF

"The Masonick Ornam*
"which accompanied your Bro
therly Address of the 23d of
<f Jari' last, tho" elegant in
"themselves, were rendered
"more valuable by the flattering
"sentiments, and affectionate
"manner, in which they were
" presented. —

" If my endeavours to
"avert the evil, with which this
" Country was threatned by a
"deliberate plan of Tyranny,
" should be crowned with the sue
"cess that is wished — The praise
"is due to the Grand Architect
" of the Universe ; who did not see
*4$t to suffer his superstructures
1 aad justice, to be subjected to the
"Ambition of the,Prif¥*>s of this
"World, or to the rod of oppression,
"in the hands of any power upon
"Earth.-

"For your affectionate
"Vows, permit me to be grateful;

- and offer mine for true Brothers
22

Watson an& dassoul

" in all parts of the world ; and
" to assure you of the sincerity
"with which I am

"Mess"

" Watson & Cosson17
"East of Nantes"

This autograph letter from WASHINGTON to
Messrs. Watson and Cassoul is now in the possession
of the Grand Lodge of New York, who purchased
it from a member of the Watson family in the year
1866 or 1867 at a cost of approximately $1,000, and
is now framed and secured between two sheets of
glass in the collection of the Committee of Antiqui
ties of the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of New York.18

It is written upon two pages of an ordinary letter
sheet, and was a copy of one written by WASHING
TON, with which he was not entirely satisfied, as
shown by the changes made in the text before it was
sent to France. The first copy WASHINGTON re
tained, and is now in the Library of Congress, and
is here given for comparison, viz:

IT It will be noted that on both the draft and letter, WASHINGTON
spells the name Cassoul — "Cosson."

is Catalogue of Antiquities and Curios, Grand Lodge F. & A. M.,
New York, Class J, No. 1, New York, 1905.

FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LET-

L^*v

»« *

«*N .Q

e A^

TER TO WATSON AND CA3SOUL, NEW YORK, AUGUST 10, 1782.

flDasonfc Correspon&ence of Washington

"STATE OF NEW YORK,
Gent\, "Aug1 10th 1782.

" The Masonick Orna-
"ments which accompanied your
"Brotherly Address of the 23d.
"of the first month, tho' elegant
"in themselves, were rendered
"more valuable by the flattering
"sentiments, and affectionate
"manner, in which they were
" offered.—

"If my endeavours to
"avert the evil, with which
" this Country was threatned, by
" a deliberate plan of Tyranny,
"should be crowned with the
"success that is wished — the
"praise is due to the Grand
"Architect of the Universe; who

see fit to

"did not /\ suffer his superstruc
"tures & justice, to be subjected

ambition of the Princes of this world — or
"to the /S rod of oppression, in the
"hands of any power upon Earth.

" For your affectionate
"vows, permit me to be grateful;
" and offer mine for true Brothers
" in all parts of the world ; and

Watson anD Cassoul

"to assure you of the sincerity
"with which I am,

~ -

Endorsed

"Mess"5. Watson &
" Cosson — Nantes

"10th Aug* 1782."

A photographic fac-simile of the letter now in
New York, and a photostat of the original copy
retained by WASHINGTON are in the collection of
the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

The firm of Watson and Cassoul of Nantes,
France, acted as confidential agents of the Ameri
can Government during the Revolutionary period,
as is shown by their correspondence with Benjamin
Franklin in the Franklin Mss. collection of the
American Philosophical Society.19 Elkanah Wat
son was also a bearer of despatches to Dr. Franklin.

is Cf. "Calendar of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin in the Library
of the American Philosophical Society," edited by I. Minis Hays, Volume
V, p. 312.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39,
VIRGINIA, DECEMBER, 1783.

E next Masonic Letter of Brother WASH-
INGTON of which we have any knowledge
v is the one written in answer to a letter
sent him, upon his return to civil life by
the Brethren of Lodge No. 39, on the register of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, which met at Alex
andria, Virginia.

