THE BUILDER MARCH 1925

Where and When Was Lafayette Made a Mason?

By BRO. HARRY J. GUTHRIE, P. G. M., Delaware

THE question here ably discussed by Bro. Guthrie is one of more
consequence than might appear to a casual reader: like other
similar questions an answer would throw light on certain problems
of the first importance in the history of American Masonry.
Brethren will find it worth their while to read in connection with
the present study other contributions to THE BUILDER: 1916, pp.
219, 313; 1918, pp. 163, 219, 250; 1921, pp. 26, 70, 118; 1923, p.
331 more especially the last named. See also "The History of
Brother General Lafayette's Fraternal Connections with the R. W.
Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., of Pennsylvania," by Julius F. Sachse;
Philadelphia: 1916.

WHENEVER a reference is made to the Marquis de Lafayette and his
Masonic connection there arises in my mind feelings of great regret
that the time and place of his initiation and subsequent raising
cannot be a matter of absolute record, not that it would prove the
more that our distinguished patriot was a Master Mason, but that it
would set at rest the various claims that have been forthcoming
from ambitious writers and Masonic historians.

That he was a Master Mason is fully attested by the fact of his
visit to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on Oct. 2, 1824, and to
the Grand Lodge of Delaware on July 25, 1825, and his enrollment as
an honorary member by each of the said Grand Lodges; together with
his visitations to several other Grand Lodges at different times,
all of which are matters of Masonic record easily obtainable.

While it may be impossible for me to prove my contention by facts
I do feel competent to demolish one tradition by the means of an
alibi which I believe to be water-tight.

There is a tradition in Masonic circles that General Lafayette was
made a Mason in one of the military lodges at Morristown, N. J.,
where a Festal Lodge was held on Dec. 27, 1779, for which occasion
the jewels, furniture and clothing of St. John's Lodge, No. 1,
located at Newark, N. J., were borrowed. At this communication
General George Washington and sixty-seven brothers, including
General Benedict Arnold, were present. This lodge has been
identified, so to speak, as "American Union Lodge," later known as
"Military Union Lodge, No. 1," traveling in Connectict, New York
and New Jersey, the minutes, or at least a portion of the same,
being in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, so I am
advised. These records do not however contain any reference to
Lafayette, for obvious reasons, for which I will later submit an
alibi.

Gould, in the Library of Freemasonry, twentieth edition, has seen
fit to make use of heresay evidence and named the place of ceremony
as Morristown, N. J., saying, "According to the late C. W. Moore,
all the American Generals of the Revolution, with the exception of
Benedict Arnold, were Freemasons. The Marquis de Lafayette was
among the number, and it is believed that he was initiated in
American Union Lodge at Morristown, N. J., the jewels and furniture
u~ed on the occasion being lent by St. John's Lodge at Newark, N.
J." On the basis of this statement the publishers inserted a full
page cut of the distinguished Marquis with the following statement:
"The Marquis Lafayette was admitted into Freemasonry in American
Union Lodge which was held in a room over the old Freemen's Tavern,
on the north side of the green, Morristown, N. J., during the
winter of 1777, at which Bro. George Washington presided in
person."

With all due regard and proper respect for the "late C. W. Moore,"
I am prompted to believe that if his "belief" in regard to
Lafayette's being made a Mason was no better than his knowledge
which prompted him to deny that B. Arnold was a Mason, then that
whole reference used by Bro. Gould had better be crossed off and
forgotten: for it is bald fact that Benedict Arnold was a Mason and
was expelled directly after he proved himself a traitor to his
country, which did not occur until some time in 1780.

LAFAYETTE'S MOVEMENTS ARE TRACED

Briefly let me trace the movements of General Lafayette. He arrived
in this country on June 14, 1777; received a commission (honorary
in effect) as a Major General from the Congress and was later
assigned to Washington's staff as of July 31,1777; led part of the
troops in the Battle of Brandywine on Sept. 11, 1777, where he was
wounded in the leg and remained in an incapacitated condition at
Bethlehem, Pa., until the latter part of October. He tired of the
quiet and finally volunteered for duty when scarcely able to place
a boot on his foot, and was assigned to the command of General
Green and assisted that General in conducting a reconnoiter with a
view of giving battle to Lord Cornwallis, who was strongly
intrenched at Gloucester Point, N. J., about opposite Philadelphia.
The fact that the whole country between New York and Philadelphia
was held in British grip precludes the probability of a gathering
of general officers of the American army attending a Masonic
function at Morristown, N. J., between the first of November and
the fifteenth of December, 1777, on which date Washington set his
troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pa., and at which
place Lafayette was quartered until after Dec. 30, 1777, after
which time he went to Albany, N. Y., for some special work.

