Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 13

In response to above resolution the following address was sent to Brother WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon dated Boston, March 21, 5797, viz.:

"_The East, the West and the South, of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Ma.s.sachusetts._

_To Their Most Worthy George Washington._"

"Wishing ever to be foremost in testimonials of respect and admiration for those virtues and services with which you have so long adorned and benefited our common country; and not the last nor least, to regret the cessation of them, in the public councils of the Union; your Brethren of the Grand Lodge embrace the earliest opportunity of greeting you in the calm retirement you have contemplated to yourself. Though as citizens they lose you in the active labors of political life, they hope, as Masons, to find you in the pleasing sphere of Fraternal engagement.

"From the cares of state and the fatigues of public business our inst.i.tution opens a recess affording all the relief of tranquility, the harmony of peace and the refreshment of pleasure. Of these may you partake in all their purity and satisfaction; and we will a.s.sure ourselves that your attachment to this social plan will increase; and that under the auspices of your encouragement, a.s.sistance and patronage, the Craft will attain its highest ornament, perfection and praise. And it is our ardent prayer, that when your light shall be no more visible in this earthly temple, you may be raised to the All Perfect Lodge above; be seated on the right of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, and there receive the refreshment your labors merited.

"In behalf of the Grand Lodge, we subscribe ourselves with the highest esteem,

"Your affectionate Brethren, "PAUL REVERE, _Grand Master_.

"ISAIAH THOMAS, _S. Grand Warden._ "JOSEPH LAUGHTON, _J. Grand Warden_.

"Daniel Oliver, Grand Secretary, "Boston, 21st March, 5797."

For some unaccountable reason the delivery of the address was delayed and not received at Mount Vernon until late in April. The original draft of WASHINGTON's reply to the Grand Lodge of Ma.s.sachusetts in his own handwriting and signature as well as an autograph note of apology for the seeming delay to Grand Master Paul Revere and his officers dated Mount Vernon, April 24, 1797, are in the Ma.n.u.script Department in the Library of Congress, viz.:

"TO PAUL REVERE GRAND MASTER, ISAIAH "THOMAS SENIOR GRAND WARDEN AND "JOSEPH LAUGHTON JUNR GRAND WARDEN.

"_Brothers_,

"I am sorry that the en- "closed answer to the affectionate address "of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and "Accepted Masons, of the Commonwealth "of Ma.s.sachusetts transmitted under your "signatures, should appear so much out from "of season; but ^ the lapse of time between "the date & reception of the address (from "what cause I know not) it was not to be "avoided, and is offered as an apology, for "the delay. With brotherly affection

"I am always yours, "Go. Washington"

"Mount Vernon, "24th April 1797."

=PAUL REVERE

1735-1818.

GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN Ma.s.sACHUSETTS, 1797.=

=FAC-SIMILE OF AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM WASHINGTON TO PAUL REVERE AND THE OFFICERS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS, APRIL 24, 1797.=

=FAC-SIMILE OF ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO THE ADDRESS FROM THE GRAND LODGE OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS IN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.=

Following is a copy of WASHINGTON's original draft of his reply to the Grand Lodge of Ma.s.sachusetts. It is written upon two pages of a letter sheet entirely in his handwriting and signed by him.

"TO THE GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT, FREE & "ACCEPTED MASONS, OF THE COMMONWEALTH "OF Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.

"_Brothers_,

"It was not until within "these few days that I have been favoured by "the receipt of your affectionate Address "dated in Boston the 21st of March

"For the favourable sentiments "you have been pleased to express on the "occasion of my past services, and for the "regrets with which they are accompani- "ed for the cessation of my public functions, "I pray you to accept my best acknowledg- "ments and grat.i.tude.--

"No pleasure, except that wch "results from a consciousness of having, to "the utmost of my abilities, discharged, "the trusts which have been reposed in "me by my Country, can equal the satis "faction I feel from the unequivocal proofs "I continually receive of its approbation "of my public conduct, and I beg you to be "a.s.sured that the evidence thereof which "is exhibited by the Grand Lodge of Ma.s.sachusetts "is not among the least pleasing, or grate "ful to my feelings.--

"In that retirement which decli- "ning years induced me to seek, and which "repose, to a mind long employed in pub- "lic concerns, rendered necessary, my wish "es that bounteous Providence will conti- "nue to bless & preserve our country in "Peace & in the prosperity it has enjoyed, will "be warm & sincere; and my attachment "to the Society of which we are members "will dispose me always, to contribute my best "endeavours to promote the honor & "interest of the _Craft_.--

"For the prayer you offer in "my behalf I entreat you to accept the "thanks of a grateful heart; with the as- "surance of fraternal regard and best "wishes for the honor, happiness & prospe- "rity of all the members of the Grand Lodge "of Ma.s.sachusetts.

"Go. Washington"

The original letter is said to be in possession of the Grand Lodge of Ma.s.sachusetts. No photographic fac-simile of the doc.u.ment, however, could be obtained.

=ANCIENT JEWEL OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.=

XIV

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND, NOVEMBER, 1798.

In the year 1798, the danger of a war with France had become so imminent, on account of the aggressions of that government towards the United States, that Congress ordered a provisional army to be raised, the command of which was tendered to WASHINGTON, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, an honor which was reluctantly accepted by WASHINGTON. During the summer a scourge of yellow fever had again visited Philadelphia, which caused Congress to adjourn, July 16, and the public offices to be removed for the time being to Trenton, N. J. All danger of the fever being over, WASHINGTON, on November 5, started for Trenton. He arrived at Baltimore, November 7, and was waited on at his quarters by William Belton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, his Deputy and other Brethren and presented with a copy of the New Ahiman Rezon and the following address,[62] viz.:

"TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQ., Lieutenant General and Commander-in-chief of the Armies of the United States.

"_Sir and Brother:_

"The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free Masons for the State of Maryland, wishing to testify the respect in which the whole fraternity in this State hold the man who is at once the ornament of the Society and of his country, vote a copy of the Const.i.tution of Masonry, lately printed under its authority, to be presented to you.

"Accept, Sir and Brother, from our hands this small token of the veneration of men who consider it as the greatest boast of their Society, that a WASHINGTON openly avows himself a member of it, and thinks it worthy of his approbation. With it accept also our warmest congratulations in the name of the body which we represent, on your reappointment to that elevated station in which you formerly wrought the salvation of your country; and on your restoration to the inestimable blessing of health which, that the Almighty disposer of events may continue to accord to you uninterruptedly, is the most earnest prayer of your most respectfully affectionate Brethren and most humble servants.

"Signed, WM. BELTON, R.. W..G..M..

"Peter Little, Grand Secretary, "Baltimore, November 5th, 1798."

=FAC-SIMILE (REDUCED) OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO THE GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.--ELKTON, MD., NOV. 8, 1798.=

To this address WASHINGTON sent a reply, the original draft of which is in the Library of Congress, written upon two pages of a letter sheet, and differs somewhat from the final copy sent to the Grand Lodge from Elkton, where WASHINGTON spent the next day. It will be recalled that but two weeks had elapsed since he wrote his last letter to Dominie Snyder of Fredericktown, and this fact was evidently in his mind when he wrote this letter to the Maryland Brethren.

Upon second thought he eliminated the lines bearing upon the insinuations in Snyder's letter. Following is a copy of the letter as originally written, viz.:

"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE "MASONS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

"_Gentlemen & Brothers_,