"Rev. Sir,
"I have you favor of the
tive
"17th instant before me and my only mo:
"to trouble you with the receipt of this let
"ter, is to explain, and correct a mistake
"which I perceive the hurry in which I
"am obliged, often to write letters, have
"led you into.—
"It was not my intention to doubt
"that, the doctrines of the Illuminati, and
"principles of Jacobism had not spread
"in the United States. On the contrary, no
"one is more, fully satisfied of this fact
"that I am.
"The idea I meant to convey, was,
"that I did not believe that the Lodges
"of Free Masons in this Country had, as
"Societies, endeavoured to propagate the
"diabolical tenets of the first, or the per-
"nicious principles of the latter, (if they
"are susceptible of separation) That
"individuals of them may have done it, or
"that the founder, or instrument employ
"ed to found the Democratic Societies
"in the United States, may have had these
"objects, and actually had a separation
"of the people from their Government
"in view, is too evident to be questioned.
"My occupations are such, that
"but little leisure is allowed me to read News
"Papers, or Books of any kind. The reading
"of letters and preparing answers, absorb
"much of my time.—
"With respect,—I remain,
"Revd Sir,
"Your Most Obedt Hble Servt
"The Revd.
"Mr Snyder."
Endorsed
to
"The Revd Mr Snyder,
"24th Oct. 1798."
It is a historical fact that Washington had always retained the highest respect for the people of Maryland, and especially the citizens of Frederick County. No man ever stood higher in the estimation of the people of Maryland than Washington, and his death awakened genuine sorrow. On February 22d, 1800, memorial services were observed in the Reformed Church at Fredericktown.[79] It was a solemn day and the whole County was in mourning; at which time Ex-Governor Thomas Johnson pronounced the funeral oration. Snyder took no part in these services.
The two letters to Snyder were chiefly relied upon by the Anti-Masons to support their political claims.
"That Washington was never in a Lodge but twice, in his life; that he paid no attention to Masonry during the war; that in 1781 he declined being addressed by Masons as a brother Mason, and in 1798 was very particular to insist upon the fact that he had not been in a Lodge, but once or twice in 30 years, and knew nothing of their principles and practices."[80]
How false these statements so frequently made, is shown by the many proofs here presented in fac-simile of the originals, which also absolutely controvert the statement in Governor Ritner's Vindication? viz:—
"That all the letters said to be written by Washington to Lodges are spurious. This is rendered nearly certain: First, by the non-production of the originals: Second, by the absence of copies among the records of his letters: Third, by their want of dates: Fourth, by the fact that his intimate friend and biographer, Chief Justice Marshall,[81] (himself a Mason in his youth,) says that he never heard Washington utter a syllable on the subject, a matter nearly impossible, if Washington had for years been engaged in writing laudatory letters to the Grand Lodges of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts."[82]