Washington's Masonic Career 1890 - 1894

This bronze medal portraying George Washington was created by George Hampden Lovett at an unknown date. The image presents us with an intriguing convergence of political leadership and fraternal organization. The medal celebrates Washington's Masonic affiliation through symbolic imagery. The square and compasses, along with the all-seeing eye, point to the values of morality, reason, and enlightenment. The inscription emphasizes the 'mystic tie' of brotherhood. Made in the United States, the medal suggests how Freemasonry provided a framework of shared principles. The leaders were guided by these principles during the early republic. Masonic lodges were cultural institutions, so this piece reflects the social networks through which elites shared ideas and values. By examining historical records, such as Masonic lodge archives, one can begin to understand the context for this image. The medal is not just a portrait, it is a statement about the social and intellectual world of early America.