Mere Freemasonry

A time capsule laid in the cornerstone of the Boston State House in 1795 has been unearthed.  This particular time capsule is notable as it was laid by Governor Samuel Adams, Grand Master of Massachusetts (and Knight Templar) Paul Revere, and William Scollay who was not only author Herman Melville’s grandfather, but also a Freemason appointed by Paul Revere as his deputy.

From the Smithsonian:

Back on July 4, 1795, none other than midnight-rider Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, who was then Massachusetts’ governor, laid a time capsule in the Massachusetts State House in Boston. The event was a big to-do. Fifteen white horses (one for each state of the union) pulled the brass box to the ceremony, where a 15-gun salute accompanied its entombment within a cornerstone by Revere, Adams and fellow revolutionary William Scollay.

You can read the whole article HERE.

The National Parks Traveler website has put up a post about the upcoming celebrations of Brother George Washington’s inauguration.

From the post:

It was 225 years ago this April 30 that George Washington was inaugurated as the country’s first president. You can mark that occasion when the National Park Service celebrates it at Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City.

It was on April 30, 1789, at 26 Wall Street in New York City that George Washington became the first president of the newly created United States of America. The Park Service is celebrating that event with a wide range of activities appropriate for different ages and interests. All activities are designed to bring history to life and offer a glimpse of the society and pageantry that surrounded the first inauguration. Read more »

Hoai-Tran Bui has posted an article on NBC Washington’s website about the unveiling of the restoration of Brother George Washington’s ‘New Room’ at Mount Vernon.

From the article:

Historians had long called the biggest room in George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate “the Large Dining Room.” Where else would the first president hold his meals except in the most auspicious room?

It turns out they were wrong.

Read more »

Christina Sterbenz and Robert Johnson have written a piece over at Business Insider about the 17 most influential Freemasons ever.  Eric Goldschein contributed to the research for the article.  From Business Insider:

The Freemasons, a fraternal organization developed from the stonemasons, include more than 6 million members worldwide.

Despite nearing 300 years of activity, the Freemasons remain mysterious, with many of their records destroyed naturally by time. But a few member lists survived — and they name some of the most influential people throughout history.

While it is an interesting (and short) article, it appears that they may not have received the full story on the men they present as Masons.

You can read the rest of the article HERE.

On this day in 1909, 27th President of the United States, William Taft, was initiated into Freemasonry as an Entered Apprentice Mason.

From Wikipedia:

William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was the 27th President of the United States (1909–1913) and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921–1930). He is the only person to have served in both of these offices.