Chapter 7

It was not until the middle of October that a reply was received from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to the circular letter sent out by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and then only in response to a letter written by our Grand Secretary, Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith.

This matter led to more or less correspondence between the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and was in abeyance, until January, 1781, when the following letter was received from Joseph Webb, Grand Master of Massachusetts.[86]

"BOSTON, Jany 17, 1781.

"_Revd Sir and "Respected Brother_

"Last Friday Evening the Grand Lodge met, agreeable to adjournment and after a long debate on the subject, whether it was expedient at present to elect a Grand Master General for the United States, it passed in the negative.

"Inclosed I transmit you the vote from the G. Sec'y.

"Yr Affecte Brother "& Hble Servt "Jos: WEBB.

"Rev Dr Smith "Philadelphia."

The belief that WASHINGTON was the Grand Master of the United States was widespread, and, as our late Bro. James M. Lamberton said in his address before mentioned,[87] notwithstanding the fact that the project to elevate General WASHINGTON fell through, "that the action of the Army Lodges and of our Grand Lodge got abroad, is shown by translations of two letters from a Lodge at Cape Francois,[88] on the island of San Domingo, directed to General WASHINGTON as Grand Master of all America, soliciting a charter, which were presented to our Grand Lodge, February 3, 1786. The same thing is shown by a medal struck in 1797, the obverse showing the bust of WASHINGTON, with the legend, "G. Washington President. 1797," the reverse showing many Masonic emblems,[89] with the legend "Amor. Honor. Et Justica G.W.G.G.M." (_i. e.,_ George Washington, General Grand Master).

The writer of the letters to WASHINGTON, Snyder, quoted at the beginning of this chapter, being of foreign birth, and not a member of the Masonic Fraternity, nor even living where a Masonic Lodge existed, evidently labored under the same delusion as the Brethren at Cape Francois.

The Masonic Correspondence of WASHINGTON as represented upon these pages, should settle for all time to come the question, as to the esteem in which WASHINGTON held the Masonic Fraternity, of which he was an honored Member.

It is stated that there are still a large number of Washington papers in the Library of Congress, that are not accessible, as they have thus far not been classified or indexed. Thus it is in the possibilities that there may be still further documentary evidence found of Masonic import, in addition to such as are set forth upon these pages.

=_The Arms of ye most Ancient & Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons._=

Footnotes:

[64] "Memorial Volume, Washington Sesqui-centennial Anniversary," Philadelphia, 1902, p. 165.

[65] "PROOFS | of a| CONSPIRACY | against all the | RELIGIONS and GOVERNMENTS | of | EUROPE | carried on | in the secret meetings | of | FREE MASONS, ILLUMINATI, | and | READING SOCIETIES, | " collected from Good Authorities | by | JOHN ROBISON, A. M. |--EDINBURGH, | 1797. |

[66] The original letter of August 22, 1798, is among the Washington papers in the Library of Congress; a photostat of same is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

[67] Cf. Historical sketch of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Frederick, Maryland, 1904, pp. 22-25.

[68] Cf. "Washington, The Man and Mason," p. 288.

[69] _Vide_ "Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary of the Initiation of Brother George Washington before quoted," p. 149.

[70] Cf. Chapters II and III _supra_.

[71] Cf. "Washington, The Man and Mason," p. 286.

[72] _Ibid_., December 20, 1789. His excellency, General WASHINGTON, unanimously elected Master; Robert McCrea, Senior Warden; William Hunter, Jr., Junior Warden; William Hodgson, Treasurer; Joseph Greenway, Secretary; Dr. Frederick Spambergen, Senior Deacon; George Richards, Junior Deacon. Extract from Minutes, p. 288.

[73] _Vide_ "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1907," Vol. I, Chapter X, pp. 295 _et seq_.

[74] _Ibid._, Vol. I, Chapter XII, pp. 399 _et seq_.

_Vide_ "Washington and his Masonic Compeers," Chapter VIII, pp. 149 _et seq_.

[75] _Ibid._, pp. 86-87. Also records of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 1, Poughkeepsie, New York.

