


                     WHO SERVED UNDER WASHINGTON ?


Among the many questions asked in the George Washington Masonic 
National Memorial, and one which may be of interest to you.


"Who were the officers of Alexandria Lodge No.22 to serve under 
Washington, the Master?" A second question which ties itself to 
the first.... "How and when did Washington become a member of 
Alexandria Lodge No.39 ?"


Washington had been a mason and a member of Fredericksburg Lodge 
No.4 since Aug. 1753. However, on moving to Mount Vernon after 
his marriage to Martha, and setting up his surveying office in 
Alexandria. Washington on occasions attended Alexandria Lodge 
no.39.


The date, June 24,1784 was a special occasion in Masonic History.
June 24, being St.John's day, George Washington wrote the following
letter to William Herbert Esq. Secretary of the Lodge, announcing
his intention to attend the St.John's day meeting.


"Mount Vernon, June 19, 1784" "Dear Sir: With pleasure I received
the invitation of the Master and Members of Lodge No.39 to dine
with them on the anniversary of St John the Baptist. If nothing
unforeseen at present interferes, I will have the honor of doing
it. For the polite and flattering terms in which you have expressed
their wishes, you will please accept my thanks. "Your Servant (who
has been detained on account of some business in which I was
engaged) brings the bundle you inquired after for my brother. "I
heard yesterday of a ship destined for Liverpool, from your port. I
pray you, therefore, to give this letter for Sir Edward Newenham,
here-with sent, into the particular care of the Captain, to be put
into the post-office on his arrival in England"

 "With esteem and respect, I am, dear Sir, Your most obedient 
servant," "George Washington."


"William Herbert Esq. Alexandria."


The records of the lodge show that "His Excellency G.Washington"
was among the visitors on that occasion. Following the business of
the afternoon, the Lodge consisting of Washington and 28 members
moved to Wise's Tavern where they dined, and after a few hours  of
festivities they returned to the Lodge room where the Worshipful
Master Robert Adam, by unanimous consent of the Lodge admitted
George Washington an Honorary member of Lodge No. 39



February 23,1787, Alexandria Lodge 39 received a letter from the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in which they requested the return of
the warrant that had been issued February 3, 1783. In the letter it
was explained that a new Grand Lodge was being organized, and new
warrants and charters were to be issued to all Lodges. Alexandria
Lodge No.39, requested Col Michael Ryan, to inquire of James
Mercer, late Grand Master, what order of business should be taken
to obtain a charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. On the 3rd of
March 1787, Col Michael Ryan reported to the lodge, and it was
decided at that meeting, it would be more convenient to work under
the authority of the Grand lodge of Virginia.

Having made the decision to apply to the Grand Lodge of Virginia
for a Charter, Messrs. Robert McCrea, William Hunter Jr., John
Allison and William  H. Powell, waited upon General George
Washington to ascertain if he was agreeable to be named as Charter
Master of the newly formed Lodge. General Washington gave his
consent to use his name, and letters were prepared and the
correspondence traveled back and forth between the Grand Lodge of
Virginia and the Alexandria Masons. On April 28,1788, the then
Grand Master Edmund Randolph signed a charter for Alexandria Lodge
No. 22, Naming,

George Washington  - Charter Master
Robert McCrea      - Deputy Master
William Hunter Jr. - Senior Warden
John Allison       - Junior Warden


At the first meeting of the new Lodge, the brethren elected 
William H. Powell to the office of Secretary, which he held until
June 24, 1788, at which time he resigned the office and Joseph
Greenway was elected and served through 1795. Benjamin A. Hamp was
elected Treasurer. and Michael Gretter was appointed Tiler and
served until 1791.


Now that we know the names of those who served as officers of the
Lodge during the administration of George Washington, it might be
interesting to discover a little more about these men. Just who
were they?


ROBERT McCREA - who served as Deputy Master under Washington from
April 28, 1788 till December 1788, was reelected as Senior Warden
to serve with Washington till December 1789. Robert McCrea had
served the first lodge (No.39) as its first Senior Warden in 1783,
and as its Master in 1786-87. Robert McCrea was followed in that
office by Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick who served until April 1788.
Robert McCrea was present at the cornerstone laying of the
Alexandria Academy, Sept. 7,1785. There is little known of Robert
McCrea's family life, yet he was an active mason and he attended
regularly at all meetings and Masonic Functions.


