MASONIC CALENDAR
August
AUGUST 1
In 1779
American attorney, social worker, poet and author of The National Anthem, Bro.
Key was shipboard off Baltimore during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry
on the night of September `13-14, 1814, Thrilled to see the American flag still
flying over the fort at daybreak, Bro. Key wrote the poem, The Star Spangled
Banner. Born at Frederick County, MD, he died at Baltimore, MD, on January 11,
1843.
In 1867 Blacks vote for the first time in Tennessee on this date. On this date in 2005, Prince Hall Masonry is still not recognized by that
state's Grand Lodge
In 1923, in a
hotel in San Francisco, Bro. Warren G. Harding, the 29th US President, died of a
stroke at the age of 58. Bro. Harding had been on a transcontinental journey
that some believed he had embarked on to escape rumors of corruption in his
administration. After his death, investigations revealed the rumors were true,
and the scandal became known as Teapot Dome. Bro. Harding was initiated in
Marion Lodge No. 70, Marion, OH on June 28, 1901. He was passed 19 years later
on August 13, 1920, and raised August 27, 1920. On May 4, 1921 he was made an
Honorary Member of Albert Pike Lodge No 36, Washington, DC, and an Honorary
Member of America Lodge No. 3368, London, England, in 1922. A member of Marion
Lodge No. 63 (RAM), he was Knighted in Marion Commandery No. 36, Knights
Templar, on March 1, 1921. He had been awarded a 33degree in the Scottish Rite
but died before receiving it. When he joined Aladdin Shrine Temple of Columbus,
OH, he would be the first US President to become a Shrine Mason. At his death
his body was conducted from the White House to the Capitol by six Commanderies
of Washington, DC (Knights Templar). The asphalt container in which his body was
placed was the gift of Boumi Shine Temple of Baltimore MD.
In 1946, US
President and Bro. Harry S Truman signed the Fulbright Program into law,
establishing the scholarships named for Sen. William J. Fulbright of Arkansas.
The Bill provides for academic grants to Americans for study and teaching abroad
and to foreigners for study and teaching in the United States.
AUGUST 2
In 1861 The Grand Lodge of Colorado was formed on this day.
AUGUST 3
In 1949, Bro. William T. Kerr, an 80 year old
Mason travelled from Washington to Yeadon, Pa. to watch Bro. Harry S. Truman
sign the Flag Day Act into law. Freemasons had lobbied every president from
McKinnley to Truman to create the special day.
AUGUST 4
In 1753 George Washington received his Master Mason Degree In Fredericksburg Lodge, Virginia.
AUGUST 5
In 1813 the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the
Scottish Rite was founded. In 1884, Freemasons laid the cornerstone for the
Statue of Liberty.
AUGUST 6
In 1881 Brother Alexander Fleming, inventor of penicillin was born on
this day. Fleming became a Mason when he was a medical student.
AUGUST 7
In 1742, William Preston was born – d. April 1, 1818. Author of the revised
Masonic Ritual. In 1877 The Grand Lodge of New Mexico was formed on this day.
AUGUST 8
In 1815 Napoleon sets sail for St. Helena where
he was exiled. Many lists of Famous Masons include Napoleon as a member of the
craft, although there seems to be no conclusive proof.
AUGUST 9
In 1863 The first lodge in Idaho was chartered on this day.
AUGUST 10
In 1782 a letter dated this day, acknowledges the
receipt of a silk apron presented to George Washington. This apron now resides
in Philadelphia, PA.
AUGUST 11
In 1904 Freemasons lay the cornerstone for the new City Hall in
Savannah, Georgia. The cornerstone carries the dates 1904 and 5904 as well.
AUGUST 12
In 1762 George IV was born and was the first
Freemason to be crowned King.
AUGUST 13
In 1946 H. G. Wells died. Wells is best known for
such novels as The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man. Bro. Wells. Although
listed as a Mason on many Famous Freemason lists, there is no evidence to
support it. Wells parodied the craft in his book, The Inexperienced Ghost.
AUGUST 14
In 1826 William Morgan obtained his copyright for his "Illustrations
of Masonry, By One of the Fraternity Who Has Devoted Thirty Years to the
Subject". Although the publication led to his disappearance,
it was hardly the first of its kind. Morgan's disappearance let to the
anti-Masonic times, which nearly caused Freemasonry to become extinct.
