[920] Bentley, Diary, vol. iii, p. 228.

[921] An Address, delivered at the Grand Convention of the Free Masons of the State of Maryland; held on the 10th May, 1802,—in which the observance of secrecy is vindicated, and the principal objections of Professor Robison against the institution, are candidly considered. By John Crawford, M. D., Grand Master. Baltimore, 1802, pp. 5, 8, 9, 30.—In this connection, the following table showing the numerical increase of certain Massachusetts lodges during the period 1794–1802, compiled from the records of these lodges as contained in their published histories, will be of interest. In three instances, viz., St. John’s, Corinthian and Columbian, both those who received membership and those who took degrees are included.

179417951796179717981799180018011802
St John’s, Boston11 11 6 23 3 0 31 14 14 
Tyrian, Gloucester5 11 2 3 3 3 5 3 2 
Essex, Salem2 2 1 8 7 1 9 8 8 
Washington, Roxbury
(constituted in 1796)		13 10 13 10 6 5 
King Solomon’s
Charlestown		7 14 7 7 4 5 7 4 1 
Corinthian, Concord
(constituted in 1797)		28 27*5 17 16 16 
Columbian, Boston
(constituted in 1795)		10 51 25 23 19 25 52 21 
St. Andrews, Royal
Arch, Boston		1 7 7 6 10†3 14 3 5 
— — — — — — — — — 
 Totals26‡55‡74‡113 87 49 118 106 72 

* Only one new member admitted after May.
† Only one new member admitted after Sept. 3.
‡ Incomplete.

[922] A Masonic Oration, pronounced on the festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 26, 1799…. In Middletown. By Alexander Collins, Esq. Middletown, 1800.

[923] Ibid., p. 5.

[924] Ibid., p. 15. An interesting episode in Washington’s Masonic career may here be alluded to. In the summer of 1798, the Reverend G. W. Snyder, a Lutheran clergyman of Frederickstown, Md., wrote Washington, expressing his fear that Illuminism might possibly gain an entrance into the American lodges and appealing to Washington to exert himself to prevent such an unhappy consummation. Snyder accompanied his letter with a copy of Robison’s Proofs of a Conspiracy. Washington replied to Snyder’s letter to the effect that he had heard much about “the nefarious and dangerous plan and doctrines of the Illuminati,” but that he did not believe the lodges of this country had become contaminated thereby. Later Snyder again addressed Washington on the subject, expressing surprise that the latter was doubtful concerning the spread of the doctrines of Illuminism in this country. To this Washington made answer that he had not intended to impart the impression by his former letter “that the doctrines of the Illuminati and the principles of Jacobinism had not spread in the United States.” On the contrary, he professed himself fully satisfied on that point. But what he had meant to say formerly was this: he “did not believe that the lodges of freemasons in this country had, as societies, endeavoured to propagate the diabolical tenets of the former, or pernicious principles of the latter.” (Cf. Sparks, The Writings of Washington, vol. xi, pp. 314 et seq., 377. Cf. Hayden, Washington and His Masonic Compeers, pp. 177–189.) A recent study of this correspondence has appeared. Cf. Sachse, Washington’s Masonic Correspondence, Philadelphia, 1915, pp. 117–139. The author manifests undue eagerness to acquit Washington of serious interest in the controversy over the Illuminati. His unnecessary emphasis upon Snyder’s private character, his remark that “Brother Washington evidently surmised that this letter from Snyder was nothing more or less than a scheme to entrap him” (Ibid., p. 124), and his characterization of Washington’s second letter to Snyder as “sharp,” all strongly imply that Sachse failed to view the episode in its true setting. That Washington had a genuine interest in the controversy over the Illuminati the following letter gives added proof:

“Mount Vernon, 28th Feby, 1799.

Rev. Sir,

The letter with which you were pleased to favor me, dated the first instant, accompanying your thanksgiving sermon, came duly to hand.