Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV, Appendix to diplomatic correspondence of 1865; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late president of the United States of America, and the attempted assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, on the evening of the 14th of April, 1865; expressions of condolence and sympathy inspired by these events

Messina Lodge Le Lume e la Verita

Messina, June 10, 1856

[Translation.]

Translation of letter from Masonic Lodge Le Lume e la Verita, in Messina, dated June 10, 1865.

To his Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of the United States:

We, inhabitants of distant regions, ultimately address a word to you, citizen President, to manifest to you the great grief that afflicted our hearts on the melancholy intelligence of the assassination of the illustrious President, Abraham Lincoln—mourned for nine days in the temple of our mysterious works.

In vain did that sacrilegious hand raise itself to smite such virtue, for his name will last to eternity. In him America acknowledges the Washington of liberty; to him the slave to-day pours out his benedictions that his chains are loosed, and the civil people from all quarters of the globe spread flowers and tears on the tomb of the just.

It is but too true that the country of virtue is heaven, and its temple the world.

Accept, citizen President, this tribute of regard towards the late Illustrious which all the fraternity of this respectable lodge dedicate to him. In the mean time we beg you to manifest our grief towards the American nation, which is to-day so nobly given to you to represent.

Signed by the venerable

GIOVANNI PINOTTA,

And others.