"Most respected Brother,
"Brother Ramsay & Marsteller wait upon you
"with a copy of an address which has been prepared
"by the unanimous desire of the Ancient York Ma-
"sons of Lodge No. 22. It is their earnest request
"that you will partake of a Dinner with them and
"that you will please appoint the time most conve-
"nient for you to attend.—
"I am most beloved Brother,
"Your Mo. Obt Hble Servt
"James Gillies, M.
"Genl Geo Washington."
The letter was an invitation to dine with the Lodge. This Washington accepted.
"Most respected Brother,
"The ancient York Masons of Lodge No. 22 offer you
"their warmest congratulations on your retire-
"ment from your useful labors. Under the su-
"preme architect of the Universe you have been the
"Master Workman in erecting the Temple of Lib-
"erty in the west, on the broad basis of equal rights.
"In your wise administration of the government of
"the United States for the space of eight years, you
"have kept within the compass of our happy Consti-
"tution and acted on the square with foreign Na-
"tions and thereby preserved your country in peace
"and promoted the prosperity and happiness of your
"fellow Citizens, and now that you have retired from
"the labours of public life to the refreshment of
"domestic tranquility, they ardently pray that you
"may long enjoy all the happiness which the Terres-
"tial Lodge can afford and finally be removed to that
"celestial Lodge where Love, Peace and Harmony
"for ever reign and where cherubims and seraphims
"shall hail you Brother.—
"By the unanimous desire of Lodge
"No. 22
"James Gillies, Master."
"Gen Geo Washington."
Washington attended the meeting of his Lodge at Alexandria, on Saturday, April 1, 1797, when his reply to Brother Gillies' address was read in open Lodge, viz.:
"Brothers of the Ancient York Masons of
Lodge No. 22.
"While my heart acknowledges with Brotherly
"Love, your affectionate congratulations on my re-
"tirement from the arduous toils of past years, my
"gratitude is no less excited by your kind wishes for
"my future happiness.—
"If it has pleased the supreme architect of the
"universe to make me an humble instrument to pro-
"mote the welfare and happiness of my fellow men,
"my exertions have been abundantly recompensed
"by the kind partiality with which they have been
"received; and the assurance you give me of your
"belief that I have acted upon the square in my
"public capacity, will be among my principles en-
"joyments in this Terrestial Lodge.