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:
Fac-simile of the Original Draft of Washington's Letter to Watson and Cassoul, New York, August 10, 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.—
"If my endeavours to
"avert the evil, with which
"this Country was threatned, by
"a deliberate plan of Tyranny,
"should be crowned with the
"success that is wished—the
"praise is due to the Grand
"Architect of the Universe; who
see fit to
"who did not ^ suffer his superstruc
"tures & justice, to be subjected
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.
Endorsed
to
"Messrs. Watson &
"Cosson—Nantes
"10th Augt 1782."
A photographic fac-simile of the letter now in New York, and a photostat of the original copy retained by Washington are in the collection of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
The firm of Watson and Cassoul of Nantes, France, acted as confidential agents of the American Government during the Revolutionary period, as is shown by their correspondence with Benjamin Franklin in the Franklin Mss. collection of the American Philosophical Society.19 Elkanah Watson was also a bearer of despatches to Dr. Franklin.
II
Correspondence with Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, Virginia, December, 1783
THE next Masonic Letter of Brother Washington of which we have any knowledge is the one written in answer to a letter sent him, upon his return to civil life by the Brethren of Lodge No. 39, on the register of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, which met at Alexandria, Virginia.
December 23, 1783, General Washington presented himself to "The United States in Congress Assembled," at Annapolis, Maryland, and resigned his Commission that he had received on June 17, 1775, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States.
Upon Christmas Eve he returned to Mount Vernon, whereupon the Brethren at Alexandria, who, it must be remembered, were working under a Pennsylvania Warrant, at once sent the following Address signed by the Officers of Lodge No. 39, to Brother Washington at Mount Vernon,20 viz.:
"Sir: Whilst all denominations of people bless the happy occasion of your excellency's return to enjoy private and domestic felicity, permit us, sir, the members of Lodge No. 39, lately established in Alexandria, to assure your excellency, that we, as a mystical body, rejoice in having a brother so near us, whose preeminent benevolence has secured the happiness of millions; and that we shall esteem ourselves highly honored at all times your excellency shall be pleased to join us in the needful business."
"We have the honor to be, in the name and behalf of No. 39, your excellency's
"Devoted friends and brothers,
"Robert Adam, M.
"E. C. Dick, S. W.
"J. Allison, J. W.
"Wm. Ramsay, Treas."
"His Excellency General Washington."
Two days later Brother Washington sent following reply,21 viz.:
"Gentlemen:
"With pleasing sensibility
"I received your favor of the 26th, and
"beg leave to offer you my sincere thanks
"for the favorable sentiments with
"which it abounds.—
"I shall always feel pleasure
"when it may be in my power to ren-
"der service to Lodge N° 39, and in
"every act of brotherly kindness to the
"Members of it; being with great truth.
"Your affecte Brother
"and Obedt Servant
"Robt Adam Esqr Master,
"&
Catalogue of Antiquities and Curios, Grand Lodge F. & A. M., New York, Class J, No. 1, New York, 1905.
Cf. "Calendar of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin in the Library of the American Philosophical Society," edited by I. Minis Hays, Volume V, p. 312.
Cf. "Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania—Moderns and Ancients," Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1913, Vol. II, p. 157. Also
Original among Washington relics in Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, Alexandria, Virginia. Fac-simile in Washington collection of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
