THE

FRATERNAL TRIBUTE

OF

RESPECT

PAID TO THE

MASONIC CHARACTER

OF

WASHINGTON,

IN THE

UNION LODGE,

IN

DORCHESTER,

JANUARY 7th, A. L. 5800.

INFORMATION.

As foon as the members could convenietly be called together after the mournful intelligence arrived of the death of their illuftrious Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON, they affembled to pay their funeral honors to his memory.

THE hall, the furniture of the lodge, and the brethren were all dreffed in the badges of mourning: and the apartment but dimly lighted.

THE following address was delivered: an occafional dirge was fung and a well adapted anthem chanted, by the choir.

APPROPRIATE teftimonials of respect closed the folemnities.

ADDRESS.

AH, my brethren, what a change do we perceive! Our lodge, the lightsome abode of joy, how darkened with the gloom of forrow! Inftead of the gay fplendor with which it was irradiated, a pale fepulchral light dimly gleams in its receffes. The cheerful falutation with which we were wont to hail the beloved member or welcome the accepted visitant, is now exchanged for the look of fadness and the condolence of fympathy. We forego the fprightly fong for the folemn dirge, and the cup of pleasure for the chalice of woe. The regalia are all veiled in black, and every thing about us bears the tokens of the lofs we have fuftained in the death of WASHINGTON, the patron, the ornament, the pride of our Fraternity. We affemble to dwell in penfive recollection on his fublime virtues, to record his focial worth, and to

give vent in privacy to our unaffected forrows at his decease.

His modeft and unambitious spirit, which fhrunk from the pomp of life, and delighted rather in the filent fatisfaction of doing well, than in the loud applauses of the world for having done fo, would not difdain the humble honors we pay though artless, yet cordial; though unoftentatious, yet fincere.

It is not in our power to make a parade of funeral obfequies, nor to erect a pompous cenotaph to his fame; but what we can, we do; we inscribe his worth on our memories, and inshrine his virtues in our hearts.

WHEN WE Confider him as a General and a Statesman, we are filled with admiration. When we recognize in him the defender, deliverer, and father of his country, our bofoms glow with gratitude. But when we behold him in the lefs majestic but more engaging character of a brother, his memory is endeared to our affections and has a peculiar claim upon our love.

POSSESSING difpofitions congenial with the genuine fpirit of Free Mafonry, he early became a member of the fociety. Habitually defirous of enlarging the fphere of focial happiness and of promoting the cause of philanthropy, he discovered in our order means eminently conducive to these important purposes.* It gave a nobler expansion to his charity, a wider range to his benevolence. Accordingly, he engaged in the plans and affifted the labors of the lodge, with a high fatisfaction which thofe only can feel whofe hearts are warmed with the fame difinterested love, and enlarged with the fame good will.

WHEN haraffed by the fatigues of war or the concerns of public life, he was fond of fecking the refreshment and enjoying the ferenity always to be found within the peaceful walls of the lodge. There every perplexing anxiety fubfided, and every tumultuous thought was calmed. There he obtained

See this most beautifully alluded to, and most happily expressed in his answer to the address of the Grand Lodge of Maffachusetts on their presenting him a copy of the Book of Conftitutions.