Chapter 2

I. WHITE

✦

R. GRANT Committee from

AB. COHEN Prince George's Lodge.

Jos. BLYTH.

J. CARSON.

"George Town 30th April 1791."

Of the above signers, three of the brethren had
served in the War for Independence, viz.: Brother
Isaac White, Lieutenant in North Carolina Militia
at Kings Mountain; Brother Reuben Grant, Ensign
in the 6th North Carolina Infantry, and Brother
Joseph Blythe, Surgeon in 1st North Carolina Regi
ment, taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12th, 1780;
exchanged June 14, 1781; in 4th North Carolina in
February, 1782, and served to close of war.

FAC-SIMILE OF ADDRESS FROM THE BRETHREN OF PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE,

FOLIO

&*&**-

& '6/i£ ~~7?L<:s£

-Zxrztsi,.

£f<rz*^.

;£u,

No. 16, GEORGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA, APRIL, 1791. LETTER BOOK II,
59-60.

fiDasonic Correspon&ence of Masbington

The following reply unfortunately bears no date.
Both address and reply were entered in Washington
Letter Book, No. II, folio 60-61. It is not known
what has became of the originals. No notice or
copies of either of the above documents have thus far
been published.

WASHINGTON'S REPLY.
"To THE BRETHREN OF PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE,

No. 16.
fc Gentlemen:

" The cordial welcome which you give me
" to George Town, and the congratulations, you are
" pleased to offer on my election to the chief
" magistracy receive my grateful thanks.

"I am much obliged by your good wishes
" and reciprocate them with sincerity, assuring the
" fraternity of my esteem, I request them to believe
" that I shall always be ambitious of being considered
"a deserving Brother.

GENERAL MORDECAI GIST.

B. BALTIMORE, MD., 1743. D. CHARLESTON, S. C., 1792.

WHO, AS GRAND MASTER OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SIGNED THE ADDRESS
TO BROTHER WASHINGTON.

VII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA, MAY, 1791.

'RESIDENT WASHINGTON left George
town at six o'clock in the evening, May
1, 1791, reaching Charleston, South
Carolina, Monday, May 2, in a twelve-
oared barge rowed by twelve American
captains of ships accompanied by a great number of
boats with gentlemen and ladies in them, and two
boats with music.39 Brother WASHINGTON re
mained in Charleston until May 9.

Wednesday, May 4, 1791, General Mordecai Gist,
an old companion in arms of WASHINGTON, and
formerly Master of the Military Lodge in the Mary
land line (No. 27 upon the register of Pennsyl
vania),40 but now Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina,

39 Washington's Diary.

40 Cf. "Old Masonic Lodges in Pennsylvania," Philadelphia, 1913,
Vol. 2, p. 53 et seq.

fiDasonic Correspon&ence of WasWngton

attended by the other present and past grand offi
cers,41 waited on their beloved brother, the president
of the United States, and presented the following
address :42

"Sir — Induced by a respect for your public and
private character, as well as the relation in which
you stand with the brethren of this society, we the
Grand Lodge of the State of South Carolina, An
cient York Masons, beg leave to offer our sincere
congratulations on your arrival in this state.

"We felicitate you on the establishment and ex
ercise of a permanent government, whose foundation
was laid under your auspices by military achieve
ments, upon which have been progressively reared
the pillars of the free republic over which you pre
side, supported by wisdom, strength, and beauty
unrivalled among the nations of the world.

"The fabric thus raised and committed to your
superintendence, we earnestly wish may continue to
produce order and harmony to succeeding ages, and
be the asylum of virtue to the oppressed of all parts
of the universe.

"When we contemplate the distresses of war, the
instances of humanity displayed by the Craft afford

41 Brother William Drayton, Past Grand Master; Brother Mordecai
Gist, Grand Master; Brother Thomas B. Bowen, Deputy Grand Master;
Brother George Miller, Senior Grand Warden; Brother John Mitchell,
Junior Grand Warden; Brother Thomas Gates, Grand Chaplain; Brother
Robert Knox, Grand Treasurer; Brother Alexandrer Alexander, Grand
Secretary; Brother Israel Meyers, Grand Tiler.

42 City Gazette, Friday, May 6, 1791, p. 2, column 4.

Ht Charleston, Soutb Carolina

some relief to the feeling mind; and it gives us the
most pleasing sensation to recollect, that amidst the
difficulties attendant on your late military stations,
you still associated with, and patronized the Ancient
Fraternity.

" Distinguished always by your virtues, more than
the exalted stations in which you have moved, we
exult in the opportunity you now give us of hailing
you brother of our Order, and trust from your
knowledge of our institution, to merit your counte
nance and support.

"With fervent zeal for your happiness, we pray
that a life so dear to the bosom of this society, and
to society in general, may be long, very long pre
served; and when you leave the temporal symbolic
lodges of this world, may you be received into the
celestial lodge of light and perfection, where the
Grand Master Architect of the Universe presides.

"Done in behalf of the Grand Lodge.

"M. GIST, G. M."43
" Charleston, 2d May, 1791."

To this address WASHINGTON returned the follow
ing reply.44

"Gentlemen: — I am much obliged by the respect
which you are so good as to declare for my public

43 For full account of Lodge 27 and Brother Gist, vide " Old Masonic
Lodges of Pennsylvania," before quoted, Vol. II, pp. 53-63.

