Washington's Warning

On September 17, 1796, President George Washington gave his farewell address to the people of the United States upon completion of his second term as President of the United States.

That address included a warning about political factionalism which he saw developing and he urged Americans to unite for the good of the nation. Two political parties, the Federalists and Republicans, had developed in the early 1790s and factionalism, though in its infancy, was growing.

After this address, George Washington went home to his beloved Mount Vernon and died a little more than three-years later in December 1799.

Washington had seen the development of factionalism in his own cabinet, with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson playing a significant role in both the rise of divisions and the beginnings of the two political parties.

I’ve had some experiences recently that have led me to develop a theory about why the divisive nature of political factions would have worried President Washington and further, why his warnings fell on the deaf ears of the next two presidents of the United States.

Adams and Jefferson had been united in the creation of this hallowed Nation, but allowed ego and differences of opinions to sever them from one another when the new nation was still fledgling – struggling to even exist against huge odds. It appears to me that they were more concerned about the ascendancy of their own political ideas over unity. When their political ideas diverged, they fought one another tooth and nail.

Washington, in his farewell address urged, “The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.

But these considerations, however powerfully they address themselves to your sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those, which apply more immediately to your interest. Here every portion of our country finds the most commanding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the Union of the whole.” (Washington’s Farewell Address, September 17, 1796, paragraphs 10-11.)


Washington prized unity and what he called the “concentrat[ion] of your affections.” Adams and Jefferson prized the “rightness” and ascendancy of their own opinions over unity.


What was the motive which drove Washington to prize this unity of Americans? I can never prove what I am about to say, but my recent experience leads me to postulate that it was Washington’s Masonic experience that drove his concern.

Since the day he stood in the Northeast corner of his brand new lodge as an Entered Apprentice, and at every meeting thereafter he had been taught and reminded that “harmony [is] the strength of all institutions ...”

Neither Adams nor Jefferson had this Masonic experience. I believe this was the key and critical difference in the focus, mindset and activities of these three patriots.

It has been this tenet of Masonry which has been most needful and powerful in my life. It is the one thing which has caused me to curb my tongue, withhold my judgment, control my “wit” and get a hold of my ego – well, at least more often than before! Despite my idealistic and Utopian leanings, this was truly a foreign thing to me.

Life in this world, as it is “red of tooth and claw” (Tennyson, Canto LVI, In Memoriam A.H.H.) does not lead one to soften words or hold the tongue. It does not reward kindness or harmony. It does not encourage us to set aside our prejudices or to tolerate differences. And often even the supposed best of human institutions, those predicated upon religious practices, do not lead men and women to unite with all humanity.

On the other hand, my Masonic profession does lead me to do those things that will build and maintain unity, harmony, and peace. As I have ruminated on the life and particularly this final address of this great man and first American, it has occurred to me that the Masonic precepts and tenets would have had a similar impact in the life of this great man.

How grateful I am that this tenet has affected me so deeply. It has made a tremendous difference in my life, even as imperfectly as I practice it. I wish to forever curb my ego and be perfect in this one thing. I wish too that I could effectively teach it to my now grown children who have seen my pre-Masonic example. They may well think that was a correct pattern.

Time has proved Washington to be correct in his assessments contained in his final address. As a Nation and a People we have done poorly at taking his advice. I am convinced that the unity of this nation is its salvation and we must get around to the business of unity soon or we may well lose what makes us great.