Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-11-23
Washington as q Mason.


New York, the Grafton was delivered by Rev
Stephen II Tying, D. D. 1t was long and elab
crate cuIogy on the character and services o.
Washington.
Speaking of his initiation as a member of the
fraternity Of Masons, he said he was Just of age
when he Was admitted, and throughout his sub
sequent career he maintained his outward typi-
cal connection with it. frequently visiting the
lodges both in camp, and field, and city, As the
Grand Master of the Masonsof the United States,
lie laid the corner stone Of the Capitol, in 1893.
And he was buried with Masonic honors by the
lodge of which he was the first Master, in 1899.
In the very closing of his career, he said to the
brethren in Rhode Island:
Being persuaded that a just application of
the principles on which the Masonic fraternity is
founded must be promot:ve of private virtue and
public prosperity, l shall always be happy to ad-
vance the Interests of the society, and be con-
sidered by them deserving brother" To the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, he subsequently
said: Flattcring as it may be to the human
mind, and truly honorable as it is, to receive from
our fellow citizens, testimonies of appreciation for
cxertions to promote the public welfare, it is not
less pleasing to know, that the milder virtues of
the heart are highly respected by society, whose
liberal principles must be founded in the immu-
talle laws of truth and justice"
The orator referred to an instance Of the re-
markable vencration in which Washington is
held among the masonic fraternity in foreign
lands. lie had seen an account of celebration
in Manchester, England, on the 10th of June,
which was intended to commemorate the ami
vcrsary of his initiation into the order. There
was mistake however, in the date, said DR..
Tyng, for the facts of that event are recorded in
the Fredericksburgh Lodge of Virginia.
He was there initiated as an apprentice on the
4th of November, 1852, few months before he
attained his full age-of twenty-one. On the Sd
of March, 1853, nine days after he was Of age,
he was advanced to the second degree Of fellow
craft, and on the 4th of August 1853, he was
exalted to the full degree of a Master Mason.
This is the indubtable record of his entrance
into the full standing of the order. And yet
find it declared in an English publication (Ihe
Free Masons Quarterly Review, for July, 1884,
that he was initiated into masonry i'll a lodge in
the 46th Regiment of the British army, under
General Braddock, during the service of that
regiment in America. 1t is asserted that the We
ry copy of the Holy Scriptures, upon which his
obligation was taken belonging to the Sase is
officer Of that regiment.
Gen. Braddock, under whom Washington had
his first connection with the British army, did
not arrive in Virginia until the Goth of February,
l775-two years after Washington had become
Mason. Nor was Washington introduced to
! the British officers until April, 1855. Nor had
he any personal connection with any regiment Of
English troops till after that time. Though it is
very likely, therefore, that he maintained his Ma
souc connection with them i'll The subsequent
campaign; if there really was military lodge
in the army of General Braddock, it is not the
fact that he was initiated into masonry by British
officers. No. Washngton's masonry was as
truly American as the whole residue Of his noble
| career.
No foreign soldiers taught him its sublime
principles; though they gave linn ample scope
to exercise and display them, in the many provo
cations of that early campaign, and in the long
and faithful probation Of his character, their
bitter and varied hostilities in the subsequent
revolutionary war. Of that army under Brad
dock, he says, after their defeat:
| ne QlStlrulY UellaVlOT ol regular lool'S \So
callcd) exposed all Others who were inclined to
do their duty to almost certain death, and at last
in despite of all the efforts of the officers to the
contrary, they ran as sheep pursued by dogs, and
1t was impossible to rally them" Of his own
position in the unfortunate battle Of that day,
he says:-"By the all powerful dispensations of
Providence, have been protected beyond all hu,
man probability or expectation. l had four bull
lets through my coat and two horses shotunder
me- yet escaped, unhurt, although death was lev
eng my companions on every side of me-
And ofhim then but % years old, tho Rev Sam
ue Davies said in sermon delivered on the 18th
of August, 1855, but month after the battle,
"As remarkable instance of patriotic spirit and
military ardor. may point out to the public
that herioc youth, Col. Washington, whom
cannot but hope Providence has hitherto pre-
served in so signal manner for some important
service to his country" How wonderfully pro-
phetic was this passage! We may now add in
its actual accomplishments, important service
not to his country only, but to the honor, dlgni'
ty and happiness of the whole human race.
After referring to the public acts and private
virtues of Washington, the orator concluded by
exhorting all Masons to follow his example
When DR.. Tying concluded, he was honored with
grand salute, by the members OF the order
An ode entitled "thc Washington Commemora'
| t;on Ode - words hv John BrourhaIn, was read