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Original copy of George Washington’s September 25, 1798 letter to Reverend G. W. Snyder. Rare Book Collection, Library of Congress. Photograph: © Christian Heritage Ministries.
Original copy of George Washington’s October 24, 1798 letter to Rev. G. W. Snyder. Rare Book Collection, Library of Congress. Photograph: © Christian Heritage Ministries.
Life magazine’s June 12, 2012, Volume 12, No. 9 issue, distributed by Time, Inc., had an article entitled, The Hidden World of Secret Societies, which stated that, “Washington was never shy about his Masonic standing during his lifetime – he was quite proud of it, in fact – and all these years later, his Mason-ness remains on flagrant display… ‘The virtues that ennoble mankind are taught, nourished and fostered in the halls of the Freemasons,’ wrote our first Mason in Chief.” As Freemasonry is equated with sorcery, what evidence does Life magazine present to prove their published statements?
The following correspondence between G.W. Snyder, Minister of the Gospel, and George Washington, disprove Life magazine’s allegations:
In August, 1798, George Washington received a letter from G.W. Snyder, Minister of the Gospel. The letter is hereunder quoted in its entirety:
“Frederick-Town (Maryland) August 22, 1798.
Sir,
You will, I hope, not think it a presumption in a stranger, whose name, perhaps never reached your ears, to address himself to you, the Commanding General of a great Nation. I am a German, born and liberally educated in the City of Heydelberg in the Palatinate of the Rhine. I came to this country in 1776, and felt soon after my arrival a close attachment to the Liberty for which these confederated States then struggled. The same attachment still remains not glowing, but burning in my breast. At the same time that I am exulting in the measures adopted by our Government, I feel myself elevated in the idea of my adopted country. I am attached both from the bent of education and mature enquiry and search to the simple doctrines of Christianity, which I have the honor to teach in public; and I do heartily despise all the cavils of infidelity. Our present time, pregnant with the most shocking evils and calamities, threatens ruin to our Liberty and Government. Secret, and most secret plans are in agitation: Plans, calculated to ensnare the unwary, to attract the gay and irreligious, and to entice even the well-disposed to combine in the general machine for overturning all Government and all Religion.
It was some time since that a book fell into my hands entituled “Proofs of a Conspiracy etc. by John Robison,” which gives a full account of a Society of Freemasons, that distinguishes itself by the name of “Illuminati,” whose plan is to overturn all government and all Religion, even natural; and who endeavor to eradicate every idea of a Supreme Being, and distinguish man from beast by his shape only. A thought suggested itself to me, that some of the Lodges in the United States might have caught the infection, and might cooperate with the Illuminati or the Jacobine Club in France. Fauchet is mentioned by Robison as a zealous member: and who can doubt of Genet and Adet? Have not these their confidants in this country? They use the same reflection and are generally men of no Religion. Upon serious reflection I was led to think that it might be within your power to prevent the horrid plan from corrupting the brethren of the English Lodge over which you preside.
I send you the “Proof of a Conspiracy etc.” which, I doubt not, will give you satisfaction and afford you matter for a train of ideas, that may operate to our national felicity. If, however, you have already perused the book, it will not, I trust, be disagreeable to you that I have presumed to address you with this letter and the book accompanying it. It proceeded from the sincerity of my heart and my ardent wishes for the common good.
May the Supreme Ruler of all things continue you long with us in these perilous times: may He endow you with strength and wisdom to save our country in the threatening storms and gathering clouds of factions and commotions! And after you have completed His work on this terrene spot, may He bring you to the full possession of the glorious liberty of the Children of God, is the hearty and most sincere wish of your Excellency’s very humble and devoted servant.
G.W. Snyder.”1
George Washington’s response to Reverend G.W. Snyder reads,
“Mount Vernon, 25th September, 1798.
The Rev. Mr. Snyder,
Sir: Many apologies are due to you, for my not acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22d. Ulto, and for not thanking you, at an earlier period, for the book you had the goodness to send me.