4i Cf. Hayden, " Washington and his Masonic Compeers," p. 135.

fiDasontc Correspondence of Washington

and private character. I recognize with pleasure
my relation to the brethren of your Society, and I
accept with gratitude your congratulations on my
arrival in South Carolina.

"Your sentiments, on the establishment and ex
ercise of our equal government, are worthy of an
association, whose principles lead to purity of morals,
and are beneficial of action.

" The fabric of our freedom is placed on the endur
ing basis of public virtue, and will, I fondly hope,
long continue to protect the prosperity of the archi
tects who raised it. I shall be happy, on every occa
sion, to evince my regard for the Fraternity. For
your prosperity individually, I offer my best wishes."

This letter was probably destroyed with other
Grand Lodge property when Columbia, South Caro
lina, was burned by Sherman's Army during the
war between the States.45

Fortunately, the original draft of WASHINGTON'S
reply, was found among the Washington papers now
in the Library of Congress. This is written upon
two pages of a letter sheet: the first page shows a
paragraph which was suppressed and did not appear

45 William C. Mazyck, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, G. L. of
South Carolina.

2>ratt of iRepl?

upon the clear copy sent to the Grand Lodge of
Ancient York Masons of South Carolina.

A photostat of this draft is in the collection of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, viz.:

"To THE GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH

" CAROLINA ANCIENT YORK MASONS.
ff Gentlemen,

"I am much obliged by the respect
" which you are so good as to declare for my
"public and private character. I recognise
" with pleasure my relation to the Brethren
"of your Society — and I accept with gratitude
"your congratulations on my arrival in
"South Carolina.

" Your felicitations It is peculiarly

general

ff pleasing to observe the /\ satisfaction expressed
ff on the establishment and exercise of the
ff federal government—
"Your sentiments on the establishment
" and exercise of our equal government are
"worthy of an association, whose principles
" lead to purity of morals, and beneficence
"of action — The fabric of our freedom
" is placed on the enduring basis of
"public virtue, and will long continue
"to protect the Posterity of the architects
"who raised it.

"I shall be happy on every

flDasonic Correspondence of Washington

FAC-SIMILE OF DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO AD-
HANDWRITING OF

%fbrar$ of Congress, iRo* 33433

*;/^

JL&f<

DRESS FROM GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, MAY, 1791.

MAYOR WILLIAM JACKSON.

flDasonic Correspondence of Washington

regard

" occasion to evince my respect for the
"Fraternity, for whose happiness individually
"I offer my best wishes."

Upon the first page the four lines commencing
with " Your felicitations " and ending with " federal
government " were crossed out, and as above stated,
were not in the reply sent to R. W. Grand Master
Gist and his officers.

In the third line from the bottom the word "re
gard" is substituted for "respect."

Brother Gist was the original Warrant Master of
the Regimental Lodge in the Maryland line, No. 27,
on the Roster of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
After the war, Brother Gist settled in Charleston,
South Carolina, retaining his old Military Warrant,
and, in 1786, applied to the Grand Lodge of Penn
sylvania, to renew this warrant, for a Lodge to be
located at Charleston under the same number. This
request was granted, and Brother Gist was again
named as Warrant Master.

At the formation of the Grand Lodge of South
Carolina Ancient York Masons in 1787, Brother
Gist was elected Deputy Grand Master and served
as such during the years 1787-88-89, and as Grand
Master, 1790-1791.

VIII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA,
MAY, 1791.

N the way from Charleston, South Caro
lina, to Savannah, Georgia, WASHING
TON called on Mrs. Greene, the widow of
late Brother General Nathaniel Greene,
at her plantation called Mulberry Grove, reaching
Savannah, Georgia, on the evening of Thursday,
May 12, 1791.

Saturday, May 14, WASHINGTON was waited on
by Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Georgia and
presented with the following address :45a

" To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

"Sir, and Brother,

" The Grand Master, Officers and Members of the
" Grand Lodge of Georgia, beg leave to congratulate
"you on your arrival in this city. Whilst your ex-

45a Washington Letter Book, II, folio 77. Photostat in Archives of
the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
6 65

<5ranD %oDge of ©eorgia

"alted character claims the respect and deference of
" all men, they from the benevolence of masonic prin-
"ciples approach you with the familiar declaration
" of fraternal affection.

"Happy indeed that Society, renowned for its
"antiquity, and pervading influence over the en-
" lightened world, which having ranked a Frederick
"at its head, can now boast of a Washington as a
"Brother. A Brother who it justly hailed the Re-
" deemer of his country, raised it to glory, and by his
"conduct in public and private life has evinced to
" Monarchs that true majesty consists not in splendid
"royalty, but in intrinsic worth.

"With these sentiments they rejoice at your pres-
" ence in this State, and in common with their f ellow-
" citizens, greet you, thrice welcome, flattering them-
" selves that your stay will be made agreeable.

"May the great Architect of the Universe pre-
" serve you whilst engaged in the work allotted you
"on earth, and long continue you the brightest pil-
" lar of our Temple, and when the supreme fiat shall
"summon you hence, they pray the might I AM
" may take you into his holy keeping,

"Grand Lodge in Savannah
"May 14th 5791.

