“Brother George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, first President of the United States, and member of Alexandria Lodge (Fairfax County, Virginia) shows his Masonic Apron to Brother Benjamin Franklin, diplomat who negotiated French involvement in our independence. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Master of the Loge Les Neuf Soeurs, in Paris. It was a gift from Brother General Lafayette, member of the Loge Contrat Social of Paris, who represented the French government and their commitment to American Independence.”

Demonstrations related to George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis had started out peacefully in at about noon in Philadelphia Saturday, with hundreds paying silent homage to Floyd outside City Hall. But the situation grew destructive as the day went on and an estimated 3,000 people moved into the area. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that vandals and looters broke into some stores, smashed windows and stole items Saturday afternoon. A Starbucks outside City Hall was set on fire Saturday evening, along with several cars. The mayor of Philadelphia has imposed a curfew effective from 8 p.m. through 6 a.m.

But local Brethren didn’t let the vandalism last for very long. Members of University Lodge 51 removed the paint early this evening before the curfew, noting that, “Spray painted statues symbolizing brotherhood and Fraternity… Only get cleaned quicker.”