St. John of Jerusalem Lodge
[Translation]
The Lodge of St. John of Jerusalem to the Grand Lodge of New York.
Excellent and Illustrious Brothers: At the sound of the sad news that has filled the world, the hearts of all French masons were filled with grief. They shed tears of sympathy for the glorious death of one who had handled the hammer, square, and compass, the living insignia of our immortal society, and then arose to the head of the American people by his genius, his virtues, and his spotless life. The holiest causes have always had their martyrs, as a necessary kind of consecration; and Abraham Lincoln is one of these, the noblest victim of his duty.
This lodge mingles its regrets with the other lodges of French free masonry. It does not forget that if all people are brothers, those of France and America are more so than any others; and we hope this will give supreme consolation to the soul of Abraham Lincoln.
No, a villain’s crime cannot destroy the immortal work of the great citizen. A final peace and the abolishment of slavery—the just fruits of his glorious acts, a worthy recompense of his martyrdom—will show the world once more what the devotion of a noble heart can do against the fanaticism of ignorance.
We are, &c.,