during his last illness.

Photostat copies of above are in the Library of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania, also the original draft of the address, presented to the
President (Mss. Volume A, folio 23).

This autograph Masonic letter from WASHINGTON to the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania has been reproduced in fac-simile, published and circulated
(in most cases without the knowledge or consent of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania) more widely than any other known letter of WASHINGTON.
Some of these copies are treasured by their owners under the impression
that they have the original letter. Several cases of this kind have of
late come under the notice of the writer. In one case where one of these
reproductions was offered for sale, hundreds of dollars were asked for
the reproduction, and it was with great difficulty that the owner could
be convinced of its character.

Another use made of this letter by unprincipled persons was to make a
photo-lithographic copy of the letter, and substitute the name of
another state for that of Pennsylvania, and then palm it off upon the
authorities of that state as an original letter to their Grand Lodge.
The latest case of this kind known to the writer is that of the Grand
Lodge of Georgia, who were thus imposed upon.

Then again the letter has been extensively used for advertising purposes
by publishing houses of Masonic literature.

The letter has also been printed in most all books bearing upon Masonic
history during the revolutionary period.

It was also frequently quoted and criticised during the Anti-Masonic
craze which swept over the country some eighty-odd years ago, it being
the chief Masonic letter of the five known to the leaders of those
misguided persons. The main point of their argument was that it bore no
date and therefore was not authentic.

=MOUNT VERNON

DURING WASHINGTON'S OCCUPANCY, 1788-1799.=

Footnotes:

[58] Cf. The Religious and Social Conditions of Philadelphia, under the
Federal Constitution, 1790-1800. Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 1900.

[59] Cf. "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania," before quoted, Vol. II, pp.
190-197; original copy in archives of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

XII

CORRESPONDENCE WITH ALEXANDRIA LODGE, NO. 22, VIRGINIA.

Upon pages 244 and 245 of WASHINGTON's folio Letter Book No. III in the
Library of Congress are recorded a letter and address to WASHINGTON from
the Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia, toget