I have heard much of the nefarious, and dangerous plan, and doctrines of the Illuminati, but never saw the book until you were pleased to send it to me. The same causes which have prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your letter have prevented my reading the book, hitherto; namely the multiplicity of matters which pressed upon me before, and the debilitated state in which I was left after a severe fever had been removed. And which allows me to add little more now, than thanks for your kind wishes and favourable sentiments, except to correct an error you have run into, of my presiding over the English lodges in this Country. The fact is, I preside over none, nor have I been in one more than once or twice, within the last thirty years. I believe notwithstanding, that none of the lodges in this Country are contaminated with the principles ascribed to the Society of the Illuminati.
With respect, I am, Sir, Your ob’t humble servant, George Washington.2
Washington describes the plans and doctrines of the Illuminati as “nefarious and dangerous” in his above-quoted letter – emphatically stating in his 2nd letter to this Minister of the Gospel that the tenets of the Illuminati were “diabolical,” and the principles of Jacobinism – “pernicious,” adding, “if they are susceptible of separation,” that is, one from the other:
“Mount Vernon, 24th October, 1798.
Rev. Sir: I have your favor of the 17th instant before me, and my only motive to trouble you with the receipt of this letter is, to explain and correct a mistake, which I perceive the hurry in which I am obliged, often, to write letters have led you into.
It was not my intention to doubt that the doctrines of the Illuminati, and principles of Jacobinism had not spread in the United States. On the contrary, no one is more truly satisfied of this fact than I am.
The idea that I meant to convey, was, that I did not believe that the Lodges of Freemasons in this Country had, as Societies, endeavoured to propagate the diabolical tenets of the first or pernicious principles of the latter, (if they are susceptible of separation). That individuals of them may have done it, or that the founder, or instrument employed to found, the Democratic Societies in the United States, may have had these objects; and actually had a separation of the people from their Government in view, is too evident to be questioned.
My occupations are such, that but little leisure is allowed me to read newspapers, or books of any kind; the reading of letters, and preparing answers, absorb much of my time.
With respect, I remain, Rev. Sir, Your most ob’t humble ser’t George Washington.” 3
Webster’s dictionary describes “diabolical” as:
a. 1. of the Devil or devils.
2. very wicked, or cruel; fiendish; devilish; demoniacal.
and “pernicious” as:
a. 1. destructive having the power of killing, destroying, ruining, or injuring; fatal; deadly.
2. wicked; evil.
Webster’s definition for “nefarious” is:
a. (L. nefarious, from nefas, a crime, wrong: ne, not, and fas, lawful); very wicked; abominable; atrociously sinful or villainous; detestably vile.
From the above published correspondence of George Washington, we understand that he had never presided over any Freemasonic Lodge in the United States; that he had not been in one, more than once or twice in the past thirty years, that is, prior to 1798; that he abhorred and denounced Jacobinism* as “pernicious,” (destructive; having the power of killing, destroying ruining or injuring; fatal, wicked, deadly and evil); synonymous with the “nefarious” (abominable; atrociously sinful or villainous and detestably vile); and “diabolical” (of the Devil or devils; very wicked, or cruel; fiendish; demoniacal) doctrines of the Illuminati.
* Jacobinism is described in Webster’s dictionary as: 1. The political doctrines of the Jacobins (the Roman Catholic Illuminati). 2. political radicalism.
Jacobin is defined as: 1. Any member of a society of revolutionary democrats in France during the French Revolution of 1789: so-called because their meetings were held in the Jacobin Friars’ Convent. The Roman Catholic Illuminati. 2. a political radical.
Hence, Life magazine’s June 12, Volume 12, No. 9 issue contains a pernicious, diabolical and nefarious defamation of the noble character and reputation of George Washington, “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” It is, in light of Washington’s hand-written statement, “I preside over none (no Freemasonic Lodge), nor have I been in one more than once or twice, within the last thirty years” – abominably false – all under the guise of “freedom of speech,” and, being a deliberate falsification of fact, ought to be immediately recalled – banned from all media outlets in the United States contaminating youth.
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Bibliography:
1
Rev. G.W. Snyder to George Washington, August 22nd, 1798. The Papers of George Washington, January-September, 1798. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville and London, 1998.
2
George Washington to Reverend Mr. Snyder, September 25th, 1798. (Facsimile of original letter). Library of Congress, Rare Book Collection.
3
George Washington to Reverend Mr. Snyder, October 24th, 1798. (Facsimile of original letter). Library of Congress, Rare Book Collection.