Thedea seems to exist that any society or organization which seeks prestige and standing in the world must claim the affiliation of distinguished men, as well as connection with important world events. Freemasonry has by no means been free from this ambition. Members of the fraternity have from time immemorial been vain glorious in associating with the society kings, presidents, statesmen, soldiers, and other individuals notable in human affairs. The result has led to the circulation of numerous myths which have been passed on from one decade to another until the present generation accepts many of them as facts.
The Masonic enthusiast is not always careful to ascertain the Masonic record of those distinguished individuals whom lie seeks to establish as Freemasons, and in many instances simply relies upon the prominence of the person as an excuse for associating him with the fraternity. Many claims in circulation at the present time and which are generally believed to be facts are without the semblance of truth.
One of the most frequent assertions made by Masonic speakers and writers is that of the fifty-five signers of the Declaration of Independence some forty or fifty were Freemasons. The statement is absolutely without foundation, and is so grossly exaggerated as to reflect no credit upon either the Fraternity or he who makes use of it. In the year 190, General John C. Smith of Chicago, who devoted much of his spare time to Masonic research, made a thorough investigation of this claim, and the conclusions which he reached were, that of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, only six were known to be Freemasons. Those whom he named were William Hooper, North Carolina; Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania; Mathew Thornton, New Hampshire; William Shipple, New Hampshire; John Hancock, Massachusetts, and Philip Livingston, New York. George W. Baird of Washington, D. C., who has given this subject much consideration, has in addition to the above names, added those of Robert Morris, Robert Treat Paine, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, claiming to have found in existing records evidences of the Masonic standing of these distinguished patriots.
It is believed, however, that some of the misunderstanding concerning the Masonic affiliation of the signers of the Declaration of Independence is due to a confusion of names. Joseph Bartlett, one of the signers, was not the Joseph Bartlett who was Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1798 and -99, and again in 1810. Stephen Hopkins, another of the signers, was not the man of the same name who was a member of St. John's Lodge, in Rhode Island, nor was Oliver Wolcott Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut - the Oliver Wolcott who constituted one of the fifty-five immortals who fixed their names to the greatest document in the world's history.
No little speculation exists as to the presidents of the United States who were members of the Fraternity. The authentic record is as follows: George Washington, initiated in Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Fredericksburg, Va., November 4, 1752; passed March 3, 1753; raised August 4, 1753.
Andrew Jackson, the name of whose mother
lodge and the dates of whose receiving the degrees are not known,
was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee in 1822
and 1823.
James K. Polk, initiated in Columbia Lodge No. 31, Columbia, Tenn., June 5, 1820; passed August 7, 1820; raised September 4, 1820.
James Buchanan, initiated in Lodge No. 43, Lancaster, Pa., December 11, 1816; passed and raised January 24, 1817.
Andrew Johnson, initiated, passed and raised in Greenville Lodge No. 119, Greenville, Tenn., dates unknown, but supposed to be between 1858 and 1862.
James A. Garfield, initiated in Magnolia Lodge No. 20, Columbus, Ohio, November 19, 1861; passed December 3, 1861 ; raised December 22, 1864. Ile also received the capitular and Templar degrees and those of the Lodge of Perfection in the Scottish Rite. William McKinley initiated in Hiram lodge No. 21, Winchester, Va., May 1, 1865; Passed May 2, 1865; raised May 3, 1865; exalted in Canton Chapter No. 84, Canton, Ohio, December 28, 1883; created a Knight Templar in Canton Commandery No. 38, Canton, Ohio, December 23, 1884.
Theodore Roosevelt, initiated, passed, and raised in Matinecock Lodge No. 806, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, January 2, 1901.
William H. Taft, made a Mason at sight by Charles S. Hoskinson, Grand Master of Ohio, in Cincinnati, February 18, 1909.
A myth pleasing to many Masons is that the Boston Tea Party which in 1775 threw the cases of tea into the harbor, was composed entirely of Masons. Absolutely nothing is known of the personnel of the Boston Tea Party. On the evening in question, a number of persons disguised as Indians sallied forth from St. Andrews Lodge in the Green Dragon Tavern upon their historic mission. A statement has been in circulation that the records of the Lodge for that particular might were adorned with capital T's, and the announcement made that the Lodge had "adjourned on public business." There is nothing to indicate that the Boston Tea Party was a Masonic affair. The fact that the place of rendezvous was the meeting place of St. Andrews Lodge simply shows that those connected with the enterprise chose a quiet retreat in which to complete their disguise and perfect their arrangements. No doubt some of the members of the party were Masons, but the real facts connected with this most important historical event will never be known.
Another claim which is frequently made by Masonic enthusiasts is that all of the Generals of the Revolutionary War were Freemasons. There is, however, no foundation whatsoever for this assumption which is simply one of those pleasant myths which Masons ever find pleasure in relating. Many men promiment in the American Revolution were members of Masonic Lodges, but there is mo evidence to show that the Fraternity as such was at all active more than might be deduced from the personal efforts of such noble patriots as were known to be Freemasons. There is abundant evidence to prove that during the Revolutionary War Lodges were mot as prosperous as they had been heretofore, and because of the great stress placed upon the nation in its hour of peril, little time was found for the exploitation of Masonry other than that which was brought into play through Masonic comradeship. Real Masonry is mot confined to the four walls of a Lodge room; but cam very often be found on high hills, and in low vales where human sympathy often blossoms forth.