"GEO: HOUSTON,

"Grand Master/'

Upon the next day, Sunday, May 15, after attend
ing the morning church service, WASHINGTON left

Mitb <5rant> XO&QC of Georgia

BRO. WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ADDRESS FROM THE GRAND LODGE OP
GEORGIA, MAY, 1791. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 78.

flDasonic Correspondence of Wasbington

Savannah and set out for Augusta, Georgia, halting
for dinner at Mulberry Grove, the seat of Mrs.
Nathaniel Greene. The following reply to the Ma
sonic address was sent to the Grand Lodge of
Georgia,46 both address and reply now first pub
lished:

"To THE GRAND MASTER, OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

" OF THE GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA.
(f Gentlemen,

" I am much obliged by your congratulations
" on my arrival in this city, and I am highly indebted
"to your favorable opinions.

" Every circumstance contributes to
"render my stay in Savannah agreeable, and it
" is cause of regret to me that it must be so
"short.

"My best wishes are offered for the welfare
"of the fraternity, and for your particular happiness."

46 Address and Reply, Letter Book II, folio 77-78.

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CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYL
VANIA, JANUARY 3, 1792.

URING the Presidential term of Brother
WASHINGTON, the President, when in
Philadelphia, lived in a large double three-
story brick mansion, on the south side of
Market Street, sixty feet east of Sixth Street, the
site of which is now occupied by three stores, viz.:
Nos. 526, 528, 530.

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania then held its
meetings in the upper floor of the Meeting house of
the Free Quakers, still standing, at the southwest
corner of Arch and Fifth Streets; this was but a
short distance from the presidential mansion.
Brother WASHINGTON was undoubtedly personally
acquainted with many of its members, especially
such as had been officers during the Revolution, and
were fellow members of the Cincinnati.

On St. John's Day, December 27, 1791, a Grand
Lodge was opened in ample form,47 and the Minutes

47 Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Vol. I, p.
178.

flDasontc Correspondence of Washington

of the last Grand Communication were read, as far
as concerns the election of Grand Officers.

The Grand Officers upon this occasion were:

Brother Jonathan Bayard Smith, B. W. Grand
Master.

Brother Joseph Few, Deputy Grand Master.

Brother Thomas Procter, Senior Grand Warden.

Brother Gavin Hamilton, Junior Grand Warden.

Brother Peter Le Barbier Duplessis, Grand Sec-
retary.

Brother Benjamin Mason, Grand Treasurer.

The Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith then ad
dressed the Brethren in an oration suitable to the
Grand Day, and the thanks of the Lodge were given
to said Brother William Smith for the same.

After which, on motion and seconded, the Rev.
Brother Dr. Smith and the Right Worshipful Grand
Officers were appointed a Committee to prepare an
address to our Illustrious Brother GEORGE WASH
INGTON, President of the United States; and this
Lodge was adjourned to the second day of January
next to receive the report of said Committee.

"PHILADELPHIA, January 2d, 1792.
ff Grand Lodge > By Adjournment**

"A Grand Lodge was opened in ample form, and
the Minutes of St. John's Day being read as far as
relates to the appointment of a Committee to pre
pare an Address to our illustrious Brother George

48 Ibid., p. 180.

Mitb Iking 2>avi&'s Xo&gc

Washington, The Revd. Bro. Dr. Wm. Smith, one of
the said Committee, presented the Draft of one
which was read, Whereupon, on Motion and Sec
onded, the same was unanimously approved of, and
Resolved, That the R*. W\ Grand Master, Depy. G.
Master, and Grand Officers, with the Revd Bro.
Smith, be a Committee to present the said Address
in behalf of this IT. W\ Grand Lodge, signed by the
Right Worshipful Grand Master, and Countersigned
by the Grand Secretary.

" Lodge closed at half past 9 o'clock in Harmony."

Following is the address presented to Brother
WASHINGTON. Both the original draft in the hand
writing of Brother William Smith, showing minor
alterations, as well as a fair copy, are in the archives
of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.49

" To His EXCELLENCY GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRES
IDENT or THE UNITED STATES.
"Sir and Brother:

" The Ancient York Masons of the Jurisdiction of
Pennsylvania, for the first time assembled in Gen
eral Communication to celebrate the Feast of Sfc.
John the Evangelist, since your Election to the
Chair of Government in the United States, beg
leave to approach you with Congratulations from
the East, and in the pride of Fraternal affection to
hail you as the Great Master Builder (under the
Supreme Architect) by whose labours the Temple of

49Mss. Volume A, folio 17, 19, 21.

flDasonic Correspondence of Washington

Liberty hath been reared in the West, exhibiting to
the Nations of the Earth a Model of Beauty, Order
and Harmony worthy of their Imitation and Praise.
"Your Knowledge of the Origin and Objects of
our Institution; its Tendency to promote the Social
Affections and harmonize the Heart, give us a sure
pledge that this tribute of our Veneration, this Effu
sion of our Love will not be ungrateful to you; nor
will Heaven reject our Prayer that you may be long
continued to adorn the bright list of Master work
men which our Fraternity in the terrestrial Lodge;
and that you may be late removed to that Celestial
Lodge where love and Harmony reign transcendent
and Divine; where the great Architect more imme
diately presides, and where Cherubim and Seraphim,
wafting our Congratulations from Earth to Heaven,,
shall hail you Brother.

