o me, that
some | of the Lodges in the United States might | have caught the
Infection, and might co-oper | ate with the Illuminati or the Jacobin
Club | in France. Fauchet is mentioned by Robinson | as a zealous
Member; and who can doubt | Genet and Adet? Have not these their
con | fidants in this country? They use the same | Expressions, and
are generally Men of no | Religion. Upon serious Reflection I was
led | to think that it might be within your | Power to prevent the
horrid Plan from | corrupting the Brethren of the English Lodges |
over which you preside.
"I send you the 'Proof of a Conspiracy,' &c. | which I doubt not,
will give you Satis | faction, and afford you matter for a | Train of
ideas, that may operate to our | national Felicity. If, however, you
have | already perused the Book, it will not, | I trust, be
disagreeable to you that I | have presumed to address you with this |
Letter and the Book accompanying it. | It proceeded from the
Sincerity of my | Heart, and my ardent Wishes for the | common Good.
"May the Supreme Ruler of all | Things continue You long with us in |
these perilous Times: may he endow you | with Strength and Wisdom to
save our | Country in the threating Storms and | gathering Clouds of
Factions and Com | motions! and after you have completed his | Work,
on this terrene Spot, may He | bring you to the full Possession of
the | glorious Liberty of the Children of God, | is the hearty and
most sincere Wish of
"Your Excellency's | very humble and |
"devoted Servant,
"G. W. SNYDER.
"Fredericktown, (Maryland) Aug. 22, 1798.
"His Excellency General George Washington."
=FAC-SIMILE OF FIRST PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WASHINGTON,
AUGUST 22, 1798.=
=FAC-SIMILE OF FOURTH PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WASHINGTON,
AUGUST 22, 1798.=
=FAC-SIMILE OF PRESS COPY OF WASHINGTON'S ANSWER TO REV. G. W.
SNYDER.--SEPTEMBER 25, 1798.=
This man Snyder (Schneider) was an agitator and thoroughly irresponsible
person, having no ecclesiastical connection with any organized Church
Body.
In the year 1787, Schneider came from Albany, New York, to Frederick,
ostensibly to collect money to build a Church. He was kindly received
and permitted to preach in the Reformed Congregation, wher
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