First Senate Filibuster

Senator William R. King, a member of Phoenix Lodge 8 of Fayetteville, NC and later the 13th Vice President of the US, conducted the first sustained senate filibuster beginning February 18, 1841. It lasted 3 weeks, ending on March 11 and was in opposition to Senator Henry Clay's support of a bill to re-charter the Second National Bank.  When Brother Clay (Grand Master of Kentucky in 1820) unsuccessfully attempted to change senate rules to block the filibuster, a defiant Brother King suggested Clay "make his arrangements at his boarding house for the winter." 

King won on both counts.  The senate did not change its filibuster rules and those same rules substantially remain in effect today.  The effort to re-charter the Second National Bank failed, as did the bank itself.

First Photograph Of A Sitting President

On February 14, 1849, Brother James K. Polk, Columbia Lodge 31, Columbia, Tennessee, became the first president of the United States to be photographed while in office.

Famous Freemasons Video

This excellent video is from Todd Creason at the Midnight Freemason Blog (http://toddecreason.blogspot.com/)

The Clerical Error

Brother Robert G. Harrison, Noblesville Lodge 57, Indiana, became falsely embroiled in a presidential assassination attempt due to a clerical error!

As a senior executive at Wallace Expanding Machines, Brother Harrison earned a spot in the Standard and Poor's Directory of Corporate Executives.  A clerical error in his listing said he was also the Chairman and CEO of US Natural Resources, Inc., a company that, in spite of its environmentally-friendly sounding name, was involved in clearing forests.  On September 5, 1975, fanatic environmentalist and Manson disciple Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme went to a Gerald Ford rally to plead with him on behalf of her environmental causes.  In the process she pointed a gun at Brother Ford, earning a life prison sentence for the attempted assassination of the President.  In the ensuing investigation, authorities searched Fromme's apartment and found a mailing containing one of her rants. She used Brother Harrison's home as the return address due to what she thought was his involvement with USNR.  A quick but exciting conversation with the FBI subsequently cleared Brother Harrison of any involvement.

Diogenes the Mason — 79 A.D.

In 1874, archaeologists discovered a room in Pompeii preserved from 79 A.D. in the ash of Mt. Vesuvius.  Inside was a trestle-board, showing a large square above a skull and a plumb line.  In the same room were an urn representing a pot of manna, a setting maul, trowel, spade, a small staff and a chest representing the Ark of the Covenant.   Over the door of the house was an inscription, "Diogenes the Mason."

Submitted by Otha Wingo, Harold O. Grauel Lodge #672, Missouri

Long John

Put into service during the Civil War era, "Long John" was Chicago's first fire engine.  A spiffy new steam-powered model, the amazing vehicle was named for Chicago's mayor "Long John" Wentworth. Brother Wentworth, a member of Chicago's Oriental Lodge 33, introduced the fire engine during his term as mayor and, in turn, the city named it in his honor.  Considered a near-giant in a time when the average man stood 5'7", 300 pound "Long John," at 6'6", towered over most people of his day.

William McKinley

William McKinley, Eagle Lodge 431 of Canton, Ohio (Later William McKinley Lodge), was the last President of the United States who was a Civil War veteran.

Tipperary

The inspirational World War I battle song "It's A Long Way To Tipperary" was first sung in public at a Ladies Night in York Lodge, Toronto, Ontario on March 27, 1912.

Godspeed, John Glenn

On February 20, 1962, 50 years ago today, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth in his space capsule, Friendship 7, blasting off with his flight crew wishing him, "Godspeed, John Glenn." At flight's end an indicator light warned his heat shield was loose.  Glenn therefore kept his retrorockets in place to secure the heat shield and returned to earth in what he described as "a real fireball."  Brother Glenn is a member of Concord Lodge 688 Concord, Ohio.

The Roosevelt Dime

The US Mint issued a dime carrying Franklin Roosevelt's portrait just nine months after his death. Known as the Roosevelt dime, it has been in continuous circulation since. The reverse side shows an olive branch symbolizing peace, a torch (the same one held by the Statue of Liberty) symbolizing freedom, and an oak branch which symbolizes safety, security and strength.

