Delete comment from: Boston 1775
To J. L. Bell:
A clarification of why Lafayette spent sixteen months in the US:
In February of 1824, the United States by Presidential (James Monroe) and Congressional Proclamation invited Citizen Lafayette to tour the country he helped to create as a nineteen year old officer. Since he had lost most of his inheritance (and title) as a result of the French Revolution, Congress appropriated $200,000 dollars and a township of land to reward him for his patriotism. In addition to that, American citizens were to raise money through subscriptions in order to lavishly entertain him with feasts, receptions, parades, and other tributes.
A young Rober4t E. Lee was his escort in Alexandria.
Lafayette visited Jefferson twice, a year before the latter died.
The culmination of Lafayette's visit was a reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill) on its 50th anniversary.
Lafayette's portrait painted during his visit hangs in the US House of Representatives.
While I am obviously not a Freemason, I do know that Lafayette's portrait is displayed in the National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA (where I live). He had been made an honorary member of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22.
This leads me to believe that he was indeed a bona fide Freemason, as were many of the officers of the Continental Army. I think Freemasonry spread throughout our new republic because of these officers, which greatly influenced our nation.
Jun 28, 2007, 3:08:00 PM