Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 12

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 revolutionary period.

It was also frequently quoted and criticised during 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.

=MOUNT VERNON

DURING WASHINGTON'S OCCUPANCY, 1788-1799.=

Footnotes:

[58] Cf. The Religious and Social Conditions of Philadelphia, under the Federal Const.i.tution, 1790-1800. Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1900.

[59] Cf. "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania," before quoted, Vol. II, pp.

190-197; original copy in archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

XII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 22, VIRGINIA.

Upon pages 244 and 245 of WASHINGTON's folio Letter Book No. III 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 Vernon by Brothers Dennis Ramsay and Phillip G. Marsteller, and presented with the following letter and address from James Gillies, the Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia, viz.:

"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. Obt Hble Servt "JAMES GILLIES, _M._

"Genl 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 s.p.a.ce of eight years, you "have kept within the compa.s.s 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 "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 Sat.u.r.day, April 1, 1797, when his reply to Brother Gillies' address was read in open Lodge, viz.:

"BROTHERS 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 "grat.i.tude 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 "by the kind partiality with which they have been "received; and the a.s.surance 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.

"Go. Washington"

=FAC-SIMILE OF LETTER FROM W. M. OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE TO BRO. WASHINGTON, MARCH, 1797. LETTER BOOK II, FOLIO 294.=

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

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

After which the Brethren went in procession from their room to Abert's Tavern,[60] 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.[61]

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 Pennsylvania. No direct photograph of the original in possession of Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, was obtainable.

Footnotes:

[60] Abert's Tavern, formerly "John Wise's." _Vide_ p. 35 _supra_.

[61] Cf. "Washington after the Revolution," W. S. Baker, p. 347.

XIII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS, MARCH, 1797.

At a Grand Lodge in Quarterly Communication, held at Concert Hall, Boston, on the evening of March 18, A.L. 5797.

"On motion it was Voted, That a committee be appointed to draft an Address, to be presented to our Ill.u.s.trious Brother, George Washington, Esq'r, when the M.W. Paul Revere, Grand Master, R.W.

John Warren, Rev. Bro. Thaddeus M. Harris, R.W. Josiah Bartlett, Bro. Thomas Edwards, were appointed a committee for that purpose."