North Carolina Masonry during the Revolutionary War:
If you don’t want tears to come to your eyes, just skip this page
There are moments in the lives of Masons when the love of brotherhood is so powerful that emotions spill over.

One of them involved George Washington. It is documented in The North Carolina Booklet, Great Events in North Carolina History in the issue of July, 1912, published by The North Carolina Society, Daughters of the Revolution in Raleigh.

An article, The Masonic Revolutionary Patriots of North Carolina, included this brief, touching account:

“…There were very few Masons among the citizens of North Carolina who adhered to the Royal cause, but there were many members of the Order among the officers (some of the highest rank) in the British regiments which were sent over for the purpose of subjugating the Colonies. Though they came on a hostile errand, the American Masons never forgot that they were brethren, and always returned the paraphernalia of an Army Lodge when captured.

“An English periodical, quoted in the interesting volume entitled Washington and His Masonic Compeers, by Sidney Hayden, records an incident of this character. Referring to one of the English Army Lodges, it says:

“During the Revolution, its lodge-chest fell into the hands of the Americans. They reported the circumstances to General Washington, who embraced the opportunity of testifying his estimation of Masonry in the most marked and gratifying manner, by directing that a guard of honor, under a distinguished officer, should take charge of the chest, with many articles of value, and return them to the regiment. The surprise, the feelings of both officers and men may be imagined when they perceived the flag of truce that announced this elegant compliment from their noble opponent but still more noble brother. The guard of honor, with their flutes playing a sacred march, the chest containing the constitution and implements of the craft borne aloft like another Ark of the Covenant equally by Englishmen and Americans who were lately engaged in the strife of war, now marched through the enfiladed ranks of the gallant regiment that with presented arms and colours hailed the glorious act by cheers.”

Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com