MASONIC    PATRIOTS

 

“There would have been no United States of America without Freemasonry.”  Who says so?   I say so.

 

Freemasons of the pre-Grand Lodge of England (June 1717) were already in the land to be known as U.S.A.   It is generally agreed that John Skene, made a Mason in 1682 in Scotland, migrated to Burlington, New Jersey, is the first “known” Mason of America.

 

GEORGE WASHINGTON

THE FATHER OF THIS COUNTRY

 

George Washington was born on Feb. 22, 1732, to parents who were of the prosperous gentry of Virginia, and of English descent.  His early education included mathematics, the classics, “rules of civility”, and surveying.  He was asked to survey and lay out the city of Bellhaven, which is now Alexandria, Virginia.  Some of his surveyor duties brought him as far South as Florida, and some of his marker stakes still can be found in Northern Florida.   Soldier, statesman, aristocrat, planter, owner of slaves, yes.  But almost nowhere, except in Masonic writings is he mentioned as a wise and accomplished Mason.  Raised a Master Mason on August 4, 1753, he maintained his membership in Fredericksburg Lodge until his death, 46 years later.  Twice during those years he was Master of the Lodge in Alexandria, Virginia, and was twice suggested as Grand Master.  While in his second term as Worshipful Master in Alexandria Lodge #22, he was elected and installed President of The U.S.   Never a “nominal” Mason, Washington lived until December 14, 1779; his body laid to rest in the family vault at Mt. Vernon.  No finer epitaph exists than the simple statement made by the great man himself: “I have lived upon the square.”

 

Let’s look at his early life for a moment.  He came out of nowhere to be appointed adjutant of militia in the French & Indian War, keeping such a detailed diary of his service that he was quickly promoted to Lt. Colonel at the age of 22. He learned quickly, meeting problems of recruiting, supply, and desertion with his native ability and earned the respect of his superiors.  After the war, he entered politics and served in the House of Burgesses In January of 1759 he made probably his wisest life choice by marrying a woman with money! Martha Custis was attractive, and wealthy and theirs was a happy and satisfying marriage, which brought with it connections to assist in propelling him into national prominence, and allowing him to attend both sessions of the Continental Congress and become unanimous choice as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.  This army was short of men and supplies and the course of the war swung from defeat to victory in relatively small battles.  But holding his troops together through the harsh winter at Valley Forge, he learned that France had recognized the American Independence, a turning point which brought to him Von Stuben and Lafayette.  Although not the wisest of military strategist, Washington gathered about him men of talent, and established such bonds that we was almost worshiped.  To honor his soldiers, he established the Order of The Purple Heart.

 

After the war, he returned to Mt. Vernon and became the gentleman farmer, experimenting in crop rotation; bred horses and dogs undertook many commercial ventures and traveled abroad. Unanimously elected president in 1789, serving two terms, refusing a third, and declining to become King of America, he lived out his last days at Mt. Vernon, died on December 14, 1799, at the age of 67.

 

If they did teach Washington history today, they well may only mention his reputation as having cut down his fathers cherry tree, having thrown a silver dollar across the Potomac River, or having wooden teeth. He was anything but the sober and serious character he is made to be.

 

MARIE JOSEPH PAUL YVES ROCH GILBERT DU MORTIER

THE   MARQUIS   DE   LAFAYETTE

 

Orphaned at 13, he inherited a great deal of money soon after, and becoming bored with the stagnancy of the French Court,  took off for America to fight in the Revolution.  He was not yet 20 when he presented himself to Congress as ready for battle.  Although he had no formal military training, (he had never fired a shot in anger in his life), he surprised even Washington with how quickly he became a competent commander and strategist. His bravery was never in doubt, having been wounded on several occasions, nor was his generosity, as he spent $200,000 of his own money to pay for the war, money he never asked to be repaid.  He was most instrumental in keeping the French-American alliance working.

 

Lafayette relished being a thorn in Cornwallis’s side.  He constantly eluded the British while they chased him around Virginia.  Many give Lafayette credit for wearing down Cornwallis to the point that may have helped the fateful British decision to occupy Yorktown in 1781.

