

HARDSHIPS

WASHINGTON'S DIARY - 1753

Washington in his account of the journey to the French commandant 
in 1753 illustrates the hardships encountered by those who 
traveled the wilderness.

"December 23, 1753;" (Age 21)

"Our Horses were now (after leaving Venango on the return trip) "so
weak and feeble, and the baggage so heavy, (as we were obliged to
provide all the necessities which the journey would require)  that
we doubted much their performance, therefore myself and others
(except the drivers, who were obliged to ride) gave up our horses
for packs, to assist along with the baggage.   "I put myself in an
indian walking dress, and continued with them three days, till I
found there was no probability of their getting home in any
reasonable time. The horses grew less able to travel every day, and
the cold increased very fast, and the roads were becoming much
worse by a deep snow, continually freezing, Therefore as I was
uneasy to get back, to make my report of my proceedings to his
honor the Governor, I determined to prosecute my journey the
nearest way through the woods, on foot.

"Accordingly I left Mr. Vanbraam in charge of our baggage, with
money and directions to provide necessaries from place to place for
themselves and horses, and to make the most convenient dispatch in
traveling.

"I took my papers, pulled off my clothes, and tied myself up in a
match coat. Then with gun in hand and pack on my back, in which
were my papers and provisions, set out with Mr. Gist, fitted in the
same manner,

"December 27th Thursday, Just after we had passed a place called
the Murdering- Town ( where we intended to quit the path and steer
across country for Shannapins-town) we fell in with a party of
French Indians, who had lain in wait for us, One of them fired at
Mr. Gist, or me, not 15 steps off, but fortunately missed. We took
this fellow into custody, and kept him till about 9 O'Clock at
night, then let him go, and walked all the remaining part of the
night with out stopping, that we might get the start, so far, as to
be out of reach of their pursuit the next day, since we all assured
they would follow our tract as soon as it was light.

"December 28th Friday, We continued traveling till quite dark, and
got to the river (Allegheny) about two miles above Shannapins, We
expected to have found the river frozen, but it was not, only about
50 yards from shore, the ice I suppose had broken up above, for it
was driving in vast quantities. "There was no way for getting over
but a raft, which we set about with but one poor hatchet, and
finished just after sunsetting. This was a whole days work. Then
set off, but before we were half way over, we were jammed in the
ice, in such a manner that we expected every moment our raft to
sink, and ourselves to perish. I put out my setting  pole to try to
stop the raft, that the ice might pass by, when the rap idity of
the stream threw it with such vio lence against the pole, that it
jerked me out into ten feet of water, but I fortunately saved
myself by catching hold on one of the raft logs. Notwithstanding
all our efforts we could not get the raft to either shore, but were
obliged, as we were near an island to quit the raft and make it.
"The cold was so extremely severe that Mr. Gist had all his
fingers, and some of his toes frozen, but the water was shut up so
hard, that we found no difficulty in getting off the island, on the
ice  in the morning, and went to Mr. Fraziers."

 Picture, to complete the story, for it  was modesty which
prevented Washington from telling the whole story, I would relate
in part,  Mr. Gist's account and what Dr. James Craik wrote. It was
Washington who saved Mr. Gist's life when they were tossed into the
river, it was Washington who dragged Gist from the river and
managed to haul him ashore on the Island, it was Washington who
packed Gist's feet and hands in snow and covered him with

                         150 YEARS AGO

Although more Historic than Masonic, let us not forget the war
between Texas and Mexico. "Remember the Alamo". Many of our
Brothers lost their life at the Alamo, men like Crockett and
Travis, etc. March 27, 1836 Capt. Fannin surrendered with 371
Texans, later to be massacred by the Mexicans. April 21, Sam
Houston (a Mason) with 800 Texans defeated 3,000 Mexicans, and
Texas was recognized as independent. The strange part, Dec. 20,
1837. Holland Lodge 36 A.F.& A.M. chartered out of Louisiana,
addressed the different lodges in the Republic of Texas at a
convention in Houston, in forming the Grand Lodge of Texas.
"Brother Sam Houston was called to the chair, and Brother Anson
Jones appointed Secretary." The Grand Lodge of Texas was formed.
However it was not until 1845 that Texas the 28th State was
admitted into the Union.

                         200 YEARS AGO

During the period from 1778 to 1787 the Grand Lodge continued to
charter new lodges until their numerical system, "being derived
from various sources had become too complicated for
discrimination." at a meeting in October 1787 a resolution was
adopted and a committee was appointed to regulate the rank of the
several lodges in Virginia. The committee reported back the next
day and their report listed the then 19 lodges in numerical number
by their constituted date.  As far as I know, this was the first
time a report was brought in and approved unanimously without
discussion. October 1787.

       May 14, 1787 - Constitutional  Convention opened at
Philadelphia with George Washington presiding. This was the birth
of our Constitution, the Constitution was adopted by the delegates
on Sept. 17, 1787. Out of the 39 delegates present and signing 23
were Master Masons.  Only three States ratified in 1787, they were
Delaware, Dec. 7th; Pennsylvania, Dec. 12th and New Jersey, Dec.
18th. Virginia was the tenth State and ratified on June 25, 1788.

                         200 YEARS AGO

The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of North Carolina dates her
organization from Jan. 13, 1771, and does it from authority derived
from Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, and at that time Grand
Master of Masons of England, Somerset conferred the office of
Provincial Grand Master of North Carolina on Joseph Montfort, Esq.
of Halifax, North Carolina. Yet it was not until Dec. 9th, 1787
that the Masons of North Carolina met in convention and organized a
Grand Lodge, (following the same procedure used by the Grand Lodge
of Virginia.) electing Samuel Johnston the then Governor of the
State, as their first Grand Master.

