These papers absolutely thrust aside all of the statements, arguments and libels, brought forth by our misguided enemies at the time of the Anti-Masonic craze during the last century, and in a small way kept alive even down to the present day by some people who are blinded by their ignorance or malice. Referring to some of their published statements that WASHINGTON never belonged to the Masonic Fraternity, and that there were no authentic Masonic letters nor copies thereof among his records so frequently made during the political Anti-Masonic craze, which swept over New England and the Middle States about eighty-five years ago, the following quotations from the Masonic literature of the period will prove interesting examples. One of the chief statements made by these people, and brought before all their conventions and heralded in the public prints was: "That though General Washington caused to be carefully copied in books kept for that purpose, all his letters on every subject, no trace whatever of any of the five letters under consideration,[2] nor any letters to any other Lodge or Masonic body whatever, are to be found among the records of his correspondence."[3] The chief authority upon whom the leaders of the Anti-Masonic movement at that time depended in their defamation of WASHINGTON, was Jared Sparks of Boston, who at the time was engaged writing a life of WASHINGTON, and then had access to all the Washington letter-books and papers, and from his connection with the Washington correspondence, was supposed to be the best qualified to pass upon their authenticity. Another of the charges made by the Anti-Masonic bigots whose chief object was to controvert facts was: "That although WASHINGTON was _extremely scrupulous_ in preserving his correspondence with all public or private bodies, there is not a line of his _relating to Freemasonry_, to be found among all his papers, except the correspondence with Mr. Snyder![4] It is also a fact, that WASHINGTON was equally scrupulous in dating his letters, and it is believed that not one can be found, which is without a date."[5] It appears that the chairman of a committee of citizens of Boston called upon the officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to submit their two Washington letters to Jared Sparks for his inspection. This the Grand Officers refused to do. In return Sparks sent the following letter to the Chairman: "Boston, February 18, 1833. "_Sir_,--I received this morning your letter of the 15th instant, in which you inquire: "Whether I have yet seen or had in my possession any original letter or letters, in the hand writing of General Washington, addressed to any body of men denominating themselves Freemasons. "In reply, I can only state that I have seen no letters from General Washington of the kind described in yours, nor received any communication on the subject, either verbal or written.[6]