December 23, 1783, General WASHINGTON pre
sented himself to "The United States in Congress
Assembled," at Annapolis, Maryland, and resigned
his Commission that he had received on June 17,
1775, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the
United States.

Upon Christmas Eve he returned to Mount Ver-
non, whereupon the Brethren at Alexandria, who, it
must be remembered, were working under a Penn
sylvania Warrant, at once sent the following Ad-

Xetter to Xo&ge Bo* 39

dress signed by the Officers of Lodge No. 39, to
Brother WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon,20 viz.:

"Sir: Whilst all denominations of people bless the
happy occasion of your excellency's return to enjoy
private and domestic felicity, permit us, sir, the mem
bers of Lodge No. 39, lately established in Alex
andria, to assure your excellency, that we, as a mys
tical body, rejoice in having a brother so near us,
whose preeminent benevolence has secured the happi
ness 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. ALLISON, J. W.
"WM. RAMSAY, Treas"
"His Excellency General Washington."

Two days later Brother WASHINGTON sent fol
lowing reply,21 viz.:

20 Cf . " Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania — Moderns and Ancients,"
Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1913, Vol. II, p. 157. Also Vide " Wash
ington the Man and the Mason," by Charles H. Callahan, published under
the auspices of the " Memorial Temple Committee of the George Wash
ington Masonic National Memorial Association," Washington, D. C., 1913.

21 Original among Washington relics in Alexandria-Washington Lodge.
No. 22, Alexandria, Virginia. Fac-simile in Washington collection of
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

fiDasontc Corresponfcence of Washington

"MOUNT VERNON 28th Decr. 1783.
Gentlemen:

"With pleasing sensibility
" I received your favor of the 26th, and
" beg leave to offer you my sincere thanks
"for the favorable sentiments with
"which it abounds. —

" I shall always feel pleasure
" when it may be in my power to ren-
" der service to Lodge ~N° 39, and in
" every act of brotherly kindness to the
"Members of it; being with great truth.
"Your affect6 Brother
"and Obed* Servant

"Rob* Adam Esqr Master,
"& the Wardens & Treasr
"of Lodge N° 39."

No copy of either address nor reply of this corre
spondence has thus far been found among the Wash
ington papers in the Library of Congress, by the
present writer.

Brother Robert Adam, the Master of Alexandria
Lodge, No. 39, was a Son of the Rev. John Adam,
D.D., and Janet Campbell, of Kelbride, Scotland,
was born May 4, 1731; he emigrated to America in
1753, and, after a short residence at Annapolis, Md.,

WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39. ORIGINAL IN
ALEXANDRIA- WASHINGTON LODGE, No. 22, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

flfcasontc Correspon&ence of Washington

established himself at a pleasant country residence
in Fairfax County, Virginia, about four miles from
Alexandria. He was a gentleman of refined taste,
cultivation and wealth, and interested himself in
everything that could promote the prosperity of his
adopted home.

It appears that during his residence at Annapolis,
he was made a Mason in a clandestine or irregular
Lodge, and in the year 1783 applied for a dispensa
tion from the Grand Master of Pennsylvania, to
apply to Lodge No. 2, for initiation and member
ship.

Brother Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick, Senior Warden
of Lodge No. 39, was a native of Pennsylvania, born
near Marcus Hook, in Delaware County, about
1753, and died at Alexandria, Va., September 22,
1825. He was a son of Archibald Dick, a member
of Lodge No. 2 at Philadelphia, and joined the same
Lodge, September 15, 1779.22 Brother Elisha C.
Dick was a graduate of the old Pequea Academy,
and of the College of Pennsylvania. He began the
study of medicine under Drs. William Shippen and
Benjamin Rush. After graduating he settled in
Alexandria, Va., and at once became active in Ma
sonic circles in that city, and was instrumental in
having the petition presented to the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania for a warrant, which was granted

22 Elisha C. Dick's petition was presented in 'Lodge No. 2, September
14, 1779, approved and entered by virtue of a dispensation from the
Grand Master, September 15 ; passed and raised, September 23. " Free
masonry in Pennsylvania," Vol. I, pp. 352, 353.

