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Washington letter to the oldest Jewish Masonic Lodge in the United States...

Item # 704530

September 11, 1790

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, September 11, 1790 This is a very significant newspaper. The middle column on the back page (page 4) contains the: "Address of the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of King David's Lodge to George Washington, President of the United States of America" signed in type by committee members Moses Seixas and Henry Sherburne.
The letter is part congratulatory on him assuming the Presidency, and part welcome to Rhode Island. Immediately following this is the response of the President headed: "To the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of King David's Lodge, in Newport, Rhode Island" which is signed by him in type: George Washington.
The full text of both letters can be seen in the photos, with a portion of Washington's response reading: "... Being persuaded that a just application of the principles, on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society, and to be considered by them as a deserving brother...".
Research shows that Moses Seixas was a founding member of the nation's oldest Jewish Masonic Lodge.

Other content includes the full front page taken up with an Act of Congress headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle. It is continued in a future issue. Page 2 has nearly a full column headed: "Character of Dr. Franklin" and also has several reports from the: "National Assembly of France".

Page 3 has a report of President Washington's visit to Philadelphia, and a curious little ad at the bottom of the back page reads: "All persons having demands against the Household of the PRESIDENT of the United States are requested to exhibit their accounts for settlement at his late dwelling in Broad-Way before the 15th of September."
Four pages, very cleanly disbound, great condition.

Note: This issue complements nicely the issue of 4 days later in which Seixas writes again to Washington with a letter on religious freedom, which caused Washington to respond in writing reassuring those who had fled religious tyranny that life in the new nation would be different, that religious “toleration” would give way to religious liberty. The iconic phrase to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance..." was part of Seixas' letter, and was purposely echoed in Washington's response. This was Washington’s clearest statement of religious tolerance & is considered a stepping stone for the First Amendment that would come the following year. It is viewed as a fundamental document establishing Washington's belief in the separation of church and state.