-Caveat Lector-
DISPATCHING A FEW MYTHS
BY ALLEN E. ROBERTS
Editor's note: A couple of issue's back, the editor officially announced
himself a poor historian. He offered further evidence in the last issue of
the North Carolina Mason by publishing "Masons Weren't Always Politically
Quiet," an article picked up from another publication. It seems that we were
taken in. Among the letters we got correcting the article was one from
internationally respected Masonic author Allen Roberts, to whose historical
authority we happily defer. Roberts has fought Masonic myth for years. He
sent along the following article which appeared in The Northern Light
publication of the Scottish Rite's Northern Jurisdiction.
Myths and outright falsehood are continually spread concerning
Freemasonry. This is an attempt to set and keep the history of the Craft
straight.
Throughout the centuries Freemasonry has taught its valuable lessons
through allegory and symbols. The man from Galilee used parables extensively
and well. Many historians and better speakers constantly employ anecdotes to
illustrate the points they want to make. These methods emphasize the search
for truth in an interesting and factual manner.
Myths on the other hand, can be innocent or dangerous. They can be
outright lies or the perpetuation of distortions handed down through the
generations. Many of these were invented by Masonic writers and speakers to
enhance the image of Freemasonry. Some of these corruptions have caused the
Craft problems with creditable historians because they were outrageously
wrong.
At least one of these items concerns the Masonic membership of the
founders of the United States. It is recirculated constantly in usually
reliable Masonic periodicals [Blush, blush. Ed.]. It not only should be, it
must be destroyed.
In recent years other items have been circulated. These claim the
Constitution of the United States comes from Anderson's Masonic Constitutions
compiled in 1723. A play called The Truth is based on this. Many of the
characters called Masons never received a Masonic degree. It's the stuff on
which the critics of Freemasonry feed.
What follows is the truth insofar as I have been able to find it. The
facts herein come from reliable Masonic researchers, and include two late
Fellows of The Philalethes Society, James R. Case and Ronald E. Heaton. They
spent a lifetime researching the Masonic connections in the beginnings of the
United States.
Freemasonry, actually, requires no exaggeration to magnify its
greatness. The simple truth is all that is needed to tell its story. This is
the reason for this column; to attempt to destroy the myths that have been
prevalent, often for centuries, by telling the truth.
Here's what actually occurred, Masonically, during the period the
spurious item covers.
Myth: Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry were Freemasons.
Fact: Neither Thomas Jefferson nor Patrick Henry was a member of the
Craft. An exhaustive search of Masonic records in Virginia, and elsewhere,
offers no evidence whatsoever to make them Freemasons. Jefferson participated
in the cornerstone laying of his University at Charlottesville, which was
done Masonically. He praised Freemasonry but his own words proved he had
never been a member of the Craft.
Myth: All of George Washington's generals during the War for American
Independence were Masons.
Fact: Thirty-three of the generals serving under Washington were members
of the Craft -- a long way from "all."
Myth: Washington insisted that the Marquis de Lafayette be made a Mason
before he would promote him to general. The same claim has been made about
the Baron von Steuben.
Fact: Both Lafayette and von Steuben were Freemasons before they arrived
to help fight the British. This was true of Lafayette even though he wasn't
21 years of age when he arrived in America. It's highly likely that
Washington never did know they were Masons. The stories of both of these men
are highly interesting, but space prohibits the telling of them here.
Myth: The governors of the thirteen original colonies when Washington
was inaugurated President of the United States were Freemasons.
Fact: From Lexington until the inauguration thirty different men served
as governors. Of these ten were Freemasons. That's one-third! Wouldn't it be
wonderful for the country if we could claim the same percentage today?
Myth: The Boston Tea Party was organized in St. Andrew's Lodge in Boston
and its members participated in tossing the tea into Boston Harbor.
Fact: So well has the secrecy surrounding the Boston Tea Party been kept
that to this day not a single participant can be truthfully named! It's true
that St. Andrew's Lodge didn't meet on the night of the "party." This proves
nothing. The "T" that has been claimed is part of the minutes of the Lodge is
actually an indistinguishable scroll. By no stretch of the imagination can it
be called a "T" or any other letter.
