The Virtues of a Mason in the First President: John Adams’s Inaugural Tribute to George Washington

John Adams delivered his first Inaugural Address on March 4, 1797, at a moment when the American republic was still young, fragile, and untested in the peaceful transfer of executive power. In that address, Adams offered a tribute to George Washington that is remarkable not only for its reverence but also for the moral vocabulary he used. Although Adams himself was not a Freemason, the virtues he ascribed to Washington align closely with the central moral architecture of Freemasonry: prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, and disinterested public service. By examining Adams’s words through the lens of documented Masonic teachings, we can better understand why Washington stands as an enduring exemplar of Masonic virtue in both history and leadership.

Freemasonry in the eighteenth century emphasized a moral philosophy grounded in the classical cardinal virtues. These virtues—prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude—were not only the ethical pillars of Enlightenment thought but were also explicitly incorporated into Masonic instruction. Albert G. Mackey identified these four virtues as foundational to a Mason’s moral development, describing them as qualities that “should be the constant practice of every Mason” (Mackey, 1916). Earlier still, James Anderson’s Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734) required members to shape their actions according to the principles of moral virtue, reason, and self-governance. George Washington, initiated into the Craft in 1752, lived during a period when these virtues were emphasized in both civic and fraternal life.

Adams’s praise of Washington in the Inaugural Address explicitly invokes these classical virtues. In a pivotal passage, Adams describes Washington as a man who, “by a long course of great actions, regulated by prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude,” earned the gratitude of the nation and set an example for all who would follow him (Richardson, 1897). These four virtues not only form the cardinal moral structure of antiquity but also appear in Masonic ritual, lectures, and symbolism. The alignment between Adams’s language and Masonic teaching is unmistakable.

Washington’s prudence is well documented in both historical and Masonic scholarship. Douglas Knoop and G. P. Jones noted Washington’s consistent ability to weigh competing interests and act with foresight, discretion, and restraint—qualities central to the Masonic understanding of prudence as right judgment guided by reason (Knoop & Jones, 1963). Whether navigating the challenges of military command, chairing the Constitutional Convention, or shaping the office of the presidency, Washington demonstrated the disciplined judgment that Masonic authors describe as the foundation of wise leadership.

Justice, another virtue Adams attributes to Washington, was considered by Freemasons to be the cornerstone of civil society and moral conduct. Adams’s recognition of Washington’s justice aligns with historical observations about his fair dealing and even-handedness. Mary V. Thompson’s biographical research documents Washington’s lifelong commitment to fairness, both in public office and personal interactions (Thompson, 2018). Masonic teaching describes justice as the virtue that “assigns to every man his due,” and Washington’s reputation for impartiality reflects this principle.

Temperance, which Adams identifies as another regulating force in Washington’s life, is understood in Masonic symbolism as the mastery of one’s emotions and passions. Far from applying only to moderation in physical appetites, temperance for the eighteenth-century Mason signified emotional discipline and self-restraint. Washington embodied this virtue not only in his measured communication style but also in his willingness to step away from power at crucial moments—particularly at the end of the Revolutionary War and after two presidential terms. These acts of restraint have been recognized by historians, including Thompson (2018), as essential to the shaping of American republican leadership.

Fortitude, the final cardinal virtue in Adams’s sequence, refers in both classical and Masonic thought to moral courage and steadfastness. Washington exhibited fortitude in his endurance through the hardships of war, the frustrations of politics, and the internal divisions of a young nation. Masonic historian William R. Denslow described Washington’s life as “a model of fortitude,” noting that his calm perseverance became a defining feature of his leadership (Denslow, 1957).

Beyond the cardinal virtues, Adams also highlighted Washington’s disinterested public service—an ideal equally central to Masonic moral philosophy. Throughout his career, Washington repeatedly set aside personal ambition in service to the public good. His resignation of his military commission, his refusal of monarchical power, and his voluntary departure from the presidency reinforced a model of leadership grounded not in self-interest but in civic duty. Adams captured this quality when he referred to Washington’s “merit” and the “gratitude of his fellow-citizens,” a framing that mirrors the Masonic veneration for labor performed without expectation of reward.

Adams’s recognition of these virtues in Washington remains relevant today because it highlights a model of leadership grounded not in charisma or power but in moral character. In a society that continues to wrestle with questions of civic trust, ethical leadership, and the responsibilities of public office, the virtues embodied by Washington—and articulated by Adams—offer a framework rooted in restraint, justice, reflection, and service. These qualities have enduring resonance not only in Freemasonry but in any field that values principled leadership.

By praising Washington in explicitly virtue-based terms, Adams inadvertently revealed the deep alignment between Washington’s character and the Masonic moral ideal. The virtues that Adams celebrated were not ornamental traits but the disciplines Washington cultivated throughout his life—disciplines that shaped the founding of the Republic and continue to offer guidance to those who labor to improve themselves and the institutions they serve. The legacy of Washington, as seen through Adams’s tribute, stands as a reminder that the strength of a nation rests ultimately upon the character of its leaders.

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References

Anderson, J. (1734). The constitutions of the Free-Masons. Philadelphia: Benjamin Franklin.

Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 famous Freemasons (Vols. 1–4). Macoy Publishing.

Knoop, D., & Jones, G. P. (1963). The genesis of Freemasonry. Manchester University Press.

Mackey, A. G. (1916). An encyclopedia of freemasonry and its kindred sciences (Vol. 1). Masonic History Company.

Richardson, J. D. (Ed.). (1897). A compilation of the messages and papers of the presidents (Vol. 1). U.S. Government Printing Office.

Thompson, M. V. (2018). “In the hands of a good providence”: Religion in the life of George Washington. University of Virginia Press.