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Washington's Masonic Correspondence: As Found among the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress — John Shaqi

Washington's Masonic Correspondence: As Found among the Washington Papers in the Library of CongressWashington, George

Religion

Washington's Masonic Correspondence: As Found among the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress

Name: Washington's Masonic Correspondence: As Found among the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress
Author: Washington, George

Washington, George

Freemasons; Washington, George, 1732-1799 -- Correspondence; Washington, George, 1732-1799 -- Freemasonry

Owing to the uncertain intercourse between the two countries, it was
almost seven months before Brother WASHINGTON received the Masonic
apron, ornaments and letter from France. He at that time was in camp
with the army at Newburg on the Hudson.[16]

In reply WASHINGTON sent the following autograph letter to the donors in
Nantes, viz.:

     "STATE OF NEW YORK
     "Augt 10th 1782.

     "Gentn.

     "The Masonick Ornamts
     "which accompanied your Bro-
     "therly Address of the 23d of
     "Jany last, tho' elegant in
     "themselves, were rendered
     "more valuable by the flattering
     "sentiments, and affectionate
     "manner, in which they were
     "presented.--

     "If my endeavours to
     "avert the evil, with which this
     "Country was threatned by a
     "deliberate plan of Tyranny,
     "should be crowned with the suc
     "cess that is wished--The praise
     "is due to the _Grand Architect_
     "of the Universe; who did not see
     "fit to suffer his superstructures
     "and justice, to be subjected to the
     "Ambition of the Princes of this
     "World, or to the rod of oppression,
     "in the hands of any power upon
     "Earth.--

     "For your affectionate
     "Vows, permit me to be grateful;
     "--and offer mine for true Brothers
     "in all parts of the world; and
     "to assure you of the sincerity
     "with which I am

        "Yrs
          "Go. Washington"

     "Messrs
       "Watson & Cosson[17]
         "East of Nantes"


This autograph letter from WASHINGTON to Messrs. Watson and Cassoul is
now in the possession of the Grand Lodge of New York, who purchased it
from a member of the Watson family in the year 1866 or 1867 at a cost of
approximately $1,000, and is now framed and secured between two sheets
of glass in the collection of the Committee of Antiquities of the Grand
Lodge F. & A. M. of New York.[18]

It is written upon two pages of an ordinary letter sheet, and was a copy
of one written by WASHINGTON, with which he was not entirely satisfied,
as shown by the changes made in the text before it was sent to France.
The first copy WASHINGTON retained, and is now in the Library of
Congress, and is here given for comparison, viz:

     "STATE OF NEW YORK,
     "Augt 10th 1782.

     "_Gentn._,

     "The Masonick Orna-
     "ments which accompanied your
     "Brotherly Address of the 23d.
     "of the first month, tho' elegant
     "in themselves, were rendered
     "more valuable by the flattering
     "sentiments, and affectionate
     "manner, in which they were
     "offered.--

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Washington's Masonic Correspondence: As Found among the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress

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