Washington's Masonic Correspondence

The position of eminence, the great respect and the profound reverence in which the name of WASHINGTON is enshrined in the hearts of the American people, and particularly so, with the members of this Fraternity, and of all true lovers of liberty and freedom wheresoever dispersed, is the reason, if any be needed, why everything relating to this great man and worthy brother should be preserved for the future generations, to be used by them as a guide, in the cultivation of those cardinal virtues of Honor and Integrity, that should ever characterize the conduct of a good man and a good Mason.

The collection and reproduction of the letters of Brother WASHINGTON, together with the text of this book, have been prepared under my supervision, and its publication is heartily approved.

J. Henry Williams Grand Master. FEBRUARY 22, A.D. 1915--A.L. 5915.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Foreword 1

The Masonic Correspondence of Washington 5

I Correspondence with Watson and Cassoul 19

II Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 1783 28

III Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 1784 34

IV Correspondence with King David's Lodge, No. 1, Newport, R. I., 1790 37

V Correspondence with St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern, N. C., 1791 44

VI Correspondence with Prince George's Lodge, No. 16, Georgetown, S. C., 1791 51

VII Correspondence with Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1791 57

VIII Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Georgia, 1791 65

IX Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1792 69

X Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1792 80

XI Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1796 86

XII Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Virginia, 1797 95

XIII Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1797 102

XIV Correspondence with Grand Lodge of Maryland, 1798 111

XV Correspondence with G. W. Snyder, 1798 117

XVI Index 141

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Masonic Portrait of Washington Frontispiece.

J. Henry Williams, R. W. Grand Master iii

Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh on the Hudson Facing page 22

Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, Virginia " " 35

Moses Michael Hays (Portrait) " " 15

Washington, (Houdon Portrait), 1786 " " 36

Mordecai Gist, (Portrait) " " 57

Residence of President Washington in Philadelphia " " 69

Fac-Simile of Address " " 72

Jonathan Bayard Smith, (Portrait) " " 76

Rev. William Smith, D.D., (Portrait) " " 88

Mount Vernon, 1783-1799 " " 95

Paul Revere, (Portrait) " " 105

Washington, (St. Memin Portrait), 1798 " " 117

Draft of Letter to Grand Lodge of Maryland Between pages 112-113

Press copy of Washington's letter to G. W. Snyder, September 25, 1798 " " 124-125

Press copy of letter, October 24, 1798 " " 130-131

FOREWORD

WASHINGTON's Masonic correspondence as found among the Washington papers in the Manuscript department of the Library of Congress, affords an insight of the great esteem in which WASHINGTON held the Masonic Fraternity, of which since his early days he had been an honored member.

This is further shown by his great courtesy to the Brethren, in his replies to their addresses, no matter whether they were from a Grand or Subordinate Lodge. In this collection, were also found some of the original drafts of WASHINGTON's replies, together with copies of the various masonic addresses and letters to him, and in the case of Dominie Snyder, press copies of his answers.