[76] _Ibid._, pp. 150 _et seq_.

[77] _Ibid._, pp. 139 _et seq_.

[78] WASHINGTON, so far as known, attended the following public Masonic functions:

1. Procession in Philadelphia, Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 28, 1778.

2. Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1779, with the American Union Lodge, at the Robinson House on the Hudson, New York.

3. Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, 1779, with American Union Lodge, at the Morris Hotel, Morristown, New Jersey.

4. Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, 1782, with King Solomon's Lodge, at Poughkeepsie, New York.

5. Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1784, with Lodge No. 39, at Alexandria, Virginia.

6. The Masonic funeral of Brother William Ramsay, February 12, 1785, at Alexandria.

7. Laying of the cornerstone of the capitol at the Federal City (Washington, D. C.), September 18, 1793, upon which occasion WASHINGTON walked in the procession.

[79] Cf. Historical sketch before quoted, p. 24.

[80] Anti-Masonic Republican Convention before quoted, p. 26.

[81] Grand Master of Virginia, 1793-1795.

[82] Vindication of General Washington before quoted, p. 15.

[83] Cf. "Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge," Vol. I, p. 19.

[84] "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1781," Vol. I, p. 39.

[85] Address in full, _ibid._, pp. 399-402.

[86] All of the original correspondence is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Mss., Vol. A.

[87] "Washington Sesqui-Centennial Celebration, Nov. 5, 1902, Memorial Volume," pp. 135-6.

[88] Cf. "Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania," Vol. II, Chapter LIII, pp. 242-250.

[89] Specimen in Museum of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

INDEX.

Aberts Tavern, 101

Adam, Rev. John, 30

Adam, Robert, 29, 30

Adcock, William, 77

Alexander, Alexander, 58

Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Address and Reply, 18; Letter and Address to Washington, 96; Washington's Reply, 97

Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 17; Correspondence with, 28; Address to Washington, 29; Meets at Lamb Tavern, 33; Invites Washington to dine with them, 34

Allison, John, 29, 33

Anti-Masonic Craze, mention of, 8; Attack Washington's memory, 10; Certify to Records, 16

Armstrong, Thomas, 90

Baker, George A., 90

Ball, William, 93

Bartlett, Josiah, 83, 102

Belton, William, 111, 113

Blair, Judge, 42

Blyth, Joseph, 53

Bowen, Thomas B., 58

Bradley, Thomas, 90

Burk, Miss Fanny M., Copies, Portrait for Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 36

Carson, J., 53

Chapman, Samuel, 48, 49

Clark, Peleg, 15

Clinton, Governor, 42

Cohen, Abraham, 53

Corney, James, 48

Craik, George W., 2, 93

Craik, Dr. James, 93

Cutler, John, 83

Cusack, Richard E., 90

Dandridge, Bartholomew, 2, 75, 81

Dick, Archibald, 32

Dick, Elisha C., 29, 32; Conducts Masonic Services at Washington's Funeral, 33

Drayton, William, 58

Duplessis, Peter le Barbier, 70; Autograph, 72, 79, 80

Edwards, Thomas, 102

Elliot, Robert, 15

Few, Joseph, 70; mention of, 78

Foster, Theo., 42

Franklin, Benjamin, mention of, 27

Fredericktown, Maryland, 117

Freemasonry in Pennsylvania (Barratt and Sachse), Referred to, 16

Free Quaker Meeting House, 69

Gates, Thomas, 58

Georgia Grand Lodge, Address and Reply, 7, 17; Fraudulent letter to, 94

Gillies, James, 95, 96, 97

Gist, Mordecai, 57, 58, 59; Sketch of, 64, 134

Gorman, Mr., of New Hampshire, 42

Grant, Reuben, 53

Greene, Mrs. Nathaniel, 66

Griffith, Cadawalder, 90

Guion, Isaac, 48, 49

Halling, Solomon, 48, 49

Hamilton, Gavin, 70, 90

Handy, John, 15

Harris, Thaddeus M., 102

Hayes, Moses Michael, mention of, 15

Hildreth, Ara, 38

Houston, George, 66

Hunt, Galliard, mention of, 6

Illuminati, 117

Irwin, David, 90

Israel, Israel, 90

Jackson, Major William, 2; Copies Address and Answer, 40

Jefferson, Thomas, 36, 42

Johnson, William, 48, 49

King David's Lodge, No. 1, Newport, R. I., Proposed Masonic Address to General Washington, 14; Extracts from Records, 15, 17; Correspondence with, 37; Sends Address to Washington, 38; Fac-simile of Washington's Reply, 41