Bretbrcn of Xo&ge IRo* 39

under the name and number "Alexandria Lodge
No. 39."

Upon the records of the Lodge, Brother Dick
appears as both predecessor and successor of Brother
WASHINGTON as Master. Brother Dick was the
first consulting physician in WASHINGTON'S last
illness, and also conducted the Masonic services at
WASHINGTON'S funeral on December 18, 1799. A
biography of Dr. Dick is in the Library of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Brother John Allison, the Junior Warden of
Lodge No. 39, had served as Major in the 1st Vir
ginia State Regiment, and later as Lieutenant
Colonel.

Brother William Ramsay, Treasurer of Lodge
No. 39, was an old personal friend of WASHINGTON.

For a history of Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, war
ranted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Feb
ruary 3, 1783, which was constituted on the second
floor of a large three-story frame building, known
as the "Lamb Tavern," on the twenty-fifth of Feb
ruary, 1783, the Masonic student is referred to " Old
Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania," Philadelphia,
1913, Chapter XL VI, pp. 153-168.

This tavern was situated on the west side of
Union Street, between Prince and Duke Streets,
Alexandria, the site of which is now known as No.
55 South Union Street.23

23 Cf. "The Lodge of Washington," by F. L. Brocket, Alexandria,
Va., 1876.

4 33

Ill

.CORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39,
VIRGINIA, JUNE, 1784.

next Washington letter of Masonic
import in chronological order is his reply
to an invitation to join the brethren of
Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, in the cele
bration of St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24,
1784, to which WASHINGTON sent the following
reply, accepting the fraternal invitation.

" MOUNT VERNON, June 19, 1784.24

"Dear Sir: With pleasure, I received the invita
tion 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 interferes, I will have the honor of doing it.
For the polite and flattering terms in which you

24 " Washington and his Masonic Compeers," by Sidney Hayden, New
York, 1866, p. 104.

Masbinston a Pennsylvania Jreeman

have expressed their wishes, you will please accept
my thanks."

"With esteem and respect,
"I am, dear sir,

"Your most Ob't serv't

"Wm. Herbert, Esquire."

No copy of this invitation nor acceptance, has thus
far been found among the Washington papers.

The original of this letter is also said to be among
the relics of Alexandria- Washington Lodge, No. 22.
As no facsimile copy was obtainable, an engrossed
copy for same was substituted in the collection of
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

This banquet was held at Wise's tavern25 and was
participated in by WASHINGTON, who upon this
festive occasion was elected an honorary Member of
Lodge No. 39, upon the Pennsylvania register, and
thus became a Pennsylvania Freemason, and his
name is duly recorded as such upon the minutes of
Lodge No. 39.

This fact further contradicts the Anti-Masonic

25 John Wise's tavern, in which the above Masonic Banquet was held,
is a large three-story brick building still standing on high ground at the
northeast corner of Cameron and Fairfax Streets, Alexandria. At that
time it had an unobstructed view of the Potomac.

flDasonic Correspondence of Washington

arguments based upon the Snyder letter so exten
sively used during the years 1826-1833, that WASH
INGTON never belonged to any Masonic Lodge, after
his initiation in the Fredericksburg Lodge in 1752.

The above note as recorded upon the Minutes of
Alexandria Lodge, ISTo. 39, shows that WASHINGTON
was in complete harmony with the Masonic Fra
ternity; further, that by his acceptance of member
ship, WASHINGTON became a Pennsylvania Mason.

Among the cherished relics in the Alexandria
Lodge, there is none more valuable than the Masonic
portrait of Brother WASHINGTON, which forms the
frontispiece of this volume. This was painted from
life in pastel, by William Williams, at Philadelphia
in 1794.