Myth: All, or almost all, signers of the Articles of Confederation,
signers of the Declaration of Independence, and signers of the Constitution
were Freemasons.
Fact: Ten of the signers of the Articles, nine signers of the
Declaration, and thirteen signers of the Constitution -- and only this number
-- were, or would become, Freemasons. Even so, this is an excellent
percentage of the participants. It should be noted that Edmund Randolph,
governor and Grand Master of Virginia, although an important participant in
the Constitutional Convention, didn't sign the document. He did, however,
fight for its ratification. It should also be noted that four Presidents of
the Continental Congresses were Freemasons: Peyton Randolph of Virginia, John
Hancock of Massachusetts, Henry Laurens of South Carolina, and Arthur St.
Clair of Pennsylvania. (For further study see Masonic Membership of the
Founding Fathers, The Masonic Service Association.)
George Washington has been the source of many Masonic myths and
exaggerations for more than two centuries. This is unfortunate. Of all the
Freemasons we can eulogize he requires no embellishment. From his childhood
to his death his extraordinary wisdom, industry and patriotism predominated.
Myth: Washington was Grand Master in Virginia.
Fact: Washington never was a grand master. At the instigation of
American Union Lodge he was suggested for the office of Grand Master of a
National Grand Lodge -- a non-existent body. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
and some others agreed, but too many others disagreed with the concept of a
national grand lodge.
Washington was appointed master of Alexandria 22 in Virginia by Grand
Master Edmund Randolph when that Pennsylvania Lodge (No. 39) requested a
charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. The new charter was dated April 28,
1788. In December of the same year he was elected master, but there is no
record of his installation into this office, nor is there any record of him
actually presiding over this or any Lodge.
Myth: Washington acted as Grand Master when the cornerstone of the
Federal Capitol was laid on September 18,1793.
Fact: It was the Grand Lodge of Maryland that was called on to lay the
cornerstone. Alexandria Lodge, of which Washington was a past master, held a
place of honor. It was Joseph Clark, the junior grand warden of the Grand
Lodge of Maryland, who acted as grand master, pro tem. Clark placed the
President between himself and the master of Alexandria Lodge. A newspaper
article reporting the event mentioned Clark as the grand master, pro tem on
several occasions. So did the Maryland historian in 1885. Washington didn't
act as grand master, but without question he was the most honored and
influential Freemason participating in the event.
Myth: George Washington never was interested in Freemasonry. He rarely,
if ever, attended Lodge meetings.
Fact: To keep the record straight, there is much evidence of his respect
and even love for Freemasonry. True, he seldom attended Masonic meetings.
This is understandable when it is realized that from the day he was made a
Master Mason until shortly before his death he worked for his country. Did he
love and respect the Craft? The ultimate proof -- he was buried with Masonic
rites! And this even before the Congress knew of his death. (For further
study of George Washington and a complete account of his Masonic activities
see George Washington: Master Mason, Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co.,
Richmond, VA.)
Myth: There are many aprons owned or worn by George Washington floating
around.
Fact: The only documented apron owned by Washington was one presented by
the firm of Watson and Cassoul. It had been made by nuns at Nantes. It was
the only apron listed in Washington's inventory that was released after his
death. The "Lafayette" apron, purportedly made by the wife of the Marquis,
may be a fact as many authorities claim (and I was one who did so claim in G.
Washington).
Myth: George Washington renounced Freemasonry.
Fact: In 1837, at state expense, Joseph Ritner, Governor of
Pennsylvania, endeavored to "save" the reputation of the first President. He
had published a tract "proving" Washington had never participated in Masonic
events. Earlier the Blanchards, father and son and heads of a so-called
"Christian" anti-Masonic organization, were among the first "Christians" to
"prove" Washington wasn't a Freemason. Much of the anti-Masonic diatribe they
promulgated has been carried to the present day by crusading "saints" against
"secret" societies.
On the contrary he remained a member of the Craft from the moment he was
initiated into the lodge (No. 4) at Fredericksburg, Virginia until the day he
died. And then his wife, Martha, asked the Freemasons of Alexandria,
Virginia, to hold and conduct his funeral.
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