Brother George Washington, Freemason, Father of His Country

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Brother George WashingtonLocal Freemasons are proud to claim "The Father of His Country" as one of their own. George Washington was initiated into Freemasonry in the Lodge at Fredericksburg on November 4, 1752. He was passed to the second degree on March 3, 1753; and raised to the third degree on August 4, 1753. He was (somewhat unusually) only twenty years of age when he was initiated.

The Bible used in those ceremonies remains in the possession of the Lodge, together with several other Washington relics. Alas, Brother Washington then promptly left Fredericksburg to fight in the French & Indian War, after which he relocated to Northern Virginia. For these reasons he never attended more than just a few of the meetings of his "Mother Lodge," and he never held any of her offices. But he remained a member in loyal good standing of Fredericksburg No. 4 until his death. His Masonic career, though neglected by some historians, was actually quite significant. For a chronology see http://www.gwmemorial.org/Chronology.htm. Some highlights…. In 1778 he was deemed worthy to serve as the first Grand Master of the new Grand Lodge of Virginia -- but was not available. On April 29, 1788, he was appointed the Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 (which is today named Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22), and was serving (at least nominally) in that office when he was inaugurated President of the United States. At his inauguration as President of the United States on April 30, 1789, the oath of office was administered by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. See: http://www.srmason-sj.org/council/journal/sep99/melius.html.

The Bible used on that occasion was, and still is, owned by St. Johns Lodge No. 1, New York, NY, and has been used in many other presidential inaugurations. See: http://nymasons.org/stjohn.htm. (George Washington was the first of fifteen members of the fraternity to serve as President. See: http://www.dcgrandlodge.org/pres.htm) And when Washington laid the cornerstone of the United States Capitol building with Masonic rites on September 19, 1793, he was acting as Grand Master pro tem of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. See: http://www.bessel.org/capcorn.htm and http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/cox_corr/h_caps/capitol_cornerstone.htm. In 1790 he wrote: "Being persuaded that a just application of the principles upon which the Masonic fraternity is founded must be promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society and to be considered by them as a deserving brother" The great man's funeral was conducted on December 18, 1799, at Mount Vernon, with full Masonic rites. All but one of the pallbearers were Freemasons. See: "The Last Illness and Death of President, General and Masonic Brother George Washington," and "The Funeral."

Unfortunately, circumstances did not permit Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 to assist on that occasion. The Fredericksburg Virginia Herald newspaper reported George Washington's death in its December 31, 1799 issue, and the story may be seen on-line at http://virginia.edu/gwpapers/exhibits/mourning/news.html.

Books Worth Reading; Brown, William Moseley. George Washington, Freemason. Richmond: Garrett & Massie, 1952.921 WASHIProbably the definitive work on the subject. Written by a Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and an honorary member of Fredericksburg No. 4.Callahan, Charles H. Washington: The Man and the Mason. Washington, DC: Press of Gibson Brothers, c1913.921 WASHIPublished under the auspices of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association.6. Some Washington Relics with Fredericksburg ConnectionsThe collection of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 include several surviving relics of Washington, including the Gilbert Stuart portrait; the minute books recording his initiation, passing and raising; the Bible upon which he took his Masonic obligations; and a lock of his hair. They may be viewed, by appointment, at the Lodge building; call 540-373-5885. The Gilbert Stuart Portraithttp://www.piersonphoto.com/Pierson2.htm Washington first sat for Gilbert Stuart in 1795, in Philadelphia. Ultimately Stuart painted 104 likenesses of the first president. When this particular portrait was painted, and when Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 first acquired it, are obscure -- but its authenticity is unquestioned, and it has probably graced No. 4 since Washington's own lifetime. The portrait's survival during the sack of the Lodge in 1862 was nothing short of miraculous.Several other surviving relics, owned by other lodges, have noteworthy Fredericksburg connections:The George Washington Trowelhttp://www.gwmemorial.org/Collections/george_washington_trowel.htmThe trowel used by George Washington in laying the cornerstone of the Unite States Capital building was made by Joseph Duffey, who was a silversmith of Alexandria, VA, but also a member of Fredericksburg Lodge No.4. It is today the property of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, Alexandria, VAThe George Washington Gavelhttp://www.potomac5.org/washington_gavel.htmThe gavel used by George Washington in laying the cornerstone of the United States Capitol building was also made by Joseph Duffey of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4. The gavel was later used by President James K. Polk to lay the cornerstone of the Smithsonian Institution building in 1847. It is today the property of Potomac Lodge No. 5, Washington, DC.Craft, Trade or Mystery