In the year 1910 a facsimile of this portrait was
made in oil by Miss Fanny M. Burke, an artist of
repute, and a great-granddaughter of Thomas Jef
ferson. This replica made for the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania is the only one ever made of this por
trait and shows Brother WASHINGTON as a man and
Mason, neither heroized nor idealized.26

26 Vide " Abstract of Proceedings of the Proceedings Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania, During the Year 1910," pp. 110-117.

BY JEAN ANTOINE HOUDON, M&5.

* WITH KING DAVID'S LODGE, No. 1,
RHO&K IsLAxn, AUGUST, 1790.

f^RHf HE next corn *?» chronological

order is the letter, *f*it u; »"! '' 1o the

>r* delivered by the Brethren of

•Kmg David's Lodge, No. 1, at Newport,

Rhode Island, to President WASHINGTON, August

17, 1790, during his visit to New England.

By referring to the Minutes of this old Lodge
following entry is found:

Vt a Lodge, called by request of $rv

•>?j Tmr^-Uv evening, A.ugust 17, ^?^H '*n
Hi: Vf "•• L<xlj|€ fceitUj? ai due

\>rm

tx* add?*r>:, "He IVt*iAi^-t <[ States.

The R. \\ ,4er (Mw <ixas} Henry Sher-
burne, and t^ Ht*

flDasonic Correspondence of Washington

"were appointed a committee for that purpose, after
"which the Lodge closed."27

Following address was prepared and according to
local tradition was publicly presented, by the Com
mittee to President WASHINGTON, in the Venerable
Sanctuary of the Jewish Congregation at Newport;
the Brethren of King David's Lodge being present:

" To GEOKGE WASHINGTON, President of the United

States of America.

"We the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of
" King David's Lodge in New Port Rhode Island
"with joyful hearts embrace this opportunity to
" greet you as a Brother, and to hail you welcome
" to Rhode Island. We exult in the thought that
"as Masonry has always been patronised by the
"wise, the good, and the great, so that it stood
"and ever will stand, as its fixtures are on the
" immutable pillars of faith, hope, and charity.

"With unspeakable pleasure we gratulate
"you as filling the presidential chair with the
" applause of a numerous and enlightened people
" Whilst at the same time we felicitate ourselves
" in the honor done the brotherhood by your many
" exemplary virtues and emanations of goodness
" proceeding from a heart worthy of possessing

27 A copy of the Extracts from the Records of King David's Lodge,
No. 1, as made by Ara Hildreth, Esq., is in the Archives of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, Mss. Volume Q, R.I. 7.

Cf. also a verified copy of the Minute in " Proceedings of the Anti-
masonic Republican Convention of Massachusetts, Boston, 1832," p. 22.

Ifting 2>avf&'$ Xo&ae, Wo, i

"the ancient mysteries of our craft; being persuaded
" that the wisdom and grace with which heaven
" has endowed you, will square all your thoughts,
" words, and actions by the eternal laws of honor,
" equity, and truth, so as to promote the advancement
" of all good works, your own happiness, and that
" of mankind.

"Permit us then, illustrious Brother,
"cordially to salute you with three times three
"and to add our fervent supplications that the
" sovereign architect of the universe may always
"encompass you with his holy protection.

" MOSES SEixAS28 Master
" New Port Aug* 17, 1790. Committee.

"HY SHERBUKNE
"By order

" WM LlTTLEFIELD,

Brother Moses Seixas was born in New York,
March 28, 1744; died in New York City, November
29, 1809. He was a merchant in Newport, Rhode
Island, and one of the founders of the Newport
Bank of Rhode Island, of which he was cashier until
his death. He succeeded Brother Moses M. Hays
as Worshipful Master of King David's Lodge at
Newport. He was also the first Grand Master of
the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. It was Moses
Seixas who addressed a letter of welcome in the

28 Vide " The Jews and Masonry in the United States," by Samuel
Oppenheim, New York, 1810, p. 22 et seq.

fiDasonfc Gorrespon&ence of Washington

name of the Jewish congregation to GEORGE WASH
INGTON when the latter visited Newport, and it was
to him that WASHINGTON'S answer was addressed.

