George Washington
And Freemasonry

That George Washington was committed to the cult of freemasonry is proven by newspaper articles, personal letters, and Masonic memorabilia and statuary all over the country.

Leading “Christian America” historians have elevated Federalists such as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington almost to the level of demi-gods. However, a closer look at Washington’s well-documented covenant commitment to the cult of Freemasonry challenges that white-washed image. The fact that Washington was a Mason is usually acknowledged, but then dismissed as inconsequential. On the question of Washington’s Masonic connections, the only safe ground, once again, are the writings of Washington himself.

There is an oft-repeated statement of Washington’s used to demonstrate his supposed indifference to Masonry: “to correct an error that you have run into, of my presiding over 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.”

John Eidsmore, in his book “Christianity and the Constitution,” quotes this passage selectively to make it look like George Washington was disavowing all Masonic connections: far from “Presiding over the English lodges in this country” as Snyder supposed, he had not been in a Masonic lodge “more than once or twice within the last thirty years.”

However, Masonic historian, J. Hugo Tatsch interpreted that to mean simply that Washington never presided over nor frequented any English lodges in this country, but that this did not exclude the American lodges of which he was an active member. There is too much of a laudatory and sympathetic nature in George Washington’s private letters to various lodges to deny that he was a lifelong, practicing Mason.

Masonic memorabilia and monuments related to Washington at various sites all over the country are a secondary line of evidence. These might be classified as “archeological” evidence. The Washington monument is, of course, laden with Masonic symbolism.

There are also objective, or at least independent, newspaper accounts testifying to the fact that many of these events in which Washington functioned in his official capacity as a Mason actually occurred. For example, we have a painting of Washington laying the cornerstone of the United States Capital in Masonic garb, as chronicled by the Colombian Mirror and Alexandria Gazette of September 25, 1793. This painting was reissued by the “Capitol Historical Association” on their By the People calendar in 1993, 200 years after the event.

The blasphemous and anti-Christian nature of the Masonic oaths is seen in the following solemn vow taken by the Apprentice Mason, binding him on pain of death not to reveal any of the secrets of the lodge. Especially conspicuous is the misuse of God’s name in violation of the 3rd Commandment, and calling upon Him to countenance and sanction the crime of murder in the 6th Commandment.

“To all of this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and perform the same without any equivocation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots and buried in the rough sands of the sea at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty four hours, should I ever knowingly or willingly violate this my solemn oath or obligation as an Entered Apprentice Mason. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance thereof.”

Here is part of the eulogy by Masonic Worshipful Timothy Bigelow before the Grand Lodge at Washington’s Memorial:

The information received from our Brethren who had the happiness to be members of the Lodge over which he presided for many years, and of which he died the Worshipful Master, furnishes abundant proof of his persevering zeal for the prosperity of the institution.

Constant and punctual in his attendance, scrupulous in his observance of the regulations of the Lodge, and solicitous, at all times, to communicate light and instruction, he discharged the duties of the Chair with uncommon dignity and intelligence in all the mysteries of our art.

Is it possible that John Eidsmoe, Peter Marshall, David Barton (WallBuilders) and D. J. Kennedy have overlooked a critical dimension of George Washington's life? Or are they sweeping Washington's Masonic involvement under the rug because it contradicts their carefully crafted Christian image of George Washington?