 

After the Revolution, Lafayette returned home to France filled with the fire about the cause he had been fighting for, and hoped his own country might follow the same path.  He did return to America in 1824, and the country went wild with celebration. He may not have gotten the credit he deserved in his own country, but America had not forgotten his contribution.    Made an American Citizen, Lafayette died ten years after his American visit.  He had taken back to France enough American soil so he could be buried in it upon his death.

 

 

GENERAL  NATHANIEL  GREENE

 

Born July 25, 1742 in Potowomut, Rhode Island.  His father was a respected minister of the Quakers and a prosperous businessman.  Because of  Quaker beliefs about religion, he was taught only reading, writing, and business math.  He lamented his lack of an education and continued to study on his own, becoming an avid reader of military history.  In April of 1775, Rhode Island established an Army of Observation and Greene was given command as general of state troops.  Moving these troops to Boston, he showed much talent for assembling supplies and for suppressing intra colonial jealousies that he was commissioned the youngest brigadier general in the Continental Army. It was here in Boston that he met George Washington, and from this first meeting Washington was greatly impressed with Greene.  Within a year he would consider Greene the best of his generals suited to succeed himself in case of death or capture.  He commander the right flank of Washington’s army at the Battle of Trenton, was made Quartermaster General of the Army, and later commanded at West Point.

 

After General Horatio Gates was defeated by the British at Camden, Washington appointed Greene as the new Southern Commander.  Taking with him his next in command, General Daniel Morgan, in 20 months, Greene would succeed in capturing all of the British posts and splitting the British forces in half, bottling them up in Charleston and Wilmington.  General Greene played a vital role in establishing civil government in the South, and after the war, he moved his family to Mulberry Grove, north of Savannah, attempting to settle down in the role of a Southern planter.  Tragically, he died of a stroke at the early age of 44. His remains and those of his son George Washington Greene, rest beneath an obelisk in Johnson Square in Savannah.  It will never be known to what great heights he might have risen had his life been longer.

 

FRIEDRICH  WILHELM  VON  STEUBEN

 

  Born in 1730 in Magdeburg, Germany, his military career began early, entering the Prussian Army and distinguishing himself in the Seven Year War, later becoming an aide to Frederick the Great of Prussia, who was recognized as the military genius of his time.  Von Steuben became an expert in the drilling and training of troops, and because of this ability, Ben Franklin and Count St. Germain, the French Minister of War, persuaded Von Stuben to volunteer his expertise to the American Revolutionists.

 

Arriving in America in 1778, he offered his services to Washington without pay, arriving at Valley Forge in the winter of 1778, finding the soldiers in deplorable conditions, lacking uniforms, weapons, or food.  He set about training and organizing this ragged band of soldiers, infusing them with a sense of discipline and converted them into an excellent fighting force, training them to bear arms, march, form columns, and execute maneuvers.  He gave confidence to the officers and men, enabling them to continue on to victory at Yorktown.

 

As “Drill Instructor” of the Continental Army, Von Steuben wrote “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of Troops of The United States”.  Although revised & rewritten, this manual remains till today as the guide of the U. S. Army.  He was remarkable for his generosity and fineness of his nature, spending his entire income, beyond what was essential to his simple needs, in purchasing clothing and rations for his men.  In recognition, Congress granted him an annuity, he became an American citizen, and the State of New York presented him with a large tract of land. He was laid to rest in a hero’s grave in Steuben County where the bronze plaque sums up the contribution that he had made to the new nation...”Indispensable to the Achievement of American Independence.”

 

 

Now, we have briefly looked at these four Revolutionary War Patriots.............

 

Why do I suspect that we each owe to them an unimaginable debt?   Because they

 

GAVE ALL THAT THEY HAD

Their money

Their lives and that of their families

Their future

All that could be thought of as valuable

 

                                   BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO NOT BE FREE

 

What could have dictated the parallel of these four lives.    What caused Nathaniel Greene to bond so greatly with Washington, what could make von Steuben draw his sword, kneel before Washington, and pledge to follow him where ever the tide of war took them.  And what made Lafayette love America so much that he took that American soil back to France so that he might forever be clothed in it’s precious FREEDOM?.

 

Could we do it ?  Could you or I do it if called upon ?

 

Jim Kirby 33^rd Degree

 

This lecture was given at an Open Meeting of Boynton Lodge # 236 of F. & A.M., February, 2003