The affiliation of George Washington with the Masonic Fraternity is an established fact, notwithstanding the frantic efforts of insidious foes to prove the contrary. When this distinguished statesman and patriot took his oath of office as President of the United States, his hand rested upon his Masonic Bible: When he laid the corner-stone of the Capitol at Washington it was with the trowel of his Masonic lodge. One of the most priceless possessions of the Grand lodge of Massachusetts is a small golden urn fashioned by the hand of Paul Revere in which rests a lock of hair from the head of the most beloved man America ever produced. George Washington, the first President of his country, and a Freemason.
Many distinguished men connected with Washington the Revolutionary War were Freemasons. LaFayette was a Mason although no one knows where nor when he received his Masonic degrees. The assumption is that his initiation took place in an Army lodge, not improbably at the instance and in the presence of Washington. During LaFayette's last visit to the United States, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania received hint with distinguished honor, but before doing so, appointed a committee to investigate and report upon his Masonic regularity. The committee made careful investigation and submitted a report stating that they were fully satisfied, but gave no evidence upon which they based their conclusions. On May 4, 1825, LaFayette Visited the Grand Lodge of Tennessee and was made an honorary member. In accepting the honor, he is reported to have said, that he had long been a member of the Order, having been initiated young as he was even before he entered the service of our country in the Revolutionary War. No mention, however, of Lafayette is made by any French Masonic authorities which leads to the assumption that lie may have received his degrees in this country.
Paul Revere, who lighted the signal fires on the hills of Middlesex County, from Boston to Concord, and whose midnight ride will he forever immortalized, was a member of the old St. Andrews Lodge of Boston, as was John Pulling, the man who gave him the signal in the belfry of the old North Church in Boston.
Peyton Randolph, Grand Master of Virginia, who presided over the First Continental Congress; John Hancock of Massachusetts, who directed the Continental Congress which declared the independence of America, and who was the first man to sign the Declaration; Joseph Warren, who left his Lodge room to lay down his life on Bunker Hill; Casimir Pulaski, Brigadier General in the Continental Army; John Sullivan, Major General in the Revolutionary War, and first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire; Baron Von Steuben, who trained the Continental Army; the daring and dauntless Israel Putnam; John Marshall, who expounded the meaning of the Constitution and was a zealous advocate of its integrity, were all devoted members of the Masonic Fraternity. Many others may have been Masons, but in the absence of positive proof, any claims which may be made must be looked upon as mere conjectures.
It is impossible to leave the present subject without making some mention of the apostacy of Benedict Arnold. The claim has been frequently made that Arnold was not a Freemason, but the distinguished Chauncey M. DePew of New York is authority for the statement that the records of King Solomon's Lodge of Poughkeepsie, disclose that from 1771 Benedict Arnold was a frequent visitor to that Lodge. An entry in the minutes made in 1781 reads as follows: "Ordered that the name of Benedict Arnold be considered as obliterated from the minutes of this Lodge as a traitor."
The expulsion of Benedict Arnold front the Masonic Fraternity sets at naught the charge which has so often been made that Masons protect one another in crime and that conviction of members of the fraternity in civil courts is almost an impossibility. Such charges are absolutely without foundation and can he traced directly to those enemies of the society who ever seek to disparage it.
The many stories in circulation concerning the initiation of women into the Masonic Fraternity are pure fiction and without historical proof. One of the great hoaxes connected with Freemasonry relates to the alleged initiation of the Honorable Mrs. Aldworth. The story which for many years was accepted by Masons as literal fact, and was disproven by the investigations of William J. Hughan, is as follows Lord Doneraile, Mrs. Aldworth's father, was a very zealous Mason, and held a warrant in his own hands and occasionally opened Lodge at Doneraile House. His sons and some intimate friends in the neighborhood assisted; and, it is said, never were Masonic duties more rigidly performed nor the business of the Craft more sincerely pursued than by the brethren of No. 150, the number of their warrant.
It appears that, previous to the initiation of a gentleman to the first steps in Masonry, Mrs. Aldworth, who was then a young girl, happened to be in an apartment adjoining the room, usually used as a lodge room.
Plus room, at that time was undergoing repairs and alterations, among other things the wall in some parts was considerably reduced.
The young lady having distinctly heard voices and prompted by the curiosity natural to all to see somewhat of this mystery so long and so secretly locked up from public, view, she had the courage with her scissors to pick a brick from the wall and actually witnessed the awful and mysterious ceremony through the first two steps.
Curiosity gratified, fear at I once took possession of her mind. She saw no mode of escape, but through the very room where the concluding part of the second step was still performing and that being at the far end and the room a very large one. She again had resolution sufficient to attempt her escape that way, and with light, but trembling steps and almost suspended breath, she glided along unobserved by the Lodge, laid her hand on the handle and softly opening the door, before her stood a Tyler with long rusty sword.
Her shriek alarmed the Lodge, and finding from the Tyler that she had been in the room during the ceremony, in the first paroxysm of rage and alarm, it is said her death was resolved on, but from the moving and earnest supplication of her younger brother, her life was spared on condition of her going through the two steps she had already seen. This, she agreed to do, and they conducted the beautiful and terrified young creature through the ceremonies, little thinking they were taking into the bosom of their Craft a member that would afterwards reflect a lustre on the annals of Masonry.
As Freemasonry has progressed in its evolution,
much of the speculation which gave rise to the many myths connected
with the society has been reduced to cold facts, and in the Twentieth
Century Freemasonry is coming to he regarded as a human institution
with a practical relation to every-day affairs.
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