Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 4

Two days later Brother WASHINGTON sent following reply,[21] viz.:

"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 affecte Brother "and Obedt Servant "Go. Washington"

"Robt Adam Esqr Master, "& the Wardens & Treasr "of Lodge N 39."

No copy of either address nor reply of this correspondence has thus far been found among the Washington 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., 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.

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

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 dispensation from the Grand Master of Pennsylvania, to apply to Lodge No. 2, for initiation and membership.

Brother Dr. Elisha Cullen d.i.c.k, 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 d.i.c.k, a member of Lodge No. 2 at Philadelphia, and joined the same Lodge, September 15, 1779.[22] Brother Elisha C. d.i.c.k 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 Masonic circles in that city, and was instrumental in having the pet.i.tion presented to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a warrant, which was granted under the name and number "Alexandria Lodge No. 39."

Upon the records of the Lodge, Brother d.i.c.k appears as both predecessor and successor of Brother WASHINGTON as Master. Brother d.i.c.k 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. d.i.c.k 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 Virginia 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, warranted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, February 3, 1783, which was const.i.tuted on the second floor of a large three-story frame building, known as the "Lamb Tavern,"

on the twenty-fifth of February, 1783, the Masonic student is referred to "Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania," Philadelphia, 1913, Chapter XLVI, 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]

Footnotes:

[20] Cf. "Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania--Moderns and Ancients,"

Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1913, Vol. II, p. 157. Also _Vide_ "Washington the Man and the Mason," by Charles H. Callahan, published under the auspices of the "Memorial Temple Committee of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial a.s.sociation," 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.

[22] Elisha C. d.i.c.k's pet.i.tion was presented in Lodge No. 2, September 14, 1779, approved and entered by virtue of a dispensation from the Grand Master, September 15; pa.s.sed and raised, September 23.

"Freemasonry in Pennsylvania," Vol. I, pp. 352, 353.

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

III

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

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

"With esteem and respect, "I am, dear sir, "Your most Ob't serv't "Go. Washington"

"Wm. Herbert, Esquire."

=PLACE OF MEETING OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE, No. 39, ON PENNSYLVANIA REGISTER, ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA, WHERE GENERAL WASHINGTON ACCEPTED HONORARY MEMBERSHIP, JUNE 24, 1784.=

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 fac-simile copy was obtainable, an engrossed copy for same was subst.i.tuted in the collection of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

This banquet was held at Wise's tavern[25] and was partic.i.p.ated 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 arguments based upon the Snyder letter so extensively used during the years 1826-1833, that WASHINGTON 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, No. 39, shows that WASHINGTON was in complete harmony with the Masonic Fraternity; further, that by his acceptance of membership, 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 fac-simile of this portrait was made in oil by Miss f.a.n.n.y M. Burke, an artist of repute, and a great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. This replica made for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is the only one ever made of this portrait and shows Brother WASHINGTON as a man and Mason, neither heroized nor idealized.[26]

=GEORGE WASHINGTON

BY JEAN ANTOINE HOUDON, 1785.=

Footnotes: