For some unaccountable reason the delivery of the address was delayed and not received at Mount Vernon until late in April. The original draft of Washington's reply to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in his own handwriting and signature as well as an autograph note of apology for the seeming delay to Grand Master Paul Revere and his officers dated Mount Vernon, April 24, 1797, are in the Manuscript Department in the Library of Congress, viz.:
"To Paul Revere Grand Master, Isaiah
"Thomas Senior Grand Warden and
"Joseph Laughton Junr Grand Warden.
"Brothers,
"I am sorry that the en-
"closed answer to the affectionate address
"of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and
"Accepted Masons, of the Commonwealth
"of Massachusetts transmitted under your
"signatures, should appear so much out
from
"of season; but ^ the lapse of time between
"the date & reception of the address (from
"what cause I know not) it was not to be
"avoided, and is offered as an apology, for
"the delay. With brotherly affection
"I am always yours,
"Mount Vernon,
24th April 1797."
1735-1818.
GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1797.