American Union Lodge No. 1 - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic ...

After the troops had again taken post on the banks of the Hudson, Colonel BROOKS was employed under Baron Steuben as
inspector of discipline, and rendered the most valuable services by introducing uniformity and order, under the new system, into the
ranks of the army. In these various duties he acquired the confidence of Washington, and established an enviable reputation, alike
for military science and the personal qualities of the brave officer. But the services which he rendered as a patriot citizen, at the time
the army was disbanded, were in no degree inferior to those which he had performed in the bloodiest fields of the war.
On the appearance of the Newburgh letters, Washington summoned the officers of the army together, and affectionately exhorted
them to withhold their countenance from the suggestions contained in those publications. After this address of the general, the
officers raised a committee to express their views of the subject, in the form of resolutions. Of this committee Colonel BROOKS was
an active member. The tone and purport of the resolutions reported by the committee, are well known to all who are acquainted with
the history of the American war. It would not be easy to overstate their importance, in preventing the army from being excited at this
crisis to rash and unpatriotic measures. We should do injustice to this part of the subject did we not relate an anecdote, preserved
by the late Chief Justice Parker of Massachusetts, in an interesting biographical sketch of Governor BROOKS; nor can we do it so
well, as in the words of the chief justice:—" On this occasion the commander-in-chief, to whom this was the most anxious moment in
his life, rode up to BROOKS, with intent to ascertain how the officers stood affected. Finding him, as he expected, to be sound, he
requested him to keep his officers in their quarters, to prevent them from attending the insurgent meeting. BROOKS replied, 'Sir, I
have anticipated your wishes, and my orders are given.' Washington, with tears in his eyes, took him by the hand and said, ' Colonel
BROOKS, this is just what I expected from you.'"
Colonel BROOKS, like most of his brethren in arms, retired in poverty from the service of his country. He immediately resumed the
practice of his laborious profession, in Medford and the neighboring towns. The kindness of his heart and the gentleness of his
manners procured him the love and confidence of all around him; and increased, if possible, the extraordinary reliance which was
placed in his professional skill.
The community, however, was not willing to release its claim on his public services. He was, immediately after the close of the war,
appointed major-general of the 3rd division of the Massachusetts militia. He was frequently chosen a representative to the general
court of the commonwealth. He was a delegate to the convention of 1788, by which the constitution of the United States was
adopted. To this happy frame of government he gave his hearty and intelligent support. He took part, on several occasions, in the
debates of the convention. His remarks are characterized by good sense and discrimination; and in pointing out the difference
between "a consolidation of the states" and " consolidation of the union," he evinced a forethought and sagacity indicative of the
sound practical statesman. He was for several years a senator for the county of Middlesex, and a member of the executive council.
On the visit of Washington to that part of the country, in 1789, General BROOKS had the satisfaction of passing his division of the
Massachusetts militia in review before the beloved and revered commander-in-chief. Their state of discipline attracted Washington's
especial notice; and he said to General BROOKS, "if we had had such men as these when I was here before, we should have made
short work of it." When the army of 1798 was organized, Washington designated General BROOKS for the command of a brigade; but
not thinking the dangers of the country to be such as required from him a second sacrifice of the comforts of domestic life, he
declined the appointment.
During the administration of Governor Strong, he was appointed adjutant-general of the commonwealth of Massachusetts; and on
his retirement from the chief magistracy, was called to the chair of state. This event took place shortly after the close of the War of
1812. Governor Brooks was happily calculated to cooperate in the work which then took place, of allaying party dissension. Before
the close of his administration, which was renewed for six successive terms, from 1816 to 1822, the state was brought to a good
degree of internal harmony; and mainly under the healing influence of his character.
He labored assiduously to discharge the duties of his office. His addresses to the legislature evince large and liberal views of the
policy of the state, united with a spirit of moderation and impartiality. It was impossible to bring less of the partisan to the
performance of official duty. But we cannot so effectually do justice to this part of his character, as by again borrowing the words of
Chief Justice Parker: — "He maintained the dignity of the office, and thereby honored the people who bestowed it; receiving all
distinguished strangers with becoming attention and courtesy. Though the style of his living was conformable to his limited means,
yet the order and regularity of his household, the real comfort of his entertainments, the polite deportment of the host, struck
strangers, even those accustomed to magnificence, as a happy specimen of republican simplicity, and of generous but economical
hospitality. Bred in the best school of manners—a military association of high-minded, accomplished officers—his deportment,
though grave and dignified like Washington's, was nevertheless warm and affectionate. On all ceremonious occasions, ceremony
seemed to become him better than any one else. In the chair of state, when receiving the gratulations of a happy people on the
birthday of their independence;—on the spacious common, paying honors to the president of the United States;—on the military
field, reviewing our national guard, the militia;—at his own humble but honored mansion, taking to his breast his early friend, 'the
nation's guest,' what young man of taste and feeling could be unmoved at his soldierly air, his graceful demeanor, covering, but not
impairing the generous feelings of a warm and affectionate heart! If the writer does not mistake, he was one of the last and best
samples of that old school of manners, which, though it has given way to the ease and convenience of modern times, will be
regretted by some, as having carried away with it many of the finest and most delicate traits of social intercourse."
After his voluntary retirement from the chair of state, Governor BROOKS still continued to serve the community in various important
capacities, and to manifest his sympathy in the public spirited objects which were presented for his approbation. He continued to his
death president of the Massachusetts medical society; of the Cincinnati; of the Washington monument society; and of the Bunker
Hill Monument Association. He received from the university at Cambridge, at different periods, the honorary degrees of Master of
Arts and Doctor of Laws, conferring on that ancient and venerable society, in thus becoming her adopted son, an honor not inferior
to that which he himself derived from these academic distinctions.
Returned to the shades of private life, he devoted himself to the cultivation of his farm;—to a wide course of scientific, political, and
various reading; and to a free and unceremonious intercourse with the circle of friends and neighbors of which he was the ornament
and boast. He reaped and enjoyed the harvest of a life of virtue, honor, and usefulness. He had retired from the public service with
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