"By order and in behalf of the Grand
( Seal) " Lodge of Pennsylvania in general Com-

" munication assembled in ample form.

(Signed)

Attest:

Gd. Secry.

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Witb tbe <5ranZ> Xo&0e of Pennsylvania

On January 3, 1792, Jonathan Bayard Smith, the
Right Worshipful Grand Master, together with the
Grand Officers and Rev. Brother William Smith
called on the President and delivered the above
address.

The deputation was received in the dining room
of the presidential mansion. This was a room about
thirty feet long, and where WASHINGTON was ac
customed to receive delegations.

At the Quarterly Communication held March 5,
1792, the Right Worshipful Grand Master Jona
than B. Smith informed the Brethren that, in con
formity to the resolve of this Grand Lodge, he had,
in company with the Grand Officers and the Rev.
Brother Dr. Smith, presented the address to our
illustrious Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON and had
received an answer, which was read.

" TO THE ANCIENT YORK MASONS OF THE

"JURISDICTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
ff Gentlemen and Brothers,

"I receive your kind Congratulations with
"the purest sensations of fraternal affection: — and
" from a heart deeply impressed with your generous
" wishes for my present and future happiness, I beg
"you to accept my thanks.

"At the same time I request you will
" be assured of my best wishes and earnest prayers
" for your happiness while you remain in this terres-

fiDasonic Gorreepon&ence of Washington

t/tfVcei

Av
/U

We a£

FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
JANUARY, 1792. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF THE GRAND LODGE.

WASHINGTON'S MASONIC APRON.

EMBROIDERED BY MADAM LAFAYETTE; PRESENTED AUGUST, 1784, BY

BRO. GEN. LAFAYETTE TO BRO. GEN. WASHINGTON;

PRESENTED OCTOBER 26, 1816, BY THE LEGATEES OF BRO. WASHINGTON TO THE

WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA;

PRESENTED JULY 3, 1829, BY THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY TO THE

R. W. GRAND LODGE, F. &. A. M. OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ORIGINAL APRON IN MUSEUM OF THE GRAND LODGE.

Witb tbe <5ran& XoDge of Pennsylvania

" tial Mansion, and that we may thereafter meet
" as brethren in the Eternal Temple of the
" Supreme Architect.

Whereupon, on motion and seconded, Resolved,
unanimously, that the said address and the answer
thereto, shall be entered on the minutes.

This answer, in possession of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania, is in the handwriting of Tobias Lear,
who was the private secretary of the President, and
for years attended to the details of WASHINGTON'S
domestic affairs, and was liberally remembered by
him in his will.

The letter was signed by WASHINGTON, who had
both the address and answer copied verbatim in one
of his letter books50 by Bartholomew Dandridge, sec
retary to the President. A photostat copy of above,
together with the original answer by WASHINGTON
is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Penn
sylvania.

This address was read by Rev. Brother William
Smith, one of the most noted Episcopal preachers in
Philadelphia, and the first Provost of the College of
Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania.
Brother William Smith, D.D., had been an active

so Letter Book II, pp. 104-105.

fiDasonfc Correspondence of

member of the Masonic Fraternity in Pennsylvania
for forty years; he was the Chaplain of the Grand
Lodge of Moderns for almost a quarter of a century.
In winter of 1778 he joined the Grand Lodge of
Ancient York Masons, and for some time served as
Grand Secretary.51

Jonathan Bayard Smith, the Grand Master of
Pennsylvania, was one of Philadelphia's prominent
citizens. During the Revolutionary period he was
an ardent patriot; he was among the earliest of those
who espoused the cause of independence. In 1775
he was chosen secretary of the Committee of Safety,
and in February, 1777, he was elected by the as
sembly a delegate to the Continental Congress. He
was a second time chosen to this post, serving in the
congresses of 1777-8. From April 4, 1777, till Nov.
13, 1778, he was prothonotary of the court of Com
mon Pleas.

On December 1, 1777, he presided at the public
meeting, in Philadelphia, of "Real Whigs," by
whom it was resolved "That it be recommended to
the council of safety that in this great emergency
. . . every person between the age of sixteen and
fifty years be ordered out under arms." During this
year he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of a
battalion of " Associators."

In 1778 he was appointed a justice of the court
of Common Pleas, Quarter Sessions, and Orphans'

si Cf . " Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania," Vol. I, p. 201.

B. FEB. 21, 1742; D. JUNE 16, 1812.
GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1789-1794.

Witb tbe <5ran& XO&QC of Pennsylvania

Court, which post he held for many years. He was
appointed in 1781, one of the auditors of the accounts
of Pennsylvania troops in the service of the United
States. In 1792, and subsequently, he was chosen
an alderman of the city, which was an office of great
dignity in his day, and in 1794 he was elected
auditor-general of Pennsylvania.

