Washington's Masonic Correspondence

George WashingtonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 154K words
Chapters: 16

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Washington's Masonic Correspondence by George WashingtonAuthor: Washington, George, 1732-1799,Language: English, Class: E300: History: America: Revolution to the Civil War (1783-1861), Release Date: Sep 10, 2009

Editor's review

This book is a compilation of George Washington's correspondence related to Freemasonry. It is a collection of primary documents rather than a narrative biography or general history. Its value lies in giving readers direct access to Washington's own words and a specific lens—Freemasonry—through which to observe the social networks, organizational culture, and public life of the eighteenth-century North American colonies and the early republic. The epistolary form means the content is fragmentary and heavily context-dependent; readers need some basic knowledge of the American Revolution and Freemasonry to fully understand it. For readers studying early American history, the history of associations, or Masonic history, this is a primary source that can be cross-checked against other historical materials. For general readers, it is more a collection of documents than an introductory book; they should read it with specific questions in mind rather than straight through.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and students studying the history of the early American republic and voluntary associations
Readers interested in the history of Freemasonry and its development in North America
Writers and documentary editors who need to cite Washington's primary correspondence
History enthusiasts accustomed to reading English primary sources and epistolary collections

Not a good fit for

General readers looking for a complete biography of Washington or a narrative history
Beginners without background knowledge of American Revolution history who need a guide
Readers expecting a systematic exposition of Masonic doctrines and rituals

Reading tips

First learn the basics of Washington's life and eighteenth-century North American Freemasonry, then turn to the letters themselves
Read chronologically while noting the people and lodges mentioned, building a simple name index
Consult relevant historical annotations or scholarly works for key letters to avoid misreading them out of context
If using the book only for research, start with the table of contents and editor's notes, then read selected letters as needed

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a treatise on Freemasonry written by Washington?

No. It is a compilation of Washington's correspondence related to Freemasonry, a collection of primary documents. The content is the letters themselves, not a systematic treatise on Masonic doctrine or history, so readers should keep in mind its fragmentary and context-dependent nature.

Can I understand it without knowledge of Freemasonry?

You can read it, but your understanding will be limited. The letters refer to lodges, ritual titles, and the personal networks of the time. It is advisable to first acquire some basic knowledge of eighteenth-century North American Freemasonry and the background of the American Revolution; otherwise you may see only the literal meaning and miss the documentary value.

Is this book suitable as a biography of Washington?

No. The letters cover only fragments related to Freemasonry and do not constitute a complete life narrative. If you want to learn about Washington's life, choose a biography; this book is better used as supplementary source material on a specific topic.

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About the author

George Washington Author · American · 1732–1799

George Washington (1732–1799) was a founding figure, soldier, and statesman of the United States. He served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, presided over the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and was elected the first U.S. president in 1789; after two terms he voluntarily retired and is honored as the "Father of His Country." This site holds four of his works, spanning a wide range: a journal of his early mountain journey from his surveying years, rules of civility copied in his youth, State of the Union addresses delivered to Congress during his presidency, and correspondence related to Freemasonry. These writings are largely practical and self-cultivating in nature, plain and direct in style, emphasizing discipline and duty; the civility manual in particular has long been regarded as a classic text for personal growth, reflecting the consistent character of his self-formation and public expression.