Presidents Of The United States as Freemasons

First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen. George Washington was the first of fourteen Presidents of the United States who have been Freemasons. Only George Washington was both President and Master of his Masonic Lodge at the same time. During Washington's adult life Freemasonry was his constant guide and support. He became a Mason in the Masonic Lodge at Fredericksburg, Virginia on August 4, 1753 when he was 21 years old. When Alexandria Lodge, Virginia was chartered in 1788, George Washington became its Charter Master.The Lodge at Fredericksburg permits the Bible on which Washington took his obligations as a Freemason to travel to other Lodge, always with an honor guard. When Washington was inaugurated the first time as President of the United States in New York City, April 30 1789, Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, Grand Master of Masons in New York administered the oath of office with the President's hand resting proudly upon the bible from St. John's Masonic Lodge. Acting as Grand Master pro tem of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, on September 19, 1793, George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol at Washington, D.C. He was buried with Masonic ceremonies at Mt. Vernon by Alexandria Lodge on December 18, 1799. George Washington was continuously responsive to Freemasonry. As an example of his deep interest, he wrote to a Masonic Lodge in Rhode Island in 1790: "Being persuaded that a just application of the principles on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded must be a promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society and to be considered by them as a deserving brother." In the American history of Masonry, older in years than the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, no Mason has been more deserving of the title "brother" than George Washington.

After George Washington there were other Masonic Presidents.
James Monroe, 5th President, was initiated in Williamsburg Lodge No. 6, Virginia in 1775.
Andrew Jackson, 7th President, was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee in 1822-23.
James K. Polk, 11th President, was a member of Columbia Lodge, South Carolina. He was also a Knights Templar.
James Buchanan, 15th President, was made a Mason in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1817 and a Royal Arch Mason in 1826.
Andrew Johnson, 17th President, was a member of Greenville Lodge, Tennessee.
James A. Garfield, President, became a member of Columbus Lodge No. 30, Ohio, in 1864, a Knights Templar in 1866, and the Scottish Rite in 1872.
William McKinley, 25th President, was a member of Hiram Lodge, Winchester, Virginia, and became a Knights Templar in 1884.
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President, was made a Mason in Matinecock Lodge No. 806, Oyster Bay, New York, in 1901.
William Howard Taft, 27th President, was made a Mason at sight in Kilwinning Lodge No. 356, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1901.
Warren G. Harding, 28th President, became a Mason in Marion Lodge, Ohio, in 1920, a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine in 1921.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 31st President, was made a Mason in Holland Lodge No. 8, New York City, in 1911, a member of the Scottish Rite in 1929 and the Shrine in 1930.
Harry S. Truman, 33rd President, was made a Mason in Belton Lodge, Missouri, in 1909. He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1940 and received the 33rd degree from the Scottish Rite.
Gerald Ford, 38th President, is a member of Malta Lodge, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received the 33rd degree in 1962.

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