Washington and his Masonic Compeers

BIOGRAPHIES of WASHINGTON, and the most eminent of his contemporaries, have been often written so far as relates to their public acts, and in many of them we have also a portraiture of their personal and domestic history. The virtues which ennoble human character, are taught and cultivated in the lodge-room; and the mystic labours of the Master and his Craftsmen. When convened, are such as fit men for the domestic relations of life and the highest duties of citizenship. WASHINGTON, with a full knowledge of the subject, wrote: “Being persuaded that a just application of the principles on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be promotive of virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interest of the Society, and be considered by them a deserving brother.” WASHINGTON'S Masonic history might have been given by his contemporaries, in all its proportions, with fullness of detail. Now, it is like a beautiful column in ruins,–its parts broken, scattered, and moss-grown. We have laboured industriously to collect these Parian fragments, and only wish some hand more skilful than our own, might have given each its due place and polish in the most beautiful pillar of the temple of American Masonry. Of the Compeers, we have not written laboured sketches. We have only given such Masonic facts as came under our observation in our researches in the Masonic history of WASHINGTON but in each case, they are from veritable records. While they establish the Masonic brotherhood of the individual, we hope they may throw some light on his character, and make his memory more dear to our American brethren.