[SR71A]

First, George Washington was a Mason and I am a devoted Washingtonian. Second, as an amateur historian of the American Revolution, it is enlightening to learn how much the ideas of 18th century Freemasonry contributed to the founding of this Republic.

The majority of the Founding Fathers were Masons. The majority of the Presidents were Masons. One large advantage of becoming a Mason is that you move in very "connected" circles, both at the local level, and regional and national levels. As you saw by my smileys, I was being facetious -- don't underestimate the political and financial power of FreeMasonry. I just never had the interest to "push" myself forward that much.

[Pharmboy]

General Washington's Inauguration in NYC, April 30, 1789

1. Frederick William von Steuben, a Mason, was an army officer and aide-de-camp to Frederick the Great of Prussia. Von Steuben became a Major General during the Revolution and was known as the "drill master of the Continental Army."

2. John Jay, right and in the foreground, then Secretary of State, later became a Supreme Court Justice.

3. John Adams was the first Vice President and became the second President of the United States .

4. Henry Lee, a Mason, was known as "Light Horse Harry Lee" because of his brilliant cavalry operations in the Revolutionary War. He was also the father of General Robert E. Lee.

5. Robert R. Livingston, a Mason, was Chancellor of the State of New York and Grand Master of New York Masons from 1784 to 1800. He is to Lee's right, by the railing.

6. Samuel Otis, Secretary of the Senate, holds the Bible from St. John's Lodge No. 1, New York City.

7. George Washington, a Mason, stands with his right hand placed on the Bible.

8. Morgan Lewis, a Mason, was Grand Marshall during this ceremony and later became a Major General in the War of 1812. He was elected Grand Master of New York Masons in 1830.

9. Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, a Mason, appears in a gold-colored coat. Born in Pennsylvania, he was educated in Germany as a Lutheran clergyman and was the elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

10. Arthur St. Clair, a Mason, is dressed in military uniform. He was born in Scotland and came to America with the British Army in 1757 only to become a Major General in the Continental Army. At the time of the inauguration, he was the Governor of the Northwest Territory.

11. George Clinton, next to St. Clair, was Governor of New York at the time of the inauguration.

12. Henry Knox, a Mason, was a close adviser to Washington and a Major General and Chief of Artillery in the Revolutionary Army. He is to the far right in the painting and was Secretary of War at the time of Washington's first inauguration.

[Redleg Duke]

"I just never had the interest to "push" myself forward that much."

The is the excuse given by too many uninformed people. The Free Masons do not and are ordered not to use their affiliation for personal gain. The fact that members of this fraternity value fellow members highly is because "Free Masonry Makes Good Men Better".

Suggest you stow your tinfoil brain bucket...you ain't in a Blackbird anymore.

[Ciexyz]

My Dad was a Mason. There's a Masonic symbol on his gravestone, that's what he wanted. His Dad was a Mason. He used to tell me about the black ball system, when his lodge voted on a new member. Each member was given one black ball and one white ball (the white ball meaning, we accept this new member.) If one black ball was found in the jar, then every single member present was obligated to get up and vote again. And if a black ball was again found in the "ballot box" -- the request for membership was rejected.