George Washington the Freemason

George Washington the man and Washington the Mason: Initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason in the lodge of Fredericksburg, Virginia, in November of 1752, he was Passed in March and Raised in August of 1753 in that same Lodge.

He was proud of his membership, saying, “The object of Freemasonry is to promote the happiness of the human race,” and in 1788 served as first Master of what is now known as Alexandria-Washington Lodge.

It was perhaps inevitable that, after Washington’s magnificent contributions to the nation during the Revolutionary period, he should be named a Virginia Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where as Presiding Officer he played a key role in the success of the Convention and ultimately became our first President in 1789. Washington thus became the first Master of a Masonic Lodge to become President, holding, for a time, both that high office and that of Worshipful Master of his Lodge, a rare distinction indeed. Washington’s words upon becoming President reflect well his philosophy: “Integrity and firmness are all that I can promise.” What more could a nation ask?

From the very beginning, Masonry has been closely associated with the history of our nation. And never more dramatically evidenced than in 1793 when, wearing a Masonic apron presented to him by General Lafayette and embroidered by Madame Lafayette, Washington in a Masonic ceremony laid the cornerstone of the United States Capitol at Washington, D.C. (Reprinted from Masonic Americana, 1976, pages 5-6 “Heartbeat of America…”)

Washington on the illuminati in his own words.

George Washington to George Washington Snyder, October 24, 1798 — Transcription

Mount Vernon, October 24, 1798.

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Revd Sir: I have your favor of the 17th. instant before me; and my only motive to trouble you with the receipt of this letter, is to explain, and correct a mistake which I perceive the hurry in which I am obliged, often, to write letters, have led you into.

It was not my intention to doubt that, the Doctrines of the Illuminati, and principles of Jacobinism had not spread in the United States. On the contrary, no one is more truly satisfied of this fact than I am.

The idea that I meant to convey, was, that I did not believe that the Lodges of Free Masons in this Country had, as Societies, endeavoured to propagate the diabolical tenets of the first, or pernicious principles of the latter (if they are susceptible of seperation). That Individuals of them may have done it, or that the founder, or instrument employed to found, the Democratic Societies in the United States, may have had these objects; and actually had a seperation of the People from their Government in view, is too evident to be questioned.

My occupations are such, that but little leisure is allowed me to read News Papers, or Books of any kind; the reading of letters, and preparing answers, absorb much of my time.

The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.
[Note 7: Of Fredericktown (now Frederick), Md.]

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Mount Vernon, September 25, 1798.

Sir: Many apologies are due to you, for my not acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22d. Ulto, and for not thanking you, at an earlier period, for the Book8 you had the goodness to send me.

[Note 8: Proofs of a Conspiracy &c, by John Robison.]

I have heard much of the nefarious, and dangerous plan, and doctrines of the Illuminati, but never saw the Book until you were pleased to send it to me.9 The same causes which have prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your letter have prevented my reading the Book, hitherto; namely, the multiplicity of matters which pressed upon me before, and the debilitated state in which I was left after, a severe fever had been removed. And which allows me to add little more now, than thanks for your kind wishes and favourable sentiments, except to correct an error you have run into, of my Presiding over the English lodges in this Country. The fact is, I preside over none, nor have I been in one more than once or twice, within the last thirty years. I believe notwithstanding, that none of the Lodges in this Country are contaminated with the principles ascribed to the Society of the Illuminati. With respect I am &c.

[Note 9: In a letter from Snyder (Aug. 22, 1798, which is in the Washington Papers), it is stated that this book "gives a full Account of a Society of Free-Masons, that distinguishes itself by the Name of 'Illuminati,' whose Plan is to overturn all Government and all Religion, even natural."]

http://www.gwmemorial.org/washington.php

George Washington joined the Masonic Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the age of 20 in 1752.

His Masonic membership, like the others public titles and duties he performed, was expected from a young man of his social status in colonial Virginia. During the War for Independence, General Washington attended Masonic celebration and religious observances in several states. He also supported Masonic Lodges that formed within army regiments.

At his first inauguration in 1791, President Washington took his oath of office on a Bible from St. John’s Lodge in New York. During his two terms, he visited Masons in North and South Carolina and presided over the cornerstone ceremony for the U.S. Capitol in 1793.

In retirement, Washington became charter Master of the newly chartered Alexandria Lodge No. 22, sat for a portrait in his Masonic regalia, and in death, was buried with Masonic honors.