Brother Jonathan B. Smith was an active mem
ber of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He was
the Senior Grand Warden in 1786, at the time when
the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania: "Re
solved, that the Grand Lodge is, and ought to be
perfectly independent and free of any such foreign
jurisdiction."52

In the two following years he was appointed
Deputy Grand Master by Right Worshipful Grand
Master William Adcock; he was elected Right Wor
shipful Grand Master in 1789 and served in that
capacity for six years (1789-1794). In the year
1798 he was again elected to that honorable office,
serving five more consecutive years (1798 to 1802),
when he declined reelection. The following action
was taken by the Grand Lodge:53

"On Motion made and Seconded the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania impressed with a grateful
sense of the long assiduous and highly useful labours
of their late R. W. Grand Master, Bror Jonathan

52 Cf. Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge, Vol. I, p. 96 et seq.

53 Ibid., Vol. II, p. 68.

77 '

flDasonic Correspondence of Wasbington

Bayard Smith, Esqr, previous to and during his
service in the high Station which he has left, Re
solved Unanimously, That the most respectful
Thanks of the said G. Lodge be presented to their
said Brother Jonathan Bayard Smith for the emi
nent services he has rendered to the Craft generally
and more especially for the able, diligent and im
partial manner in which he has discharged the Duties
of the Chair and while they deplore the necessity of
his now retiring from the Official Station amongst
them which he has so Honourably filled, they hope
for a continuance of his Brotherly Love, Aid and
information and finally that he be requested to re
ceive the best wishes of the Grand Lodge for a pro
longation of his useful life, a commensurate enjoy
ment of his Health and his final Happiness in the
Mansion of Everlasting Rest."

Brother Joseph Few, Deputy Grand Master, was
also a Revolutionary Soldier, having served as Regi
mental Quarter Master with the 4th Continental
Artillery.

Brother Thomas Procter, Senior Grand Warden,
formerly Colonel of the Pennsylvania Artillery, and
Warrant Master of the Military Lodge, No. 19,
upon the Roster of Pennsylvania was prominent in
both civil and political affairs during Washington's
administration. A full account of Brother Thomas

Procter and this Military Lodge will be found in

Washington's IPast flDaster's Jewel

the History of the Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsyl
vania, published by the Grand Lodge in 1913.54

For a sketch of Brother Peter Le Barbier Duples-
sis, the reader is referred to the same volume.55

5* Volume II, Chapter XXVI, pp. 1-36. Cf. also "Freemasonry in
Pennsylvania," Vol. I and II, for various references to Col. Procter.
55 Cf. " Old Lodges," Vol. II, pp. 256 et seq.

WASHINGTON'S PAST MASTER'S JEWEL.
Replica in the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF MASSA
CHUSETTS, DECEMBER, 1792.

Grand Lodge held at Concert Hall, Bos
ton, 10th of December, 5792, being a
Quarterly Communication it was

"Resolved, That the Grand Master,
with the Grand Wardens, present to our Most Be
loved Brother

GEORGE WASHINGTON,

the new Book of Constitutions, with a suitable
address.

At the next Quarterly Communication we find
that,

"Agreeably to a resolve at the last Quarterly
Communication, the Grand Master, with his War
dens, reported:

' That they had written to our beloved President
and Brother, George Washington, and presented

Witb tbe (5ran& %o&(je of

him with a Book of Constitutions, to which letter he
had been pleased to make answer. The letter and
answer were read, and Voted to be inserted in the
records of the Grand Lodge."

This address was evidently sent to President
WASHINGTON at Philadelphia, and was answered
from the presidential office in that city. No date
nor place appears upon either the original so far as
known, nor the copy in the letter book, both address
and reply therein being in the handwriting of Bar
tholomew Dandridge, Secretary to the President.

The following copy of both address and reply are
taken from Letter Book II, folio 106-108.

" An Address of the Grand Lodge of Free &
" Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth
" of Massachusetts, To their honored and
"Illustrious Brother.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

" Whilst the Historian is describing the
"career of your glory, and the inhabitants
"of an extensive Empire are made happy
"in your unexampled exertions: — whilst some
" celebrate the Hero so distinguished in li-
" berating United America ; and others the Patriot
" who presides over her Councils, a Band of bro-
"thers, having always joined the acclamations
" of their countrymen, now testify their res-

7 81

flDaeonfc Correspondence of Washington

"pect for those milder virtues which have
"ever graced the man.

"Taught by the precepts of our Society;
" that all its members stand upon a level, we
"venture to assume this station & to approach
"you with that freedom which diminishes
"our diffidence without lessening our respect.

"Desirous to enlarge the boundaries of
" social happiness, and to vindicate the cere-
" monies of their institution, this Grand Lodge
"have published a "Book of Constitutions," (and
" a copy for your acceptance accompanies
"this) which by discovering the principles that
"actuate will speak the Eulogy of the Society;
" though they fervently wish the conduct of its ;
" Members may prove its higher commendation.

" Convinced of his attachment to its
" cause, and readiness to encourage its bene-
"volent designs; they have taken the liberty to
" dedicate this work to one, the qualities of
" whose heart and the actions of whose life
"have contributed to improve personal virtue,
" and extend throughout the world, the most endear-
"ing cordialities; and they humbly hope he will
" pardon this freedom, and accept the tribute of
"their esteem & homage.

"May the supreme architect of the uni-
" verse protect & bless you, give you length of
" days & increase of Felicity in this world, and then

Mitb tbe <5rant> %o&0e of flDassacbusetts

" receive you to the harmonious & exalted So-
"ciety in Heaven. —

"JOHN CUTLER, Grand Master

"JosiAH BARTLETT!