Knox, Robert, 58

Lamb Tavern, Alexandria meeting place of Lodge, No. 39, 33

Lamberton, J. M., Address Washington as a Freemason, 11; quoted, 117

Laughton, Joseph, 104

Lear, Tobias, 2, 75, 101

Letter Books in Library of Congress, 6

Littlefield, William, 37

Lodge No. 27, on Pennsylvania Roster, 57, 59

Lowthorp, F., 48

Machey, Mungo, 83

Marshall, John, Chief Justice, 132

Marsteller, Phillip G., 95, 96

Maryland Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to 7, 18; Address to Washington, 112; Washington Reply, 113; Original Draft of Reply, _ib._

Mason, Benjamin, 70

Masonic Aprons, 20

Masonic Portrait of Washington in Alexandria Lodge, 36

Massachusetts Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7; Letter to, 8; Objects to Washington as Grand Master General, 16; Address and Reply, 18; Address to Washington, 83; Reply, 85; Letter to Paul Revere, 104; Reply to Grand Lodge, 106; Refuses to nominate Washington as Grand Master General, 136

Mazyck, William C., 60

McElwee, John, 90

Meyers, Israel, 58

Miller, George, 58

Mitchell, John, 58

Nelson, William, 90

Newburgh, Washington in Camp at, 21

Nilson, Andrew, 90

Oliver, Daniel, 104

Oswald, Eleaser, 90

Pasteur, Edward, 48

Pennsylvania Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7; Address and Reply, 18; Resolutions, 69; Address to Washington, 71; Washington's Reply, 73; Address to Washington, 1796, 88; Address, 1797, 103; Nominated Washington as Grand Master General, 133

Prince George's Lodge, No. 16, Georgetown, S. C., Address and Reply, 8, 17; Correspondence with, 51; Sketch of, _ib._; Address to Washington, 52; Fac-simile, 54, 55; Washington's Reply, 56

Procter, Thomas, 70; Sketch of, 78, 90

Providence, R. I., Washington Arrives at, 42

Putnam, Herbert, mention of, 4

Ramsay, Dennis, 95, 96

Ramsay, William, 29, 33

Rehm, Dr. J. F., 50

Revere, Paul, 2; Letter from Washington, 8; Letter to, 18, 102, 104

Ritner, Governor, Vindication, 132

Robison, John, "Proofs of Conspiracy," 118

Rush, Dr. Benjamin, 32

Seixas, Moses, 15, 37; Sketch of, 39

Sherburne, Henry, 37

Shippen, Dr. William, 32

Smith, Jonathan Bayard, 70; Autograph, 72, 73; Sketch of, 76

Smith, Mr. of South Carolina, 42

Smith, Rev. William, D.D., Sermon by, 12; Masonic Sermons by, 13; Addresses the Brethren, 70; Drafts Address, 71, 73; Masonic Record, 76, 90; Writes to Grand Lodge, Massachusetts, 135

Smith, William Moore, Autograph, 89, 90; Sketch of, 93; Snyder (Schneider), G. W., 3; Letter to Washington, 18, 113; Fac-simile of Letter, 119, 121; Sketch of, 123

South Carolina Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7, 17; Correspondence with, 57; Address to Washington, 59; Washington's Reply, 59; Original Draft of Reply, 61; Fac-simile, 62, 63

Sparks, Jared, 9; Letter from, 10, 129

St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern, N. C., Address and Reply, 8, 17; Correspondence with, 44; Resolution, 44; Address to Washington, 45; Fac-Simile, 46, 47

