Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 7

"Having by your manly efforts caused the beau- "teous light of liberty to beam on this western hemi- "sphere, and by the wisdom Heaven has graciously "endowed you with established the liberties of "America on the justest and firmest basis that was "ever yet recorded in the annuals of history, you "now enjoy the supremest of all earthly happiness "that of diffusing peace, liberty, and safety to mil- "lions of your fellow-citizens.

"As a true reward for your patriotic, n.o.ble and "exalted services we fervently pray the Grand Archi- "tect of the universe long to bless you with health, "stability, and power to continue you the Grand "Pillar of the arch of liberty in this vast empire, "which you have been so eminently distinguished in "raising to this pitch of perfection at which we now "behold it.

"May the residue of your life be spent in ease "content and happiness, and as the Great Parent of "these United States may you long live to see your "children flourish under your happy auspices and "may you be finally rewarded with eternal happiness.

"We conclude our present address with a fervent "wish that you will continue as you have hitherto "been, the friend of our ancient and honorable "Order, and of all worthy Masons.

"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 Regiment, 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 NO. 16, GEORGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA, APRIL, 1791. LETTER BOOK II, 59-60.=

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 doc.u.ments have thus far been published.

WASHINGTON'S REPLY.

"TO THE BRETHREN OF PRINCE GEORGE'S LODGE, NO. 16.

"_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, a.s.suring the "fraternity of my esteem, I request them to believe "that I shall always be ambitious of being considered "a deserving Brother.

Go. Washington

=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.

President WASHINGTON left Georgetown 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.[40] Brother WASHINGTON remained 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 Maryland line (No. 27 upon the register of Pennsylvania),[41] but now Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina, attended by the other present and past grand officers,[42] waited on their beloved brother, the president of the United States, and presented the following address:[43]

"_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, Ancient York Masons, beg leave to offer our sincere congratulations on your arrival in this state.

"We felicitate you on the establishment and exercise of a permanent government, whose foundation was laid under your auspices by military achievements, upon which have been progressively reared the pillars of the free republic over which you preside, 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 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 a.s.sociated 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 inst.i.tution, to merit your countenance 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 preserved; 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."[44]

"Charleston, 2d May, 1791."

To this address WASHINGTON returned the following reply.[45]

"_Gentlemen_:--I am much obliged by the respect which you are so good as to declare for my public and private character. I recognize with pleasure my relation to the brethren of your Society, and I accept with grat.i.tude your congratulations on my arrival in South Carolina.

"Your sentiments, on the establishment and exercise of our equal government, are worthy of an a.s.sociation, whose principles lead to purity of morals, and are beneficial of action.

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

"Go. Washington"

This letter was probably destroyed with other Grand Lodge property when Columbia, South Carolina, was burned by Sherman's Army during the war between the States.[46]

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 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.

"_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 grat.i.tude "your congratulations on my arrival in "South Carolina.

"_Your felicitations It is peculiarly general "pleasing to observe the ^ satisfaction expressed "on the establishment and exercise of the "federal government_-- "Your sentiments on the establishment "and exercise of our equal government are "worthy of an a.s.sociation, 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 regard "occasion to evince my respect for the "Fraternity, for whose happiness individually "I offer my best wishes.

"Go. Washington"