"Accept, Sir and Brother, from our hands this small token of the veneration of men who consider it as the greatest boast of their Society, that a WASHINGTON openly avows himself a member of it, and thinks it worthy of his approbation. With it accept also our warmest congratulations in the name of the body which we represent, on your reappointment to that elevated station in which you formerly wrought the salvation of your country; and on your restoration to the inestimable blessing of health which, that the Almighty disposer of events may continue to accord to you uninterruptedly, is the most earnest prayer of your most respectfully affectionate Brethren and most humble servants.
"Signed, WM. BELTON, R.. W..G..M.. "Peter Little, Grand Secretary, "Baltimore, November 5th, 1798."
=FAC-SIMILE (REDUCED) OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO THE GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.--ELKTON, MD., NOV. 8, 1798.=
To this address WASHINGTON sent a reply, the original draft of which is in the Library of Congress, written upon two pages of a letter sheet, and differs somewhat from the final copy sent to the Grand Lodge from Elkton, where WASHINGTON spent the next day. It will be recalled that but two weeks had elapsed since he wrote his last letter to Dominie Snyder of Fredericktown, and this fact was evidently in his mind when he wrote this letter to the Maryland Brethren.
Upon second thought he eliminated the lines bearing upon the insinuations in Snyder's letter. Following is a copy of the letter as originally written, viz.:
"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE "MASONS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
"Your obliging & affectionate "letter, together with a copy of the Constitutions of "Masonry has been put into my hands by "your Grand Master; for which I pray you to "accept my best thanks.--
"So far as I am "acquainted with the principles & Doctrines of "Free Masonry, I conceive it to be founded "in benevolence and to be exercised only "for the good of mankind. _If it has been a "Cloak to promote improper or nefarious "objects, it is a melancholly proof that "in unworthy hands, the best institutions "may be made use of to promote the worst "designs._--
"While I offer my grateful "acknowledgements for your congratulations on my "late appointments, and for the favorable sentiments "you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit "me to observe, that at this important & "critical moment, when repeated and "high indignities have been offered to this "government your country and the rights & property "of our Citizens plundered without a prospect of "redress, I conceive it to be the _indispensable_ "duty of every American, let his situation & cir "cumstances in life be what they may, to come "forward in support of the government of his country "and to give all the aid in his power toward "maintaining that independence which we have "so dearly purchased; and under this impression, "I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal "considerations and accept my appointment.