The Star Spangled Banner

John Stafford Smith (1750-1836), Royal Somerset House & Inverness Lodge 4 of London, was the English composer who wrote the music for the US national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner." The popular belief is that Brother Smith originally wrote the song for the Anacreontic Society, a men's social club in London. There, it is said, "The Anacreontic Song" (or "To Anacreon in Heaven"), became a popular drinking song.  Evidence suggests, however, Smith wrote the music prior to its use by the society, and it was originally used by an Irish Masonic orphans home as its song.

The Chief Justice Who Wasn't

Every school kid learns John Jay, whose Masonic status is uncertain, was the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.  But most do not know the first Associate Justice was  William Cushing (1732-1810), a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, Boston.  Brother Cushing had been Attorney General of Massachusetts and became the state's first Chief Justice in 1772. Cushing, in fact, was the first person Brother Washington appointed to the Supreme Court, even before appointing Jay.  In 1796, Washington appointed Cushing the 3rd Chief Justice.  The Senate unanimously confirmed Cushing and that evening he attended a dinner party where Washington surprised him by praising his virtues and asking him to sit on his right had side.  Cushing, in return, surprised Washington when, a few days later, he declined the appointment!

Apparently, health and family matters are the reasons why Cushing declined, although he did continue to serve as Associate justice until his death in 1810.  Of the original Supreme Court Justices, Brother Cushing served the longest, 21 years.

The Trap Houdini Could Not Escape

With his career at its peak, world famous Harry Houdini, St. Cecile Lodge 568, New York City, always stayed at the finest hotels when he took his performances on the road. On one occasion at the ritzy Savoy Hotel in Kansas City, a guest recognized Brother Harry as he went into a phone booth to make a call. Once Houdini had closed the folding doors the guest grabbed a broom and shoved it through the door handle in a position which would prevent the doors from opening. When he finished his call, Houdini turned to find the door jammed. Although he tried everything he could, the great magician and world's most famous escape artist could not get out of the phone booth!

Hotel personnel had to rescue him and eyewittnesses reported that upon his release, Brother Houdini was quite upset and did not "subdue his passions."

The Bet

Ruel C. Gridley (1829-1871), Civil War humanitarian and a member of 8 Masonic Lodges in 2 states, was born in Hannibal, Missouri, and was a boyhood friend of Mark Twain.  During the Civil War, Brother Gridley bet a friend a sack of flour on the outcome of a political race. The loser was to carry the sack 1½ miles from  Clifton to Austin, Nevada.  Gridley lost and carried the load, followed by a brass band playing "John Brown's Body." At the end of the march Brother Gridley auctioned off the sack with proceeds going to the Sanitary Commission, a charitable organization benefiting sick and wounded soldiers. The buyer made the donation but didn't want the flour.  So Brother Gridley shouldered his "sanitary sack of flour" and carried it throughout Nevada and California auctioning it over and over again.  Ultimately he raised over $275,000 ($3.9 million in today's dollars) for his organization, which eventually became the primary forerunner to a much more well-known charity — the Red Cross.

Charles Dickens Lodge

Charles Dickens was born 200 years ago today. He was a fervent anti-Mason yet there once was a Charles Dickens Lodge in Chigwell, Essex, England.

Rejected!

The Marines and Paratroopers both rejected him, thinking he wouldn't be a good soldier because he was too small.  When the Army finally accepted him in the infantry, Brother Audie Murphy, North Hollywood Lodge 542, California, proved them all wrong, becoming the most decorated hero of World War II.

Posthumous Fame

Peter Marshall (1902-1949), Old Monkland St. James Lodge 177, Coatbridge, Scotland was a Presbyterian minister who served twice as Chaplain of the US Senate.  Although a man of accomplishment, he was never widely known until after his untimely death, when his wife Catherine wrote his biography, "A Man Called Peter," a best-seller which made him world famous.

The Family Secret

Major General Wayne C. Smith was raised in Schofield Lodge 443, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and later became charter Master of Fort Campbell Lodge 946 of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He is the only military general other than George Washington known to be a charter Master of a Lodge. He had an impressive list of Masonic accomplishments including a term as National President of Sojourners, 1956-57. His father was not a Mason and he did not learn of his grandfather's membership until his mother was on her deathbed. Amazingly the reason for both was the same: family fears of repercussions from his great-great-grandfather's involvement in the Morgan affair more than a century earlier!

Peace And Harmony Not Prevailing

Leading forces against a Mexican uprising, Commander Nicolas Bravo, head of the Scottish Rite in Mexico, had General Vicente Guerrero, , head of the York Rite in Mexico, executed on February 17, 1831.