Washington's Masonic Correspondence Part 14

"Your obliging & affectionate "letter, together with a copy of the Const.i.tutions of "Masonry has been put into my hands by "your Grand Master; for which I pray you to "accept my best thanks.--

"So far as I am "acquainted with the principles & Doctrines of "Free Masonry, I conceive it to be founded "in benevolence and to be exercised only "for the good of mankind. _If it has been a "Cloak to promote improper or nefarious "objects, it is a melancholly proof that "in unworthy hands, the best inst.i.tutions "may be made use of to promote the worst "designs._--

"While I offer my grateful "acknowledgements for your congratulations on my "late appointments, and for the favorable sentiments "you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit "me to observe, that at this important & "critical moment, when repeated and "high indignities have been offered to this "government your country and the rights & property "of our Citizens plundered without a prospect of "redress, I conceive it to be the _indispensable_ "duty of every American, let his situation & cir "c.u.mstances in life be what they may, to come "forward in support of the government of his country "and to give all the aid in his power toward "maintaining that independence which we have "so dearly purchased; and under this impression, "I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal "considerations and accept my appointment.

"I pray you to be a.s.sured that I ap- "preciate, with sincerity your kind wishes for "my health & happiness.

"I am Gentln & brothers "very respectfully "Yr most obt servt.

"Go. Was.h.i.+ngton"

Before this letter was sent, the five words on the tenth line and the whole of next five lines were eliminated; there was also a slight change made in the last paragraph on the second page.

Following is a copy of the letter as received by the Grand Lodge of Maryland. The original letter was in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, as late as 1833, but it has since disappeared.[63]

"TO THE RIGHT WORs.h.i.+PFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE MASONS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

"_Gentlemen and Brothers:_

"Your obliging and affectionate letter, together with a copy of the Const.i.tution of Masonry, has been put into my hands by your Grand Master, for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. So far as I am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I conceive them to be founded on benevolence, and to be exercised for the good of mankind; I cannot, therefore, upon this ground withdraw my approbation from it.

"While I offer my grateful acknowledgements for your congratulations on my late appointment, and for the favorable sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit me to observe, that, at this important and critical moment, when high and repeated indignities have been offered to the Government of our country, and when the property of our citizens is plundered without a prospect of redress, I conceive it to be the indispensable duty of every American, let his station and circ.u.mstances in life be what they may, to come forward in support of the Government of his choice and to give all the aid in his power towards maintaining that independence which we have so dearly purchased; and under this impression, I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal considerations and accept my appointment. I pray you to be a.s.sured that I receive with grat.i.tude your kind wishes for my health and happiness and reciprocate them with sincerity.

"I am, Gentlemen and Brothers, "Very Respectfully, "Your most Ob't Servant,

"Go. Was.h.i.+ngton"

"Elkton, November 8th, 1798."

=GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON

BY CHARLES BALTHAZAR FEVERET DE SAINT MEMIN.

THE LAST PORTRAIT OF WAs.h.i.+NGTON FROM LIFE, TAKEN IN PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER, 1798.=

Footnotes:

[62] Cf. "Freemasonry in Maryland," by Edw. J. Schultz, Baltimore, 1884, Vol. I, pp. 265-266.

[63] _Ibid._, p. 266.

XV

CORRESPONDENCE WITH G. W. SNYDER, 1798.

As to the correspondence with one G. W. Snyder (Schneider), who represented himself as a preacher of the Reformed Church of Fredericktown, Maryland, our late Brother James M. Lamberton, in his address before the Right Wors.h.i.+pful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at the celebration of the "Sesqui-centennial Aniversary of the initiation of Brother GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON into the Fraternity of Freemasons," held in the Masonic Temple, in the City of Philadelphia on Wednesday, November the fifth, A. D. 1902, states:[64]

"It is well known that during the French Revolution religion was dethroned, and reason installed in the place of Deity. The spreading of such doctrines was by many ascribed to the 'Illuminati,' who were supposed to be Masons. During this period clubs like the Jacobin Clubs in France were formed in this country, and the spread of these doctrines was greatly feared, especially by the clergy, and in 1798 one of them, one G. W.

Snyder, of Fredericktown, Maryland, wrote to Was.h.i.+ngton sending at the same time a book ent.i.tled 'Proofs of a Conspiracy,' etc., by John Robison,[65] the conspiracy being 'to overturn all government and all religion'."[66]

This letter, sent to WAs.h.i.+NGTON at Mount Vernon covered no less than six pages; following is a verbatim copy of the original now in the Library of Congress.

