"The fabric of our freedom is placed on the enduring basis of public virtue, and will, I fondly hope, long continue to protect the prosperity of the architects who raised it. I shall be happy, on every occasion, to evince my regard for the Fraternity. For your prosperity individually, I offer my best wishes."
This letter was probably destroyed with other Grand Lodge property when Columbia, South Carolina, was burned by Sherman's Army during the war between the States.[46]
Fortunately, the original draft of Washington's reply, was found among the Washington papers now in the Library of Congress. This is written upon two pages of a letter sheet: the first page shows a paragraph which was suppressed and did not appear upon the clear copy sent to the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina.
A photostat of this draft is in the collection of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, viz.:
"To the Grand Lodge of the State of South
"Carolina Ancient York Masons.
"Gentlemen,
"I am much obliged by the respect
"which you are so good as to declare for my
"public and private character. I recognise
"with pleasure my relation to the Brethren
"of your Society—and I accept with gratitude
"your congratulations on my arrival in
"South Carolina.
"Your felicitations It is peculiarly
general
"pleasing to observe the ^ satisfaction expressed
"on the establishment and exercise of the
"federal government—
"Your sentiments on the establishment
"and exercise of our equal government are
"worthy of an association, whose principles
"lead to purity of morals, and beneficence
"of action—The fabric of our freedom
"is placed on the enduring basis of
"public virtue, and will long continue
"to protect the Posterity of the architects
"who raised it.
"I shall be happy on every
regard
"occasion to evince my respect for the
"Fraternity, for whose happiness individually
"I offer my best wishes.