The Town Hall at Newport being out of repair
at that time the ancient Jewish Synagogue on the
main street was used, upon that and several other
public occasions. It is an interesting fact that this
sacred edifice is still preserved in the same condition
as it was during the Colonial period.

So far as known this address was the first of Ma
sonic import made to WASHINGTON as President.
Unfortunately, the exact date of presentation and
receipt of his answer is not known to a certainty, as
there does not appear to be any date upon either the
original documents or the copies in WASHINGTON'S
letter book.

The original address and WASHINGTON'S reply to
the Master, Wardens and Brethren of King David's
Lodge in Newport, the latter signed in autograph by
WASHINGTON, are in the Athenaeum collection at
Boston, Massachusetts.29

Following copy of the President's answer is taken
from his letter book.30 Both address and answer in
the letter book are in the handwriting of Major
William Jackson, secretary to the President.

A photostat of the original entry is in the Archives

2» Cf. " Catalogue of the Washington Collection in the Boston Athe
naeum," Boston, 1897, p. 331.
so Letterbook II, p. 29.

<SX*

F AC-SIMILE OF REPLY TO KING DAVID'S LODGE, No. 1, NEWPORT, R. I.
LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 29.

flDa0onic Correspondence of Washington

of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It will be
noted that there is neither place nor date given.

President WASHINGTON arrived at Newport, R. L,
at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning, August 17,
1790. On the next day, Wednesday, the President
and his suite left on the Packet " Hancock " at nine
o'clock in the morning for Providence.

His company consisted of Governor Clinton of
New York, Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State,
Senator Theodore Foster, Judge Blair, Mr. Smith
of South Carolina and Mr. Gorman of New Hamp
shire; members of Congress.31

WASHINGTON left Providence, Saturday, August
21, and arrived in New York upon the following
day, Sunday, August 22, 1790,32 and sent the follow
ing reply to the Newport Brethren:

" To THE MASTER, WARDENS, AND BRETHREN or
" KING DAVIDS LODGE IN NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND."
<c Gentlemen,

" I receive the welcome which you
" give me to Rhode Island with pleasure, and I
"acknowledge my obligations for the flattering
" expressions of regard, contained in your address,
"with grateful sincerity.

"Being persuaded that a just
" application of the principles, on which the Masonic

si Cf . " Washington after the Revolution," W. S. Baker, Philadelphia,
1898, p. 192.

32 Cf. Pennsylvania Packet, August 30-31 1790.

provi&ence an& IRevoport, TR, U,

Fraternity is founded, must be promotive of
private virtue and public prosperity, I shall
always be happy to advance the interests of
the Society, and to be considered by them as
a deserving brother.

"My best wishes, Gentlemen, are offered
for your individual happiness."323

~^ - >

32a Copy of Address in Letter Book II, pp. 27-28, Photostat of same
in Archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

BROTHER,
JL OU are defired to meet the MASTER and BRE

THREN of /lrf)DCE No. 39, Ancient YORK MA

at / o'Clock this Evcning.
By Order: of the Matter

FAC-SIMILE OF NOTICE SENT TO BROTHER WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON
TO ATTEND HIS LODGE. TREASURED BY THE WIFE OF PRESIDENT MADI
SON UNTIL HER DEATH. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF GRAND LODGE
OF PENNSYLVANIA. Mss. VOL. A, FOLIO 81.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH ST. JOHN'S LODGE, No. 2,
AT NEWBERN, N. C., APRIL, 1791.

next Masonic letter of President
WASHINGTON was written, in answer to
an address by the brethren of St. John's
Lodge, No. 2, at Newbern, North Caro
lina, during his southern tour in 1791.