"MuNGO MACHEY]
"Boston
"Decem. 27, A.D. 1792."

Wardens.

The following reply was sent by President
WASHINGTON from Philadelphia to the Brethren of
the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. It will be
noticed that there was no date or place mentioned
upon the copy in the Letter Book, nor on the orig
inal letter, which at present is believed to be in the
Library of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON'S REPLY
To THE GRAND LODGE OF FREE & ACCEPTED MA-

"SONS, FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU-
" SETTS.

" Flattering as it may be to the human
mind, & truly honorable as it is to receive
from our fellow citizens testimonies of appro
bation for exertions to promote the public wel
fare, it is not less pleasing to know, that the
milder virtues of the heart are highly respected
by a Society whose liberal principles must be
founded in the immutable laws of truth and
justice.—

WASHINGTON^ EEPLY TO THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
LETTER BOOK II, FoLA) 108.

Witb tbe <5ran& XO&QC of

"To enlarge the sphere of social happi
ness is worthy the benevolent design of a ma
sonic institution; and it is most fervently to
be wished, that the conduct of every member
of the fraternity, as well as those publications
that discover the principles which actuate them;
may tend to convince mankind that the grand
object of Masonry is to promote the happiness
of the human race.

"While I beg your acceptance of
my thanks for the " Book of Constitutions " which
you have sent me, & the honor you have done
me in the dedication, permit me to assure you
that I feel all those emotions of gratitude
which your affectionate address & cordial
wishes are calculated to inspire; and I
sincerely pray that the Great Architect
of the Universe may bless you here, and
receive you hereafter into his immortal
Temple.

No fac-simile copy of the original letter was ob
tainable for the Collection of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYL
VANIA, DECEMBER, 1796.

EPTEMBER 18, 1796, President WASH
INGTON issued his farewell address. His
second term was drawing to a close; the
term had been a more or less exciting
one: The passing of the Neutrality Act; Genet's
appeal from the executive to the people; the Fugi
tive Slave Act; the whiskey insurrection in western
Pennsylvania; the adoption of the Eleventh amend
ment; the purchase of peace from Algiers, Tripoli
and Tunis; the troubles with Great Britain about
the non-delivery of the military posts and later the
Jay Treaty, all came within President WASHING
TON'S second and last term.55a

During these troublous times WASHINGTON had
no stauncher supporters than his Masonic Brethren
of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Further,
that WASHINGTON kept more or less in touch with

65a Cf . The Religious and Social Conditions of Philadelphia, under the
Federal Constitution, 1790-1800. Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1900.

Witb tbe <5ratU> %o&0c of Pennsylvania

his Masonic Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Penn
sylvania is shown by the fact that he attended the
services at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, on Third
Street below Walnut, on St. John's Day, December
27, 1793, where a charity sermon was preached by
Rev. Brother Samuel Magaw, D.D., Vice-Provost
of the University of Pennsylvania, before the Grand
and Subordinate Lodges for the purpose of increas
ing the relief fund, for the widows and orphans of
the yellow fever epidemic which ravaged the capital
city during the past summer.56

When the Brethren found that WASHINGTON
positively declined reelection in 1796, and that John
Adams was elected to succeed him on the fourth of
March following, the Brethren of the Grand Lodge
at their Quarterly Communication, December 5,
1796, determined that it would be right and proper
to present him with an address before his retirement
from office, whereupon, it was resolved: "On Motion
and seconded, that a Committee be appointed to
frame an Address to be presented on the ensuing
Feast of Sl John, Decem* 27th, to the Great Master
Workman, our Illustrious Br. Washington, on the
occasion of his intended retirement from Public
Labor, to be also laid before the said Grand Lodge
on St John's Day, and the B,1 W. Grand Master,
Deputy G. M. Brs Sadler, Milnor and Williams,
were accordingly appointed."

ss Cf. " Freemasonry in Pennsylvania," before quoted, Vol. II, pp.
190-197; original copy in archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

HDaeontc Correspondence of Washington

At a Grand Lodge held on St. John's Day, Phila
delphia, December 27, 5796, "The Committee ap
pointed to prepare an Address to our Brother
George Washington, President of the United States,
presented an Address by them drawn up, which was
ordered to be read, and was in the words following,
to wit:

"To GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT or THE

UNITED STATES.
"The Address of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl-

" vania.

"Most Respected Sir and Brother,

" Having announced your intention to retire from
"Public Labour to that Refreshment to which your
" preeminent Services for near Half a Century have
"so justly entitled you. Permit the Grand Lodge
" of Pennsylvania at this last Feast of our Evangelic
" Master St. John, on which we can hope for an im-
" mediate Communication with you to join the grate-
"ful Voice of our Country in Acknowledging that
" you have carried forth the Principles of the Lodge
"into every Walk of your Life, by your constant
"Labours for the Prosperity of that Country, by
"your unremitting Endeavours to promote Order,
"Union and Brotherly Affection amongst us, and
"lastly by the Vows of your Farewell Address to
"your Brethren and Fellow Citizens. An Address
"which we trust Our Children and Our Childrens

REV. BRO. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.

B. ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, 1727. D. PHILADELPHIA, MAY 14, 1803.

GRAND CHAPLAIN "MODERNS," 1755. GRAND SECRETARY "ANCIENTS," 1779-1784.

