The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-05-13
WIN. McKINLEY AS A MASON
Some of His Experiences as a Mem
Der of TITS Ancient Order.

entitled "Wai Scars in the
Shenandoah"
We quote one paragraph as fol-
lows:
1.-The building where Mckinley
was made a Mason is still intact
and the Winchester folks-even the
most juvenile of them-have on their
tongues end the story CT how Nc
Kinley, wounded at Antietam, lay
on cot next to a Confederate officer
who seemingly was given greater
care and more attention than he.
One day he inquired, and found that
the ward attendant and the Confeder
ate officer we're brothers. McKin-
ley then made known his desire to
associate himself with an order in
which brotherhood was such a para
mont tenet. His convalescent
enemy Endorsed his application at
the nearest lodge, which, through
the constant maneuvering of the
army, CHANGED to be Winchester.
1t was here, at the hands OF his
country's foes, that the man destined
to be the loved president of reunit-
ed country received his Masonic de-
grees."
The above is especially interest
ing to fraters of Hanselmann, for
our late president was an honorary
member of our commanders. While
the Metropolitan has given US very
pretty story of Frater McKinley's
initiation into our order, unfortu-
nately its facts are somewhat dis
torted. Mckinley was not wounded
at the battle of Antietam. Maryland,
nor was he wounded at any time
while serving in the Union army.
Our authority for this statement is
the acknowledgement of Ohio, Gus
todian of the records of Ohio troops
in the war of the rebellion.
The battle of Antietam began at
daybreak. Before daylight the
men we're in the ranks preparing for
it. The fight lasted from daybreak
to nightfall, and the Union troops
went into it without breakfast, or
even coffee. Early in the afternoon
they we're famished and thirsty, and
to some extent broken in spirit. 1t
was then that Mckinley a commits
sary sergeant, won his shoulder
straps by serving, without authority
and with his own hands, every man
in his regiment with hot meats and
coffee, while the troops we're fight
ing under a fierce fire. This was a
feat that had never before occurred
in any army in the world under
similar circumstances, and when
Gov. Todd, Ohio's great ''war
governor, was told of the incident
he promoted the young hero at once
to a lieutenantcy. Ex-President
Hayes was the colonel in command
OF McKinley's regiment the Twenty
third Ohio Volunteer infantry, and
attests to the gallantry of our la
mented frater on this occasion.
William McKinley's entrance, at
the age of % years, into the order,
was an incident of the war between
the states. II came near the close
of the memorable civil strife while
he was an officer in the Federal
army.
The young officer from Ohio was
stationed at Winchester, Va, where
was located hospital for wounded
Federal soldiers, and wounded Con-
federate prisoners. In making the
rounds one afternoon with the regi-
mental surgeon, Mckinley noticed
that the doctor was on very friend
ly terms with several of the South
erners, not infrequently giving them
money or tobacco. The interest of
the future president was aroused, he
asked the reason for this rather I'M
usual cordiality. The surgeon told
him that the wounded rebels we're
brothers Masons, and that it was not
only duty, but pleasure to add
something to the few comforts OF
hospital life. The young officer
met this information with the wish
to become a member of a fraternity
on which neither the vicissitudes of
civil strife nor rank Of Office had the
slightest effect.
During the war the lines of juris-
diction we're often forgotten. Mill
tary lodges and special convocations
Of Masons, called together in man
ner which would be regarded in
these days as clandestine, we're fire.
quently held In Winchester there
was a regular lodge Mason,
differed by Confederate
soldiers, OF citizens on parole. The
decision of young McKinlY was made
known to the officers of Hiram
Lodge No. 81 of Winchester, his