Such was Washington’s character, that from almost the day he took his Masonic obligations until his death, he became the same man in private that he was in public. In Masonic terms, he remained “a just and upright Mason” and became a true Master Mason. Washington was, in Masonic terms, a “living stone” who became the cornerstone of American civilization. He remains the milestone others civilizations follow into liberty and equality. He is Freemasonry’s “perfect ashlar” upon which countless Master Masons gauge their labors in their own Lodges and in their own communities.

Timeline:

1752
November 4
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4
Initiated as Entered Apprentice

1753
March 3
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4
Passed to Fellow Craft

August 4
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4
Raised to Master Mason

1778
December 28
St. John the Evangelist Day – Marched in Masonic procession

1779
June 24
St. John the Baptist celebration – Marked with American Union Military Lodge at West Point, NY

December 27
St. John the Evangelist Day – Celebrated with American Union Military Lodge at Morristown, NJ

1781
October
Reportedly visited Lodge No. 9 at Yorktown, VA with General Lafayette after defeat of British General Cornwallis

1782
Brothers Watson and Cassoul of Nantes, France present Washington with exquisite silk Masonic apron, acknowledged by letter dated August 10

June 24
St. John the Baptist celebration – Marked with American Union Military Lodge at West Point, NY.

December 27
St. John the Evangelist Day – Celebrated with Solomon’s Lodge No. 1, Poughkeepsie, NY

1784
June 24
St. John the Baptist celebration – Marked with Alexandria Lodge, Alexandria, VA

June 24
Made an honorary member of Alexandria Lodge No. 39 (Now Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22) Alexandria, VA

August
Presented a Masonic apron made by Madame de Lafayette to General and Bro. de Lafayette

1785
February 12
Walked in Masonic funeral procession for Bro. William Ramsay at Alexandria, VA

1788
April 28
Named charter Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 when a new charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia was issued. Unanimously re-elected Master December 20, 1788 for one year.

1789
Elected honorary member of Holland Lodge No. 8, New York, NY

April 30
Inaugurated President of the United States using Bible from St. John’s Lodge No. 1, New York, NY

1791
April 15
Welcomed by members of St. John’s Lodge No. 2, New Bern, NC

May
Received the greetings of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina by General Mordecai Gist, Grand Master, Charleston, SC

1793
September 18
Acting Grand Master – Laid the cornerstone for the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.

1794
Sat for William Williams, portraitist, in Masonic regalia at the request of Alexandria Lodge

1797
March 28
Received a Masonic delegation from Alexandria Lodge

1798
April 1
Attended Alexandria Lodge No. 22 Proposed a toast at the banquet that followed

1799
December 18
Buried at Mount Vernon with Masonic rites as well as those of the church, conducted by Alexandria Lodge
Event Calendar
January 5th , 2010

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The Society of Washington Lodges

The Society of Washington Lodges was formed on July 4, 2004 to recognize Lodges named after or affiliated with George Washington. To join the Society, Lodges must be named after George Washington or Mount Vernon or have a direct historical connection to Brother Washington. Lodges that are eligible with a direct connection are: Fredericksburg Lodge No, 4, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Saint John’s Lodge No. 1 and Holland Lodge No. 8, in New York; American Union Lodge No. 1 in Ohio and St. John’s Lodge No. 3 in North Carolina. The enrollment fee is $2,500 which is used for the preservation and perpetuation of the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

The current members of the Society are:

Washington Lodge No. 20, Sacramento, California
Washington -LaFayette Lodge No. 176, Portsmouth, Virginia
George Washington Lodge No. 251, Seattle, Washington
Potomac Lodge No. 5, Washington, DC
Washington Lodge No. 70, Windsor, Connecticut
George Washington Lodge No. 161, Denver, Colorado
Washington Daylight Lodge No. 14, Washington, DC
Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, Alexandria, Virginia
Federal Lodge No. 1, Washington, DC
Washington Lodge No. 46, Portland, Oregon

The Member Lodge names are cast in bronze and displayed in the Memorial and published in The Messenger and the Memorial’s Annual Report. In addition, Member Lodges of the Society receive a Certificate of Membership, a print of the new George Washington Portrait, signed by the artist and suitable for display in the Lodge, a copy of the new George Washington/Memorial DVD, a photograph of the Memorial and a statue of George Washington mounted on marble from the Memorial.

http://www.gwmemorial.org/

http://lcweb4.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/

The complete George Washington Papers collection from the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress consists of approximately 65,000 documents. This is the largest collection of original Washington documents in the world. Document types in the collection as a whole include correspondence, letterbooks, commonplace books, diaries, journals, financial account books, military records, reports, and notes accumulated by Washington from 1741 through 1799.

http://www.freemason-wa.org/

Time Line

Essays about the George Washington Papers

George Washington: Surveyor and Mapmaker

“Introduction” to The Diaries of George Washington