WHO PRESENTED THE PENNSYLVANIA ADDRESSES TO BRO. WASHINGTON, 1792-1796.

Wttb tbe <5ran& Xo&ge of Pennsylvania

Children will ever look upon as a most invaluable
Legacy from a Friend a Benefactor and a Father.

"To these our grateful Acknowledgments (leav
ing to the impartial Pen of History to record the
important Events in which you have borne so illus
trious a part) permit us to add our most fervent
prayers, that after enjoying to the utmost of
Human Life, every Felicity which the Terrestial
Lodge can afford, you may be received by the
great Master Builder of this World and of Worlds
unnumbered, into the Ample Felicity of that Celes
tial Lodge in which alone distinguished Virtues and
distinguished Labours can be eternally rewarded.

"By unanimous order of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania at their communication held the 27th
Day of December Anno Domini 5796.

It was then moved and seconded that the same be
adopted. Upon the question being taken it ap
peared that it was approved of. On motion and
seconded, it was agreed that a committee be appointed
to wait on Brother WASHINGTON to acquaint him
that it is the intention of this Grand Lodge to pre
sent an address to him, and to know what time he

flDasontc Corresponbence of Washington

shall be pleased to appoint to receive it. The com
mittee appointed to perform this duty were Brothers
William Smith, Peter Le Barbier Duplessis and
Thomas Procter, who, after having waited on him,
reported that he had appointed to-morrow, December
28, 1796, at twelve o'clock to receive it. Said com
mittee, to wit, Brothers W. Smith, Duplessis and
Procter, together with Right Worshipful Grand
Master, Deputy Grand Master, and Junior War
dens, Grand Secretary and the Masters of the differ
ent Lodges in the City, were then appointed a Depu
tation to present the said Address.

This deputation consisted of Right Worshipful
Grand Master William Moore Smith, Gavin Hamil
ton, Deputy Grand Master, Thomas Town, Senior
Grand Warden, Thomas Armstrong, Esqr., Junior
Grand Warden, George A. Baker, Grand Secretary,
John McElwee, Grand Treasurer, and the following
Masters of the Philadelphia Lodges, viz. : David Ir-
win, No. 2, Israel Israel, No. 3, Andrew Nilson No.
9, Eleaser Oswald, No. 19, Cadawalder Griffith, No.
52, Richard E. Cusack, No. 59, Thomas Bradley,
No. 67, William Nelson, No. 71; together with the
appointed Committee, Brothers William Smith D.D.,
Le Barbier Duplessis and Thomas Procter.

President WASHINGTON received the august depu
tation of the Brethren at the appointed time; the
address was read before him by the Rev. Brother
William Smith, D.D., whereupon he returned them

Wttb tbe <5ranJ> Xo&ge of Pennsylvania

FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA,

DECEMBER, 1796. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF THE GRAND LODGE

OF PENNSYLVANIA.

flDasonic Correspon&ence of Washington

a reply. This document, still in the Library of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, is entirely in the
handwriting of WASHINGTON and signed by him,

viz.:

FELLOW-CITIZENS AND BROTHERS,

"OF THE GRAND LODGE or PENNSYLVANIA.

"I have received your address
with all the feelings of brotherly affection,
mingled with those sentiments, for the
Society, which it was calculated to excite.

" To have been, in any degree, an
instrument in the hands of Providence,
to promote order and union, and erect upon
a solid foundation the true principles of
government, is only to have shared with
many others in a labour, the result of
which let us hope, will prove through
all ages, a sanctuary for brothers and
a lodge for the virtues, —

" Permit me to reciprocate your
prayers for my temporal happiness,
and to supplicate that we may all
meet thereafter in that eternal temple,
whose builder is the great architect
of the Universe."

Witb tbe <5ran& XO&QC of Pennsylvania

Brother William Moore Smith, Right Worshipful
Grand Master of Pennsylvania, whose first official
act as Grand Master was to head the committee to
call on the President, was a son of the Rev. William
Smith, D.D., born in Philadelphia, June 1, 1759.
He was a lawyer by profession and served as Deputy
Grand Master for the year 1795 under the Vener
able William Ball, and as Right Worshipful Grand
Master for the years 1796-1797. He was appointed
by the President as agent for the settlement of claims
that were provided for in the Sixth Article of John
Jay's Treaty, and visited England in 1803 to close
the commission. He died at the Smith Homestead
at Falls of Schuylkill, March 12, 1821.

Both the address and reply were copied in WASH
INGTON'S Letter Book III, pp. 244-245, in the
handwriting of one of his secretaries, G. W. Craik,
a son of Dr. James Craik, WASHINGTON'S "compa
triot in arms, and old and intimate friend," who at
tended him during his last illness.

Photostat copies of above are in the Library of
the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, also the original
draft of the address, presented to the President
(Mss. Volume A, folio 23).

This autograph Masonic letter from WASHINGTON
to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has been re
produced in fac-simile, published and circulated (in
most cases without the knowledge or consent of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania) more widely than

flDasontc Correspondence of Wasbtnflton

any other known letter of WASHINGTON. Some of
these copies are treasured by their owners under the
impression that they have the original letter. Sev
eral cases of this kind have of late come under the
notice of the writer. In one case where one of these
reproductions was offered for sale, hundreds of dol
lars were asked for the reproduction, and it was
with great difficulty that the owner could be con
vinced of its character.