April 7, 1791, WASHINGTON started on a tour
through the Southern States, by way of Fredericks-
burg, Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia; Hali
fax, Tarborough, Newbern, and Wilmington, North
Carolina; Georgetown, and Charleston, South Caro
lina; and Savannah, Georgia.

When advice of this proposed presidential visit
reached Newbern, the brethren of St. John's Lodge,
No. 2,33 at the stated meeting held on April 1, 1791,
passed the following resolution. ff Resolved, that an

33 In the latter part of the eighteenth century, St. John's Lodge, No.
2, at Newbern, was very active, at which time it built a two-story
theatre and Masonic Hall, and took part in a number of local matters.

Hrrival at iRevobern, H, C.

address shall be presented to Brother GEORGE WASH
INGTON, in behalf of this Lodge, on his arriving in
this town."34

Upon his arrival at Newbern, N. C., April 20,
following address was presented to the President,35
which, together with the reply, has thus far never
been in print or noted:

" To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.

"The Address of St Johns Lodge No. 2 of

Newbern.
"Right Worshipful Sir,

"We the Master, Officers, and Members of S*.
"Johns Lodge No 2, of Newbern, beg leave to hail
" you welcome with three times three.

"We approach you not with the language of
" adulation, but sincere fraternal affection — your
" works having proved you to be the true and f aith-
"ful brother, the skilful and expert Craftsman, the
"just and upright man, But the powers of elo-
"quence are too feeble to express with sufficient
"energy the cordial warmth with which our bosoms
"glow toward you.

" We therefore most ardently wish, most fervently
"and devoutly pray, That the Providence of the

34 Extract from Minutes by Brother J. F. Rhem, M.D., Newbern,
N. C.

35 Letter Book 2, pp. 47-48 in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. ;
photostat in Archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

HDasonic Correspondence of Washington

*** '

FAC-SIMILE OF ADDRESS FROM ST. JOHN'S LODGE, No.

letter ffiooh iRo. it

>^*»~ ^SZt*. _ 4f*^s^£^C^ &i^T4SL4s £•

£4*#+£2 -fa^t&fa. a*3 &****•

NEWBERX, N. C. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 47-48.

fiDasonic Correspondence of Washington

"most high may strengthen, establish, and protect
"you, in your walk through this life; and when you
" shall be called off from your terrestrial labours by
"command of our divine grand master, and your
" operations sealed with the mark of his approbation,
"may your soul be eternally refreshed with the
"streams of living water which flow at the right
"hand of God, and when the supreme architect of
"all worlds shall collect his most precious jewels as
"ornaments of the celestial Jerusalem, may you
"everlastingly shine among those of the brightest
" lustre.

"We are in our own behalf, and that of the
" Members of this Lodge,

"Right worshipful Sir;
" St Johns Lodge No. 2.

"Your true and faithful brethren
"April 20th 5791.

" ISAAC GUION Master.

"SAMUEL CHAPMAN Senior Warden.

"WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Junior Warden.
" SOLOMON HALLING, EDW. PASTEUK, JAS CARNEY,

F. LOWTHEOP.

"Members of the Committee.

Brothers: Isaac Guion, Worshipful Master, Sam
uel Chapman, Senior Warden, William Johnston,
Junior Warden, and Solomon Hailing, signers to
above petition had all seen service in the Continental

IRepl? to St. 3obn'$ Xo60e, IRo* 2

Army during the Revolutionary War. Brother
Guion served as Surgeon and Paymaster; Brother
Chapman, Captain in 8th North Carolina, serving
until the close of the War; Brother Johnston, Cap
tain in North Carolina Militia and present at Kings
Mountain.

Brother Hailing was Surgeon of the 4th Carolina
Regiment and served until the close of the War.

WASHINGTON'S REPLY36 TO THE BRETHREN OF ST.
JOHN'S LODGE.

