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.