Another use made of this letter by unprincipled
persons was to make a photo-lithographic copy of
the letter, and substitute the name of another state
for that of Pennsylvania, and then palm it off upon
the authorities of that state as an original letter to
their Grand Lodge. The latest case of this kind
known to the writer is that of the Grand Lodge of
Georgia, who were thus imposed upon.

Then again the letter has been extensively used
for advertising purposes by publishing houses of
Masonic literature.

The letter has also been printed in most all books
bearing upon Masonic history during the revolu
tionary period.

It was also frequently quoted and criticised dur
ing the Anti-Masonic craze which swept over the
country some eighty-odd years ago, it being the chief
Masonic letter of the five known to the leaders of
those misguided persons. The main point of their
argument was that it bore no date and therefore was
not authentic.

Z 9-

£ §

> o

§1

XII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 22,

VIRGINIA.

PON pages 244 and 245 of WASHINGTON'S
folio Letter Book No. Ill in the Library
of Congress are recorded a letter and
address to WASHINGTON from the Master
of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia, together
with WASHINGTON'S reply.

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

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

fiDasonic Correspondence of Waebtngton

"ALEXA March 28th, 5797.
"Most respected Brother,

"Brother Ramsay & Marsteller wait upon you
" with a copy of an address which has been prepared
" by the unanimous desire of the Ancient York Ma-
" sons of Lodge No. 22. It is their earnest request
"that you will partake of a Dinner with them and
"that you will please appoint the time most conve-
"nient for you to attend. —

" I am most beloved Brother,
"Your Mo. Ob* Hble Serv*
" JAMES GILLIES, M.
" Gen1 Geo Washington."

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

"Most respected Brother,

" The ancient York Masons of Lodge No. 22 offer
"you their warmest congratulations on your retire-
"ment from your useful labors. Under the su-
"preme architect of the Universe you have been the
"Master Workman in erecting the Temple of Lib-
" erty in the west, on the broad basis of equal rights.
"In your wise administration of the government of
" the United States for the space of eight years, you
"have kept within the compass of our happy Consti-
"tution and acted on the square with foreign Na-
"tions and thereby preserved your country in peace
" and promoted the prosperity and happiness of your

Witb Hlexan&ria Xo50et IRo, 22

" fellow Citizens, and now that you have retired from
"the labours of public life to the refreshment of
"domestic tranquility, they ardently pray that you
"may long enjoy all the happiness which the Terres-
" tial Lodge can afford and finally be removed to that
"celestial Lodge where Love, Peace and Harmony
" for ever reign and where cherubims and seraphims
" shall hail you Brother. —

" By the unanimous desire of Lodge
"No. 22

"JAMES GILLIES, Master."
" Gen Geo Washington."

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

"BKOTHEKS OF THE ANCIENT YORK MASONS OF
LODGE No. 22.

"While my heart acknowledges with Brotherly
"Love, your affectionate congratulations on my re-
"tirement from the arduous toils of past years, my
" gratitude is no less excited by your kind wishes for
" my future happiness. —

"If it has pleased the supreme architect of the
" universe to make me an humble instrument to pro-
"mote the welfare and happiness of my fellow men,
"my exertions have been abundantly recompensed

8 97

flDasontc Correspondence of Masbington

1
&

A-KV

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J 4 'N* 4

s .* s ? ^

5\ f

s ..y =

^.^c

1^1'

r'^R^n

^ ^ s vj( > -v% *• ^ U

FAC-SIMILE OF ADDRESS FROM ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 22, TO WASHINGTOK,
MARCH, 1797. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 294-295.

fiDasontc Correspon&ence of Washington

FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 22,
VIRGINIA, MARCH, 1797.

100

Witb Hlexan&ria Xo&ge, 1R<x 22

"by the kind partiality with which they have been
"received; and the assurance you give me of your
"belief that I have acted upon the square in my
"public capacity, will be among my principles en
joyments in this Terrestial Lodge."

After which the Brethren went in procession from
their room to Abert's Tavern,573 where they partook
of an "elegant" dinner, following which a number
of toasts were offered. The tenth toast was by
Brother WASHINGTON, " The Lodge at Alexandria,
and all Masons throughout the World," after which
he returned to Mount Vernon under an escort of
mounted troops of the town.57

The copies of the letter, address and reply in
WASHINGTON'S Letter Book are in the handwriting
of his secretary, Tobias Lear. Photostats of all are
in the collection of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl
vania. No direct photograph of the original in pos
session of Alexandria- Washington Lodge, No. 22,
was obtainable.

57 Cf. " Washington after the Revolution," W. S. Baker, p. 347.
57a Abert's Tavern, formerly "John Wise's." Vide p. 35 supra.

101

XIII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF MASSA
CHUSETTS, MARCH, 1797.

A a Grand Lodge in Quarterly Commu
nication, held at Concert Hall, Boston,
on the evening of March 13, A.L. 5797.
"On motion it was Voted, That a
committee be appointed to draft an Address, to be
presented to our Illustrious Brother, George Wash
ington, Esq'r, when the M.W. Paul Revere, Grand
Master, R.W. John Warren, Rev. Bro. Thaddeus