SSEMBLED IN GENERAL COMMUNICATION
,
OF THE FESTIVAL OF
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
,
June 24th, 1795
By SAMUEL MILLER, A.M.
One of the Ministers of the United Presbyterian
Churches, in the City of New-York
New-York: - Printed by F. Childs.
1795
10 Uzal Ogden, “Sermon Delivered at Morristown, On Monday December 27, 1784, it being the Festival of St. John the Evangelist, Before the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, of Lodge No. 10 in the State of New Jersey.” The page after the title page declares, “In Lodge No. 10, State of New-Jersey, Morris-Town, December 27, 5784. Resolved, That the thanks of this Lodge, be presented to the Reverend Mr. Uzal Ogden, for his sermon delivered this day before them, convened for the celebration of the Festival of St. John the Evangelist. And that Brothers, ... be desired to request the Reverend Mr. Ogden, to commit said discourse to writing, and to beg the favour of the manuscript for publication.” Reverend Ogden’s sermon was Gospel focused, “But, to deliver us from the curse of the law, even the Son of God himself, in condescension and goodness infinite, assumed our nature; ‘bore our iniquities;’ expiated our guilt; became ‘accursed for us’ the just having suffered for the unjust.’...We perceive, therefore, that the Gospel is a dispensation of divine Mercy;—-that our redemption is of free ‘Grace;’ by us altogether unmerited; that Christianity was most graciously designed to counteract the effects of sin.;...As salvation is attainable only through Christ, of necessity, therefore, those who reject his dispensation of grace, must be consigned over to eternal woe....” p. 21ff. “And remember Sirs, you are Christian-Masons!—-That you are under obligations numerous and most sacred, to make conscience of all your deeds, and so to live, that, in truth, you may—-fear God;—-honour the Government;—-honour all men, and love your Christian and Masonic Brotherhoods! How many have there been who have done honour to Christianity and Masonry;—-who have been Christian Masons indeed?” pp. 39-40.
11 See chapter two.
12 WGW, vol. 1, 6-12-1754. To Robert Dinwiddie. “I am much grieved to find our Stores so slow advancing. God knows when we shall [be] able to do any thing for to deserve better of our Country.” An example of one of Washington’s earliest written prayers to God is in WGW, vol. 2, 6-10-1757. To John Robinson, “ God send them success and a safe return, I pray.”
13 The Masonic Constitution was printed at the beginning of Uzal Ogden’s Masonic sermon preached in 1795, which was also in Washington’s Masonic sermon collection. Reverend Uzal Ogden was an evangelical Episcopalian, whose Gospel sermons had been read and enjoyed by Washington. (See WGW, vol. 16, 8-5-1779. To Uzal Ogden.) Thus Gospel sermons were preached in the Masonic Order of Washington’s day. Washington also autographed his copy of Uzal Ogden’s Antidote to Deism. The Deist unmasked; or an ample Refutation of all the Objections of Thomas Paine, against the Christian Religion, 2 vol. (Newark: John Woods, 1795). Apparently Washington did not respond to Reverend Ogden’s request for Washington’s approbation of the work in his March 22 1796 letter to the president.
14 See Uzal Ogden’s sermon quoted in note 13 above.
15 See Samuel Miller’s sermon cited in note 12 above.
16 Reverend Dr. William Smith, A Sermon preached in Christ-Church Philadelphia, [For the Benefit of the Poor] by appointment of and before the General Communication of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Pennsylvania, On Monday December 28, 1779.
17
THE
PHILANTHROPIST
OR
A GOOD TWELVE CENTS WORTH OF POLITICAL LOVE POWDER,
FOR THE FAIR DAUGHTERS AND PATRIOTIC SONS OF AMERICA
By the Reverend M.L. Weems, (of Lodge No. 50)
Dumfries
____________________
ALEXANDRIA
Printed by John & James D. Westcott
MDCCXCIX
To his Excellency George Washington, Esquire,
Lieutenant General of the Armies of the United States.
Most Honor’d General
,
...
On the Square of Justice