This should satisfy the mind as to the utter improbability of his
having taken any degrees at Morristown, N. J., in 1777. But I am
inclined to think the printed date of 1777 an error and that it
should read 1779 in accordance with the tradition quoted above.
That surmise however would not correct the matter. History and
government records inform us that on Oct. 21, 1778, Lafayette, as
a Major General, was granted a leave of absence to go to France to
return at his convenience. (Probably on a secret mission.) It is a
fact however that Lafayette left Boston Harbor Feb. 11, 1779, for
France; and the fact that he was presented with the Congressional
sword at Harve on Aug. 24, 1779, comes pretty near proving that he
arrived in France. On the return trip he sailed on board the French
frigate Hermoine from Rochelle, March 19, 1780, and landed at
Boston April 28, 1780, and on May 13, 1780, the Continental
Congress considered his return to America to resume his command as
a fresh proof of zeal, etc., etc. SO IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO
HAVE RECEIVED THE DEGREES OF FREEMASONRY AT MORRISTOWN, N. J., IN
DECEMBER, 1779, AND THAT IS THE REASON A REFERENCE WAS NOT MADE TO
HIM AND THAT HIS NAME WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LODGE REGISTER WHICH
CONTAINED THE NAMES OF WASHINGTON AND THE OTHER SIXTY-SEVEN
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

The second tradition is, that General Lafayette was made a Mason in
a military lodge which met at Valley Forge during the winter of
1777-78, but no official lodge records of such action have ever
been discovered.

Gould says, in his Military Lodges, 1732-1899: "In December, 1777,
the Army retired to Valley Forge, and it was there--according to
evidence which seems to be of a trustworthy character--that General
Lafayette was initiated." He makes a further reference, quoting
Lafayette himself. "After I was made a Mason," said Lafayette,
"General Washington seemed to have received a new light. I never
had from that moment any cause to doubt his entire confidence. It
was not long before I had a separate command of great importance."
It is significant that Lafayette, on Dec. 4, 1777, was made a Major
General by act of the Congress and was given the charge of a
Division of the Army by Washington on that authorization.

DR. GEORGE W. CHAYTOR IS QUOTED

In an address delivered by Bro. George W. Chaytor before Lafayette
Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., located at Wilmington, Del., on Jan.
18, 1875, upon the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its
constitution, he said among other things:

"Having in a very brief manner referred to Lafayette as a soldier,
a patriot, a statesman and a friend, we will now introduce him to
you as a Mason, and endeavor to show WHEN and WHERE he first saw
the mystic light. He was not a Mason when he landed in America, nor
was he a Mason at the Battle of Brandywine. The Army under
Washington, in December, 1777 retired to Valley Forge, where they
wintered. Connected with this Army was a lodge. It was at VALLEY
FORGE THAT HE WAS MADE A MASON. On this point there should be no
second opinion--for surely LAFAYETTE KNEW BEST WHERE HE WAS MADE A
MASON. We have this statement FROM HIMSELF--MADE AT THE TIME HE WAS
THE GUEST OF THE GRAND LODGE OF DELAWARE, AND TO MEMBERS OF THAT
GRAND BODY. The statement he made was as follows:

"'He had offered his services to this country from the purest
motives, and he knew that in his heart he had no selfish impulses.
He found a people struggling for liberty against tyranny, and he
put his whole soul in the cause. That Washington received him in
the kindest and warmest manner, and never in any direct way showed
that he had not the fullest confidence in his intentions and
ability as a soldier; but, yet, he could not divest his mind of a
suspicion (that, at times, gave him great discomfort) that the
General of the American Army was not altogether free from doubt in
his case. This suspicion was engendered from the fact that he had
never been intrusted with a separate command. This fact, he said,
weighed upon him, and at times made him very unhappy. With this
exception, he had not the least cause for discomfort. During the
winter (1777-78) the Army lay at Valley Forge he learned there was
a Masonic lodge working in the camp. Time hanging heavy the routine
of duty being monotonous, he conceived the idea that he would like
to be made a Mason. He made his wish known to a friend, who at once
informed him that he, himself, was a Mason, and would take great
pleasure in making his wish known to the lodge. This was done--and
he was there made a Mason. He also stated that Washington was
present and acted as Master of the Lodge at the time of his
initiation.'