Thomas, Isaiah, 104

Town, Thomas, 90

Warren, John, 102

Washington, George, Master of Lodge while President, 2; Masonic Bodies named after, 3; Full length Portrait in London, 4; Copies of all Masonic Letters, 5; Letter to Paul Revere, 7; Memory attacked by Anti-Masons, 10; At Newport, R. I., 1781, 14; At Providence, R. I., _ib._; Report on, 15; As Grand Master, 16; Replies to Snyder, 18; Receives Masonic Ornaments from Watson & Cassoul, 20; Masonic Apron from Lafayette, 20; Reply to Watson & Cassoul, 21; In camp at Newburg, 21; Resigns his commission at Annapolis, 28; Returns to Mount Vernon, _ib._; Address from Lodge No. 39, 29; Reply to Lodge No. 39, 30; Fac-simile, 31; Invites Washington to dine with the Lodge, 34; Acceptance, 35; Accepts Honorary Membership, _ib._; Portrait of in Alexandria Lodge, 36; Address from King David's Lodge, 38; Arrives at Newport, R. I., 42; Providence, _ib._; Reply to King David's Lodge, ib; Starts on Southern Tour, 44; Reply to St. John's Lodge, 49; Arrives at Georgetown, S. C., 51; Washington's Reply to Prince George's Lodge, 56; Arrives at Charleston, S. C., 57; Receives Address from Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 58; Washington's Reply, 59; Calls on Mrs. Nathaniel Greene, 65; Receives Address from Grand Lodge, Georgia, 66; Leaves Savannah, 68; Replies to Grand Lodge of Georgia, _ib._; Residence in Philadelphia, 69; Received Address from Grand Lodge, Pennsylvania, 71; Reply 73; Master's Jewel, 79; Address from Grand Lodge, Massachusetts, 81; Washington's Reply, 84; Farewell Address, 86; At Philadelphia, 87; Address from Grand Lodge, Pennsylvania, 88; Washington Receives Deputation, 90; Reply, 91; Letters counterfeited, 94; Arrives at Mount Vernon, 95; Letter & Address from Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, 96; Reply, 97; Dines with Lodge No. 22, 101; Letter to Paul Revere, 104; Draft of Reply to Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 106; Lieutenant General, 111; At Baltimore, _ib._; Draft of Reply to Grand Lodge of Maryland, 113; Reply, 115; Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary, 117; Letter and Book from G. W. Snyder, 118; Reply to Snyder's Letter of September 15, 1798, 123; Explanation of, 125; Member of Alexandria Lodge, 126; Lays Corner-Stone of Capitol, 127; Masonic Record of, _ib._; Traditions of, 128; Second Letter from Snyder, 129; Washington's Reply, 130; Refutation of the Anti-Masonic Slanders, 131; Grand Master General, 132; Address by Army Lodges, 134; Massachusetts refuses to concur, 136; Universal belief that Washington was Grand Master General, 137; Medal struck as such, 138

Washington, Lodges in United States, 3

Watson and Cassoul, Draft and Letter to, 7, 17; Send Masonic Apron to Washington, 19; Reply to, 22; Fac-simile of original Draft to, 24, 25; mention of, 27

Watson, Elkanah, 19; Letter to Washington, 20, 27

Webb, Joseph, 135

White, Isaac, 53

White, Rev. William, Prayer by, 12

Williams, J. Henry, Authorization, iii; mention of, 4

Williams, Otho, 134

Williams, William, Paints Washington's Masonic Portrait, 36

Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, 35

Transcriber's Notes:

Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.

Image captions are indicated by =caption=.

Illustrations without captions are not identified in this text version.

Superscripted letters are not identified in this text version.

Additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as presented in the original text.

The following misprints have been corrected: "contiuue" corrected to "continue" (page 66) "Illumaniti" corrected to "Illuminati" (page 130) "Fredricksburg" corrected to "Fredericksburg" (footnote 7) "Dick, Elisah" corrected to "Dick, Elisha" (index)

All other spelling and punctuation is presented as in the original.

The index has been correctly alphabetized.