WILLIAM HUNTER JR. - Washington's first Senior Warden, was also
very active in masonry. William Hunter Jr. was born Jan. 20, 1731,
in Galston Scotland. Making him a year older than Washington.
William arrived in the colony of Virginia as a young man and
settled in Alexandria. He was engaged in the mercantile business.
William developed many friends in London and Liverpool. During the
Revolutionary War, William Hunter suffered great losses, like many
of his contemporaries. However, he was a prominent citizen and at
one time was Mayor of Alexandria. William died November 19, 1792 at
the age of 62 and was buried in the graveyard of the First
Presbyterian Church on Fairfax street.


JOHN ALLISON - served as Jr. Warden until the election in December
of 1788, and then he stepped down, Later again he served as Junior
Warden, and although a very active member of the Lodge he never
served above that station. Like Robert McCrea there is little known
of his family life or civic activities, even his death is a mystery
at this time.


WILLIAM H. POWELL - served as Secretary for Washington until June
24, 1788. Powell a lawyer prepared the letters  and correspondence
to the Grand Lodge and Grand Master during the transition period,
and was the brain during the early days of the lodge.  William
Powell was born in Loudoun County, Va. in 1763, William was the
eldest son of Col Leven Powell who won a good reputation as an
officer during the Revolutionary War. William studied Law in the
Office of Col. Charles Simms, in Alexandria, and distinguished
himself before the bar. Both William and his father represented the
Loudoun District in Congress. William was involved most strongly in
the political movements of his day, and when fierce strife arose
between the Federal and Democratic parties, Williams's zeal and
quick temper, involved him in a duel with Mr. Abram Mason, in which
Abram lost an arm. Due to his activities in Law, William was not an
active mason except during the transition period of the newly
formed Lodge. William Powell met his death by drowning when he
attempted to ford the Shenandoah River at the age of 43, on his way
to the court in Winchester, Va. in the year 1806.


JOSEPH GREENWAY - served as Secretary from June 24, 1788 till
December 1790. Late in 1786 and 1787 Greenway served as Junior
Warden of the Lodge, but never went on to become Master. Greenway
was an active member, and was in attendance at the funeral lodge of
Washington. There is no record available of the life and death of
Joseph Greenway.


BENJAMIN A.HAMP - served as Treasurer under Washington, and like
Joseph Greenway was active in his masonic lodge, however, there is
little known of Ben. A. Hamp outside the Lodge. He also was at the
Funeral Lodge of Washington, and his name appears regularly in the
minutes of the early lodge.


MICHAEL GRETTER - served as Tiler for the lodge from 1783 until
1791 a period of eight years, and of course served as Tiler for
Washington. During those eight years, Gretter was a God-fearing man
and never indulged himself, many times when the members were too
deep in their cup to return to the lodge and close, Gretter
assisted the few officers in the duty. Often when a brother was
unable to travel, Gretter provided transportation or a place to
spend the night. Michael Gretter was also in attendance at the
Funeral Lodge of George Washington.


This brings us to Edmund Randolph, the Grand Master who issued 
and signed the Charter of Alexandria Lodge No.22.Edmund Randolph
was both Grand Master and Governor of the State of Virginia at that
time. (1788). Edmund was born in Williamsburg, Va. in 1753 (The
year Washington was made a Master Mason in Fredericksburg Lodge
No.4. Edmund was the son of John Randolph a lawyer and Attorney
General of the Colony of Virginia. John was a loyalist, and went to
England at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and disinherited
his son Edmund because he refused to obey the Crown. Edmund was
educated at William and Mary. Edmund was an aid to Washington
during the Revolutionary War. Edmund was a member of the committee
which framed the Constitution. He served as Attorney General and
Secretary of War during Washington's administration as President.



Let me say in closing, we do great Honor to George Washington the
Charter Master of Alexandria Lodge No.22 and rightly so, yet we too
often forget that a Master must have officers to serve with him,
and too often forget those who support a great man.  I doubt if you
will remember these names we have just mentioned, and in the weeks
to come they too will be forgotten. However for a few minutes we
have resurrected the forgotten and did them honor.


William A. Brown.


