Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 10

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 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.[53]

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 a.s.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 Common 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 "a.s.sociators."

=J B SMITH

B. FEB. 21, 1742; D. JUNE 16, 1812.

GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1789-1794.=

In 1778 he was appointed a justice of the court of Common Pleas, Quarter Sessions, and Orphans' 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 member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He was the Senior Grand Warden in 1786, at the time when the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania: "_Resolved_, that the Grand Lodge is, and ought to be perfectly independent and free of any such foreign jurisdiction."[54]

In the two following years he was appointed Deputy Grand Master by Right Worshipful Grand Master William Adc.o.c.k; he was elected Right Worshipful 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:[55]

"On Motion made and Seconded the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania impressed with a grateful sense of the long a.s.siduous and highly useful labours of their late R. W. Grand Master, Bror Jonathan Bayard Smith, Esqr, previous to and during his service in the high Station which he has left, Resolved Unanimously, That the most respectful Thanks of the said G. Lodge be presented to their said Brother Jonathan Bayard Smith for the eminent services he has rendered to the Craft generally and more especially for the able, diligent and impartial 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 receive the best wishes of the Grand Lodge for a prolongation of his useful life, a commensurate enjoyment 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 Regimental 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 the History of the Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania, published by the Grand Lodge in 1913.[56]

For a sketch of Brother Peter Le Barbier Duplessis, the reader is referred to the same volume.[57]

=WASHINGTON'S PAST MASTER'S JEWEL.

Replica in the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.=

Footnotes:

[49] Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Vol. I, p. 178.

[50] _Ibid._, p. 180.

[51] MSS. Volume A, folio 17, 19, 21.

[52] Letter Book II, pp. 104-105.

[53] Cf. "Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania," Vol. I, p. 201.

[54] Cf. Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge, Vol. I, p. 96 _et seq._

[55] _Ibid._, Vol. II, p. 68.

[56] Volume II, Chapter XXVI, pp. 1-36. Cf. also "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania," Vol. I and II, for various references to Col. Procter.

[57] Cf. "Old Lodges," Vol. II, pp. 256 _et seq._

X

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS, DECEMBER, 1792.

"At Grand Lodge held at Concert Hall, Boston, 10th of December, 5792, being a Quarterly Communication it was

"_Resolved_, That the Grand Master, with the Grand Wardens, present to our Most Beloved Brother

GEORGE WASHINGTON,

the new Book of Const.i.tutions, 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 Wardens, reported:

"That they had written to our beloved President and Brother, George Washington, and presented him with a Book of Const.i.tutions, 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 Bartholomew 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 Ma.s.sachusetts, To their honored and "Ill.u.s.trious 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- "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 a.s.sume 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 inst.i.tution, this Grand Lodge "have published a "Book of Const.i.tutions," (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 "receive you to the harmonious & exalted So- "ciety in Heaven.--