" To THE MASTER, WARDENS, AND MEMBERS OF ST

" JOHN'S LODGE No. 2 OF NEWBERN.
" Gentlemen,

" I receive the cordial welcome which you
"are pleased to give me with sincere gratitude.

"My best ambition having ever aimed at
"the unbiassed approbation of my fellow-citizens,
"it is peculiarly pleasing to find my conduct
" so affectionately approved by a fraternity whose as-
"sociation is founded in justice and benevolence.

" In reciprocating the wishes contained
" in your address, be persuaded that I offer a sincere
" prayer for your present and future happiness.

^—

Ibid., p. 49 ; photostat in Archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
5 49

fiDasonic Correspondence of Washington

"At the following Meeting of St. John's Lodge,
No. 2, April 29, 1791, the Master laid before the
Lodge the answer of Brother George Washington
ordered that it be read, which being done, Resolved
that it be entered on Minutes of this Lodge."37
"The Address to Brother Washington and his an
swer are both on the Minutes of the Lodge. The
original letter may have been lost during the late
unpleasantness, as the Lodge lost nearly everything
it possessed."38

37 Extract from Minutes by Brother J. F. Rhem, M.D., Newbern,
N. C.

38 Brother J. F. Rhem, Newbern, N. C., in letter to Brother A. B.
Andrews, Jr., December 14, 1914.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE,

No. 16, GEORGETOWN, S. C., APRIL, 1791.

ASHINGTON left Newbern, North
Carolina, under an escort of horse,
April 22, 1791, and arrived at George
town, South Carolina, by way of Wil
mington, N. C., Saturday, April 30, where he was
received with a salute of cannon, and by a company
of infantry, and during the afternoon was presented
with the following address, by a Committee of
Prince George's Lodge, No. 16 (Moderns), of
Georgetown, South Carolina.

This Lodge was one of the original six Lodges,
which had been warranted prior to 1756 in South
Carolina, under the Jurisdiction of the Provincial
Grand Lodge, and through it, the Grand Lodge of
England. It is the only instance where a Lodge of
the "Moderns" addressed Brother WASHINGTON:

fiDa0onic Correspondence of Washington

"To OUR ILLUSTRIOUS BROTHER GEORGE WASH
INGTON.

"President of the United States.

" At a time when all men are emulous to approach
"you to express the lively sensations you inspire as
" the Father of our country. Permit us the Brethren
"of Prince George's Lodge No. 16 to have our share
" in the general happiness in welcoming you to
" Georgetown, and the pleasure of reflecting that we
"behold in you the liberator of our country, the
"distributor of its equal laws, and a Brother of our
"most ancient and most honorable Order.

"At the same time indulge us in congratulating
" you on the truly honorable and happy situation in
"which you now stand, as the Grand Conductor of
" the political interests of these United States.

"Having by your manly efforts caused the beau-
" teous light of liberty to beam on this western hemi-
" sphere, and by the wisdom Heaven has graciously
"endowed you with established the liberties of
"America on the justest and firmest basis that was
"ever yet recorded in the annuals of history, you
"now enjoy the supremest of all earthly happiness
"that of diffusing peace, liberty, and safety to mil-
" lions of your fellow-citizens.

"As a true reward for your patriotic, noble and
" exalted services we fervently pray the Grand Archi
tect of the universe long to bless you with health,
"stability, and power to continue you the Grand

H55re00 of prince <5eor0e'$

"Pillar of the arch of liberty in this vast empire,
"which you have been so eminently distinguished in
" raising to this pitch of perfection at which we now
"behold it.

"May the residue of your life be spent in ease
" content and happiness, and as the Great Parent of
"these United States may you long live to see your
"children flourish under your happy auspices and
"may you be finally rewarded with eternal happiness.
" We conclude our present address with a fervent
"wish that you will continue as you have hitherto
"been, the friend of our ancient and honorable
" Order, and of all worthy Masons.