Evening star., 1933-02-19

on March 4, making in ALL so far as
known, the fourteenth member of
the order to hold this high office
George Washington was pre-eminently a
Master Mason, and could have been the
preme head Of the fraternity in the United
States had he cared to be. He was raised in
Fredericksburg Lodge No A. of Fredericksburg,
Va. August 4, 1850, and became worshipful
master of Alexandria Washington Lodge, No.
-, of Alexandria, Va.
During the past year much has been said
of this foremost American; indeed, every
phase of his life has been brought to public
attention The people of the United States
are justly proud to revere him patriot,
soldier, statesman and first President of
the Republic while the Masons of this country
and throughout the civilized world not only
revere his memory for his remarkable qualities
and achievements, but also because of his
. being the greatest exponent of Masonry in
modern times.
He laid the corner stone of the United
States Capitol in 1893, and when he died he
was tenderly conveyed to his last resting place
on December 49, 1899, by the brethren of the
lodge who had honored him with the highest
Office at their command, and who had met
him in the lodge room, and who had enjoyed
and appreciated his wisdom and his counsel
and to whose memory the memorial on Shoot
ers Hill is but a slight tribute. He was the
first President, and the first Master Mason
to hold that Office. However, he ceased to be
President before the White House was COM
pleted.
Little is known of Thomas Jefferson's
Masonry except that he is said to have been
made a Mason in Colonial times, and, with
Thomas Paine, attended the Lodge of Nine
Sisters in Paris, France, during the French
Revolution.
President Monroe is recorded as having been
made Mason in st. Johns Lodge (Army
1odge), in 1777. while he was suffering from
a wound. He was an officer in the Virginia
troops. According to history of Williams
burg Lodge No. 6, published in william and
Mary Quarterly, Volume l., No. l, 1892, the
name Of James Monroe appears in the list of
names, and assurance is given by good author
ity that this is the same James Monroe who
was afterward President Of the United States
At a public ceremony held in his honor in
Richmond shortly after Mr.. Monroe's death,
Richmond Randolph Lodge, No. 49, A. F. g. A.
M, met and attended his funeral.
John Quincy Adams the sixth President, Is
said to have been raised in ST. Johns Lodge
Boston, Mass in 1926. If 50, he was Presi-
dent of the United States at the time
A NDREw JACKSON, who succeeded the
second John Adams, was an enthusiastic
Mason. He was a member of Philanthropic
Lodge Glover Blossom Tenn, and served as
grand master Of Masons Of Tennessee, 1922
and 1928. When Greenville Lodge of Tennes-
see was opened on dispensation, in 1800 the
senior warden was absent, and Gen. Jackson
acted in his place, indicating that he was
charter member of this lodge coming on dimit
from some other lodge.
President James K. Polk was initiated in
Columbia Lodge, No. 81, at Columbia, Tenn,
on June S, 1920; he was passed August z, and
raised September 4, 1920 He served as junior
warden of his lodge in 1921. When the corner
stone of the Smithsonian Institution was laid,
on May 1, 1847, by the Grand Lodge, F. A.
A. NJ, of Washington, D. c., President Polk,
Vice President George M. Dallas and others
were present At this time the apron worn
by the grand master was the historic one
made by Mime. Lafayette and originally pre-
sented to Gen. Washington by the Grand
Lodge Of France through Gen. Lafayette, and
worn by the former on the occasion of the
laying Of the corner stone of the Capitol. For
years this relic had been in the possession of
and 1ealously guarded by Mount Nebo Lodge,
No. 81, of Shepherdstown Md, and specially
loaned for this occasion. The famous gavel,
owned by Potomac Lodge No. 5, of George
town, D. c., was also present at this time
James Buchanan, who preceded Abraham
Lincoln in the White House, belonged to
Lodge No. 49, of Lancaster, Pa. in which he
was initiated December H. 1916, passed and
raised January "a, 1917. He first became an
officer in the lodge December 13, 1920, when
he became junior warden, and became wor-
9hipful master on December %, 1922, when
he was serving his State as a member Of the
United States Congress. At the expiration of
his term Of office he became the first deputy
grand master of his district. He was also
Royal Arch Mason having been exalted in
Chapter No. A. May 20, 1926.
The next President to receive the degrees Of
Freemasonry was Andrew Johnson who came