"This statement was made to members of the Grand Lodge from some of
whom it was received. I have no doubt that he said what I have here
given for the parties making the statement were gentlemen as well
as Masons, and their public lives show the estimate their fellow
citizens placed upon their honor and characters. I know that much
doubt and contradiction has been bandied about this important point
in Lafayette's life. Various places have been stated as the point
of his initiation --but an ARMY LODGE WAS ALWAYS THE ORGANIZATION
IN WHICH HE SECURED LIGHT.

"I have not yet finished his statement--the latter part is evidence
of the former. In the beginning he stated he felt rather hurt that
Washington had not shown sufficient confidence to entrust him with
a separate command. Now, listen to what he said later: 'After I was
made a Mason, General Washington seemed to have received a new
light--I never had from that moment any cause to doubt his entire
confidence. It was not long before I had a separate command of
great importance.'

"We find that, in May, 1778, General Lafayette, with 2,000 men.
defeated General Grant of the British Army, whose forces numbered
5,000."

It was on July 25, 1825, that Lafayette affixed his signature to
the charter, or warrant, of the aforesaid Lafayette Lodge, No. 14,
at Wilmington, Del., during his visit to the Grand Lodge of
Delaware. This lodge was chartered Jan. 18, 1825, upon the petition
of seven prominent Masons and citizens of Wilmington, all of them
being identified with public affairs; more prominent perhaps among
the number were James Tilton, M. D., a former Surgeon-General in
the American Army; Colonel Victor du Pont, former aid to General
Lafayette, and Nicholas G. Williamson, who shortly afterwards was
elevated to the position of Mayor. Notable among the first
initiates in the lodge were such men as Allen McLane, noted as a
surgeon; General James Wolf; Hon. Willard Hall, U. S. District
Judge and father of the Public Educational System in the State of
Delaware and later a Grand Master; Hon. Louis McLane, diplomatist,
later a U. S. Senator, Minister to Great Britain, Secretary of the
United States Treasury, all contemporaries of General Lafayette and
fortunate in their day and generation--tall men, sun-crowned men
and good Masons.

DR. CHAYTOR WAS A MASON OF HIGH STANDING

Now as to the sponsor for the statements connected with the second
tradition in so far as my story is concerned. It was no less a
personage than Dr. George W. Chaytor, well and favorably known, a
notable physician and enthusiastic Mason. He was born Dec. 25,
1813, initiated Sept. 7, 1841, raised Nov. 2, 1841, and died April
14, 1878, respected by all men. He served his lodge as Master and
in 1845 became a permanent member of the Grand Lodge of Delaware
and was immediately elected Senior Grand Warden, Grand Secretary,
1849-53 inclusive, Deputy Grand Master, 1858-59, Chairman of
Committee on Foreign Correspondence until 1875, elected Grand
Master of Masons of Delaware in 1875.

Dr. Chaytor was fortunate enough to be born well and early enough
to be more or less acquainted with many of the men and Masons who
were active in fraternal matters and public affairs during the
years 1824-25, and who took an active part in the organization of
the lodge which took as its name that which was perhaps the most
prominent at the time; these companions of Bro. Chaytor were also
men who were prominent in Lafayette's reception in the Grand Lodges
of Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Dr. Chaytor's sterling character and reputation precludes the
possibility of his statements being misunderstood or subject to
discount. He had the reputation of speaking the truth even though
it hurt. It can be set down without fear of successful
contradiction that his statements concerning Lafayette were made
after due information Masonically received through a line of worthy
brothers of the Craft.

It is of course to be regretted that the worthy Doctor did not
give, in his address, the names of his informants and a little more
of the particulars. However, unless someone comes forward and
disproves the second tradition which I have incorporated in this
letter many of us will continue to base our belief that BRO. MARIE
JEAN PAUL JOSEPH ROCHE YVES GILBERT du MOTIER, MARQUIS de
LAFAYETTE, was made a Master Mason in an Army Lodge during the
winter of 1777-78 at VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA.