AUGUST 15
In 1771 Sir Walter Scott was born. Bro. Scott,
best known for his novel, Ivanhoe, was initiated, passed and raised in Lodge
Saint David, no. 36 in Edinburgh on March 2nd, 1801.
AUGUST 16
In 1777, the Americans defeat the British at the Battle of
Bennington, Vt. It was after this battle that W. Bro. Dafoe's (founder of
masonicdictionary.com ) family moved to Canada as Empire Loyalists. 228 years
later this web site unites Freemasons of both countries.
AUGUST 17
In 1967, Country legend, Brother Charlie Walker
a 33rd Degree Mason was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
AUGUST 18
In 1979, 2 Georgia EA's were passed to the
Fellowcraft degree in Union Lodge No. 38's annual Cave Degree. In attendance
were 350 Masons from 14 states as well as Canada. On the same date in 1984, a MM
Degree was performed at the same location. 260 Masons from 9 states attended. On
the same date in 1990 a MM Degree was again conferred. In attendance were 268
Masons from 21 states as well as Mexico and Germany. On the same date in 2001 a
MM Degree was again conferred with 192 masons attending from 13 states. The
degree will next fall on this date in 2007.
AUGUST 19
In 1860 Brigham Young is believed to have said:
"G.A. Smith would like to go to England and obtain five
Charters for Lodges, which would give us a Grand Lodge which would make us
independent of all other Grand Lodges in the world. This is what Brother Scovil
would like to do and this could be done..."
Young was opposed to the idea.
AUGUST 20
In 1888 Nelson Monroe Williams, who was Grand Master of Ohio
in 1897 received the Royal and Select Master degrees in Hamilton Council No. 19,
R. & S. M., Hamilton, Ohio.
AUGUST 21
In 1993 the "Friend to Friend Monument" was dedicated in the cemetery
at Gettysburg, PA, by the Grand Lodge of Pa. This monument
commemorates friendship between masons on opposite sides of the American Civil
War.
AUGUST 22
In 1790, Washington wrote a letter to King David
Lodge No. 1 in Newport, Rhode Island. In part the letter read:
"... Being persuaded that a just application of the
principles, on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be 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...."
These words are inscribed on a monument to Freemasonry and
Washington in front of the state Capital in Indianapolis, Indiana.
AUGUST 23
In 1876 Bro. William Melville Martin Premiere of Saskatchewan was
born. He was initiated in Harriston Lodge No. 262,
Harriston, Ontario in 1900 and served as Grand Master in 1927.
AUGUST 24
In 1814 the British sack Washington, DC and burn
the White House. The cornerstone for the White House was laid by Washington on
October 13th, 1792 (485 years to the day of the arrest of the Templars in
France.). The trowel is in the replica room at the George Washington Masonic
Memorial in Alexandria, VA.
AUGUST 25
In 1919 Bro. George Wallace was born. Wallace was
at one time Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Alabama.
AUGUST 26
In 1902 M. W. Bro. William Alvin Belt, Grand Master of Ohio,
received his Master Mason's Degree In 1885.
AUGUST 27
In 1920 President Warren Harding was made a mason
in Marion Lodge No. 70, Marion, Ohio.
AUGUST 28
In 1769 the Masonic Order of Knights Templar was
conferred for the first time on American soil in St. Andrew's Chapter, Boston,
Massachusetts.
In 1749 and 1962 Brother Wolfgang Von Goethe and Bro. Stephen A. Dafoe were
both born respectively.
AUGUST 29
In 1941 William C. Woodward, Charter member of the Board of the Bank
of Canada died. Bro. Woodward was raised in Acacia Lodge No.
22, Vancouver, BC on Nov. 17, 1921.
AUGUST 30
In 1865 General Albert Pike is granted amnesty by President Andrew
Johnston. He had been previously in Canada as he had not
been granted amnesty by Lincoln's amnesty proclamation.
AUGUST 31
In 1894 Freemasons lay the cornerstone of the Hardin County
Armory building in Kanton, Ohio.
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