"TO HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

"_Sir_,--You will, I hope, not think it a Pre sumption in a Stranger, whose Name, perhaps never reached your Ears, to ad dress himself to you, the Commanding General of a great Nation. I am a German, born and liberally educated in the city of Heydelberg, in the Pa latinate of the Rhine. I came to this Country in 1776, and felt soon after my arrival, a close Attachment to the Liberty for which these confederated States then struggled. The same attachment still remains not glowing, but burning in my Breast.

At the same Time that I am exulting in the Measures adopted by our Government, I feel myself elevated in the Idea of my adopted Country, I am attached, both from the Bent of Educa tion and mature Enquiry and Search to the simple Doctrines of Christianity, which I have the Honor to teach in Public; and I do heartily Despise all the Cavils of Infidelity. Our present Time pregnant with the most shocking Events and Calamities, threatens Ruin to our Liberty and Government. The most secret Plans are in Agitation; Plans calculated to ensnare the Unwary, to attract the Gay irreligious, and to entice even the Well-Disposed to combine in the general Machine for overturning all Government and all Religion.

"It was some Time since that a Book fell into my hands, ent.i.tled 'Proofs of a Conspiracy, &c. by John Robison,' which gives a full Account of a Society of Free Masons, that distinguishes itself by the name of 'Illuminati,' whose Plan is to over throw all Government and all Religion, even natural; and who endeavor to eradicate every Idea of a Supreme Being, and distin guish Man from Beast by his shape only. A Thought suggested itself to me, that some of the Lodges in the United States might have caught the Infection, and might co-oper ate with the Illuminati or the Jacobin Club in France. Fauchet is mentioned by Robinson as a zealous Member; and who can doubt Genet and Adet? Have not these their con fidants in this country? They use the same Expressions, and are generally Men of no Religion. Upon serious Reflection I was led to think that it might be within your Power to prevent the horrid Plan from corrupting the Brethren of the English Lodges over which you preside.

"I send you the 'Proof of a Conspiracy,' &c. which I doubt not, will give you Satis faction, and afford you matter for a Train of ideas, that may operate to our national Felicity. If, however, you have already perused the Book, it will not, I trust, be disagreeable to you that I have presumed to address you with this Letter and the Book accompanying it. It proceeded from the Sincerity of my Heart, and my ardent Wishes for the common Good.

"May the Supreme Ruler of all Things continue You long with us in these perilous Times: may he endow you with Strength and Wisdom to save our Country in the threating Storms and gathering Clouds of Factions and Com motions! and after you have completed his Work, on this terrene Spot, may He bring you to the full Possession of the glorious Liberty of the Children of G.o.d, is the hearty and most sincere Wish of

"Your Excellency's very humble and "devoted Servant, "G. W. SNYDER.

"Fredericktown, (Maryland) Aug. 22, 1798.

"His Excellency General George Was.h.i.+ngton."

=FAC-SIMILE OF FIRST PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WAs.h.i.+NGTON, AUGUST 22, 1798.=

=FAC-SIMILE OF FOURTH PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WAs.h.i.+NGTON, AUGUST 22, 1798.=

=FAC-SIMILE OF PRESS COPY OF WAs.h.i.+NGTON'S ANSWER TO REV. G. W.

SNYDER.--SEPTEMBER 25, 1798.=

This man Snyder (Schneider) was an agitator and thoroughly irresponsible person, having no ecclesiastical connection with any organized Church Body.

In the year 1787, Schneider came from Albany, New York, to Frederick, ostensibly to collect money to build a Church. He was kindly received and permitted to preach in the Reformed Congregation, where he soon fomented discord and trouble.

Schneider was soon driven out of Frederick Town, but returned again in 1794, when he renewed the trouble in the Church, which ended in a schism. The matter finally got into the Civil Court, and on February 15, 1800 the case was decided against him, which ended his activity in Frederick Town; soon after which he left for parts unknown.[67]

Snyder, who was not a native of this country, evidently labored under the impression that WAs.h.i.+NGTON was a Grand Master General, who presided over all of the English (or Symbolic) Masonic Lodges in the United States. Snyder evidently used the term "English" Lodges, to distinguish them from the Masonic bodies working in the so-called higher (Scotch) degrees, as are now known as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

How important WAs.h.i.+NGTON considered this correspondence is shown by his precaution in taking a press copy of both of his letters to Snyder, who he was led to believe was the regular pastor of the German Reformed Congregation at Fredericktown. These are now in the Library of Congress.

It will be noted that in all of his other Masonic correspondence, copies were made in his regular letter books by his clerks, of both address and reply. Brother WAs.h.i.+NGTON evidently surmised that this letter from Snyder was nothing more or less than a scheme to entrap him. It was not until a month had elapsed, and then only after due consideration, that the following reply was sent to Fredericktown, viz.:

"MOUNT VERNON, 25th Sept. 1798.