Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 9

IX

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, JANUARY 3, 1792.

During the Presidential term of Brother WASHINGTON, the President, when in Philadelphia, lived in a large double three-story brick mansion, on the south side of Market Street, sixty feet east of Sixth Street, the site of which is now occupied by three stores, viz.: Nos. 526, 528, 530.

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania then held its meetings in the upper floor of the Meeting house of the Free Quakers, still standing, at the southwest corner of Arch and Fifth Streets; this was but a short distance from the presidential mansion. Brother WASHINGTON was undoubtedly personally acquainted with many of its members, especially such as had been officers during the Revolution, and were fellow members of the Cincinnati.

On St. John's Day, December 27, 1791, a Grand Lodge was opened in ample form,[49] and the Minutes of the last Grand Communication were read, as far as concerns the election of Grand Officers.

The Grand Officers upon this occasion were:

Brother Jonathan Bayard Smith, _R. W. Grand Master_.

Brother Joseph Few, _Deputy Grand Master_.

Brother Thomas Procter, _Senior Grand Warden_.

Brother Gavin Hamilton, _Junior Grand Warden_.

Brother Peter Le Barbier Duplessis, _Grand Secretary_.

Brother Benjamin Mason, _Grand Treasurer_.

The Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith then addressed the Brethren in an oration suitable to the Grand Day, and the thanks of the Lodge were given to said Brother William Smith for the same.

After which, on motion and seconded, the Rev. Brother Dr. Smith and the Right Worshipful Grand Officers were appointed a Committee to prepare an address to our Ill.u.s.trious Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States; and this Lodge was adjourned to the second day of January next to receive the report of said Committee.

"PHILADELPHIA, January 2d, 1792.

"_Grand Lodge, By Adjournment_,[50]

"A Grand Lodge was opened in ample form, and the Minutes of St.

John's Day being read as far as relates to the appointment of a Committee to prepare an Address to our ill.u.s.trious Brother George Washington, The Revd. Bro. Dr. Wm. Smith, one of the said Committee, presented the Draft of one which was read, Whereupon, on Motion and Seconded, the same was unanimously approved of, and Resolved, That the Rt. Wt. Grand Master, Depy. G. Master, and Grand Officers, with the Revd Bro. Smith, be a Committee to present the said Address in behalf of this Rt. Wt. Grand Lodge, signed by the Right Worshipful Grand Master, and Countersigned by the Grand Secretary.

"Lodge closed at half past 9 o'clock in Harmony."

Following is the address presented to Brother WASHINGTON. Both the original draft in the handwriting of Brother William Smith, showing minor alterations, as well as a fair copy, are in the archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.[51]

"TO HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

"_Sir and Brother_:

"The Ancient _York Masons_ of the Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, for the first time a.s.sembled in General _Communication_ to celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, since your Election to the _Chair_ of Government in the United States, beg leave to approach you with Congratulations from the East, and in the pride of Fraternal affection to hail you as the _Great Master Builder_ (under the Supreme Architect) by whose labours the _Temple of Liberty_ hath been reared in the West, exhibiting to the Nations of the Earth a _Model_ of _Beauty_, _Order_ and _Harmony_ worthy of their Imitation and Praise.

"Your Knowledge of the Origin and Objects of our Inst.i.tution; its Tendency to promote the Social Affections and harmonize the Heart, give us a sure pledge that this tribute of our Veneration, this Effusion of our Love will not be ungrateful to you; nor will Heaven reject our _Prayer_ that you may be long continued to adorn the bright list of Master workmen which our Fraternity in the _terrestrial Lodge_; and that you may be late removed to that _Celestial Lodge_ where love and Harmony reign transcendent and Divine; where the great Architect more immediately presides, and where _Cherubim_ and _Seraphim_, wafting our Congratulations from _Earth to Heaven_, shall hail you _Brother_.

(Seal) "By order and in behalf of the Grand "Lodge of Pennsylvania in general Com- "munication a.s.sembled in ample form.

"J B Smith

(Signed) G.M.

[Illegible Signature]

"Attest: Gd. Secry."

=FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL ADDRESS READ BEFORE PRESIDENT WASHINGTON BY REV. BRO. WILLIAM SMITH, D.D., JANUARY 3, 1792.

ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. MSS.--VOLUME A.--FOLIO.--21.=

On January 3, 1792, Jonathan Bayard Smith, the Right Worshipful Grand Master, together with the Grand Officers and Rev. Brother William Smith called on the President and delivered the above address.

The deputation was received in the dining room of the presidential mansion. This was a room about thirty feet long, and where WASHINGTON was accustomed to receive delegations.

At the Quarterly Communication held March 5, 1792, the Right Worshipful Grand Master Jonathan B. Smith informed the Brethren that, in conformity to the resolve of this Grand Lodge, he had, in company with the Grand Officers and the Rev. Brother Dr. Smith, presented the address to our ill.u.s.trious Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON and had received an answer, which was read.

"TO THE ANCIENT YORK MASONS OF THE "JURISDICTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

"_Gentlemen and Brothers_,

"I receive your kind Congratulations "with the purest sensations of fraternal affection:--and "from a heart deeply impressed with your generous "wishes for my present and future happiness, I beg "you to accept my thanks.

"At the same time I request you will "be a.s.sured of my best wishes and earnest prayers "for your happiness while you remain in this terres- "tial Mansion, and that we may thereafter meet "as brethren in the Eternal Temple of the "Supreme Architect.

"Go. Washington"

=FAC-SIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S REPLY TO GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, JANUARY, 1792. ORIGINAL IN ARCHIVES OF THE GRAND LODGE.=

=WASHINGTON'S MASONIC Ap.r.o.n.

EMBROIDERED BY MADAM LAFAYETTE; PRESENTED AUGUST, 1784, BY BRO. GEN.

LAFAYETTE TO BRO. GEN. WASHINGTON; PRESENTED OCTOBER 26, 1816, BY THE LEGATEES OF BRO. WASHINGTON TO THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA; PRESENTED JULY 3, 1829, BY THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY TO THE R. W. GRAND LODGE, F. &. A. M. OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ORIGINAL Ap.r.o.n IN MUSEUM OF THE GRAND LODGE.=

Whereupon, on motion and seconded, Resolved, unanimously, that the said address and the answer thereto, shall be entered on the minutes.

This answer, in possession of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, is in the handwriting of Tobias Lear, who was the private secretary of the President, and for years attended to the details of WASHINGTON's domestic affairs, and was liberally remembered by him in his will.

The letter was signed by WASHINGTON, who had both the address and answer copied verbatim in one of his letter books[52] by Bartholomew Dandridge, secretary to the President. A photostat copy of above, together with the original answer by WASHINGTON is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.