  P.S. - James Rumsey, a Mason, encouraged by Washington, built his
steam boat with a power pump, and made his first trip on the
Potomac River from the First navigable water, eight miles above
Mount Vernon, to the mouth at the Chesapeake. Dec. 3, 1787 to Dec.
11. an eight day trip. I never quite understood the eight days? He
could have almost made the same time, by waiting for the tides.

                         200 YEARS AGO

It was called "Shay's Rebellion", Jan. 25,1787. How strange, that a
very fine man who had done so much for his country during the
Revolutionary War, and a man who's good intentions should backfire
and destroy his name. There were two sides to the question, and in
this case he was on the wrong side. So history recalls. I say "so
history recalls"  because it was a bad act at a timely place in the
history of our country. The Continental Congress had been sitting
on their hands, and this little rebellion tipped the scales, and
they realized they had to establish an executive branch of the
Government with a President to be able to act in an emergency.
After the election of Washington as the first president, The
Supreme Court of the U.S. pardoned Daniel Shay  June 13, 1788. Yes
Daniel Shay was a Master Mason.

                         150 YEARS AGO

The year 1837 was during the dark days of the Anti-Masonic period.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia was on the rise after a nine year
period of Anti-Masonic pressure. It was during those years that
many of the Lodges lost their records. not always from vandals
destroyed Lodge property, Secretaries kept the books in their homes
for safety, and for some reason they never found their way back to
the Lodges. because of this loss, even the proceedings of the Grand
Lodge were not complete statistically. There are so many unanswered
questions. Had it not been for the loss of records, the question of
Jefferson and Madison being masons might never have kept us in the
dark all these years.

                         200 YEARS AGO

              (The Grand Lodge lottery of 1787.) Quoted from the
Proceedings.  "At a meeting of the Common Hall of the city of
Richmond, Monday 2nd, Jan., 1786. By appointment of the Mayor -
Present John Harvie Mayor; John Marshall, Recorder," and 5 Aldermen
and 4 Councilmen. "Ordered, That a Committee of five be appointed
to form a scheme of a lottery, agreeable to the General Assembly,
passed the 27th Dec. 1785, for the purpose of raising a sum of
1,500 lbs. this money to be used to construct Free Masons Hall,
cor. of 18th and Franklin streets. "Resolved, That the managers of
the lottery be required to give bond, with security in the sum of
20 thousand lbs. payable to the Mayor of the city and his
successors......"  A very remarkable fact to which you have just
read, may strike the reader as strange. Why the Common Hall, a part
of whom were these very managers  should be required to post a sum
of 20,000 lbs. to honestly administer a lottery, the proceeds of
which were limited to 1,500 lbs.? We are left with the conjecture
of but two reasons.

First; The confidence of the moral honesty of the managers. this we
doubt, as among the managers, was the Governor of Virginia, who
gave the land, and the Mayor who was the collector of the revenue.
Second; and we think most reasonable, The Common Hall was opposed
to gambling and lotteries, therefore required such large security
as would deter others from applying for the privilege.

                    200 YEARS AGO - 1787

Where and when did it begin? (Fraternal correspondence) From the
proceedings of Oct. 30, 1787.

  "That a committee of correspondence be appointed to consist of
the Secretary and two other members to be nominated by the
M.W.Grand Master." "That the committee be directed to prepare a
letter, a copy of which to be addressed to the Grand Lodges of the
separate States of America, recommending a friendly communication
from time to time of such matters as may be for the general good of
the Craft.

Brothers Montgomery and Mc Call were the first two members
appointed to the above committee,in addition to the Grand
Secretary.

Circular Letter - page 35 of Proceedings. It must be remembered
that every letter had to be written by pen and ink, and had to be
copied verbatim.

"To the Right worshipful Grand Master of the State of
________________.

Sir - we beg leave to present to you the foregoing resolution of
the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and in conformity thereto to solicit a
brotherly connection and correspondence which we conceive will be
productive of honor and advantage to the Craft. At the same time,
that you do us the honor of your correspondence we should be glad
to be informed upon what ground your Grand Lodge is established.
The Grand Lodge of this State is holden by the powers given to it
by the free consent of all the Lodges independent of all other
authority whatsoever. We have little more to communicate than the
following list of Officers, and as any changes take place we will
inform you thereof. Accept our most earnest wishes for your
happiness, and believe us to be, with fraternal esteem.

                        Your most ob't serv'ts, Wm. Wadell, Alex.
Montgomery, John McColl.

                      200 years ago

In September 1786 the independent Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was
formed with only eleven lodges present out of 28 lodges which held
warrants from the Provincial Grand Lodge.  As an example:
Alexandria Lodge 39 received their letter, February 23, 1787.
requesting the return of their warrant for a new Charter. The Grand
Lodge of Virginia now being in session following the war, Lodge 39
requested membership in the Grand Lodge of Virginia, naming George
Washington as Charter Master. (letter dated Oct. 25, 1787.)  At the
next communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, (April, 1788.)
The Grand Lodge presided over by Edmund Randolph Grand Master,
granted the petition of Alexandria Lodge 39, with only a change of
number to 22. What may have happened to the other 16 lodges should
be of great interest to follow through on.
