Brother Johnny Yates- Historian, Lancaster Lodge #104
Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest fraternal order in the world. It is a universal brotherhood of men dedicated to serving God, family, fellowman and country.
Although the moral philosophy of Freemasonry is founded upon religious principles, it is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. Candidates for membership (adult males) are however, expected to profess a belief in God, and be of good moral character.
What is Freemasonry? "A Fraternity designed to take good men and make them better."
Definition of Freemasonry: "Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."
Where in the Masonic World is Journeyman Johnny Yates?
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George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Alexandria, Virginia)
April 2008
Photos by Andrew Austin & Renee' Yates
My wife Renee' and I are standing at the top of the steps, "Every" U.S. Mason should visit this, "OUR" Masonic Monument
Standing at George Wasington statue (L) & with George Washington's Master's chair (R)
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Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
House of the Temple (Washington D.C.)
With Dean Alban at the Supreme Council 33º and Tour Guide Jules Tepper (Past Grand Master of Washington D.C.)
Father and Son on a Spring Day at the House of the Temple
Photos by Andrew Austin & Renee' Yates
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The George Washington Gavel
December 2007
Photo by Cloyd J. Bumgardner (Public Relations, Grand Lodge of Kentucky)
Lancaster 104 Lodge Historian (Johnny Yates) pictured with The George Washington Gavel while visiting Landmark 41 in Versailles, KY.
* Our first President and Brother, George Washington used this gavel to in the ceremonial laying of the corner stone of the Capitol Building
The George Washington Gavel information:
The following Presidents of the United States, all Master Masons but two, have either used or been present at the using of the Gavel on the occasions cited below:
James K. Polk in the laying of the cornerstone of the Smithsonian Building, May 1, 1847.
Millard Fillmore in the laying of the cornerstone of the extension of the U. S. Capitol, July 4, 1851.
James Buchanan at the dedication of the Equestrian Statue of George Washington, February 22, 1860.
William McKinley at the George Washington Centennial Observance at Mt. Vernon, December 14, 1899.
Theodore Roosevelt at the celebration of the sesquicentennial date on which General Washington received the Master Mason's degree, November 2, 1902; in laying the cornerstone of the House Office Building, April 14, 1906; and again, in laying the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple, 801 13th Street, N.W., June 8, 1907.
William H. Taft in laying the cornerstone of the All Souls Unitarian Church, February 13, 1913.
Warren G. Harding in laying the cornerstone of the Washington Victory Memorial, November 14, 1921.
Herbert Hoover in laying the cornerstone of the Department of Commerce, June 10, 1929 and the Department of Labor, December 15, 1932.
Harry S. Truman in the Centennial Observance of the cornerstone laying of the Washington Monument, July 1, 1948, this being a repeat engagement for the Gavel as it was used to lay the original cornerstone of the Monument, Jul 1, 1848.
Dwight D. Eisenhower when it was used to lay the cornerstone of the new extension of the U. S. Capitol building, July 4, 1959.
* Potomac Lodge was singularly honored by having Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II personally use the Gavel in laying the cornerstone of the addition to the British Embassy, October 19, 1957.
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Masonic sites of Scotland (April 2007)
* Scotland is acknowledged as having some of the oldest Speculative Masonic Lodges
1) Grand Lodge of Scotland
2) Rosslyn Chapel (Scotland)
3) Canongate Kilwinning No. 2 (Scotland)
Photo by Drew Johnston (Museum Tour Guide,Grand Lodge of Scotland) / Other Photos by Andrew Austin Yates
1) With Robert L. D. Cooper Curator of The Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum & Library / Brother Bob Cooper is a renowned author and expert on Masonic History
2) Standing outside Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh Scotland. Rosslyn Chapel is filled with Masonic & Knight Templar symbolism. This sculpture on the outside Chapel wall shows a blindfolded man being lead with a cable tow around his neck. His guide wears a cross on his chest.
3) Sitting in the Master's Chair during a tour of Canongate Kilwinning Masonic Lodge No. 2. Canongate Kilwinning is the site where Robert Burns (a Freemason) was made Poet Laureate of Scotland.
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Masonic History FYI
- As of 2005 there were 12,500 Masonic Lodges and about 1.7 million Freemasons in America.
- Have you heard of the Scottish Rite 32 nd Degree Masons, the York Rite Knights Templar, or the Shriners? All are Brothers in our fraternity of Freemasonry.
- Philanthropy - North America Masonic philanthropies contribute over $2 million a day of which 70 percent goes to the general public.
- Words and phrases that come from Freemasonry: ‘ being square with someone’, ‘ on the level’.
A few famous Freemasons :
“Buzz” Aldrin – Astronaut
Montclair Lodge No. 144, New Jersey
Stephen F. Austin – “Father of Texas” helped colonize the territory
Louisiana Lodge No. 109, Missouri
Daniel Boone – Early explorer of Kentucky
Said to be a Mason by his son
Omar Bradley – Five-star General in World War II
West Point Lodge No. 877, New York
James Buchanan – 15 th President of the United States
Lancaster Lodge No. 43, Pennsylvania
Winston Churchill – Prime Minister of England during World War II
Studholme Lodge No. 1591, England
Samuel Clemens “ Mark Twain” – Writer
Polar Star Lodge No. 79, Missouri
Davy Crockett – Frontiersman and U.S. Representative 1827-1835
Lodge unknown
John Elway – Hall of Fame quarterback
South Denver Lodge No. 93, Colorado
Gerald R. Ford – 38 th President of the United States
Malta Lodge No. 465, Michigan
Benjamin Franklin – Signer of Constitution of the United States
Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
James A. Garfield – 12 th President of the United States
Columbus Lodge No. 246, Ohio
George VI – King of England during World War II
Naval Lodge No. 2612, England
John Glen – Astronaut and U.S. Senator
Concord Lodge No. 688, Ohio
John Hancock – President of the Continental Congress / 1 st signer of the Declaration of Independence
St. Andrew’s Lodge, Massachusetts
Warren G. Harding – 29 th President of the United States
Marion Lodge No. 70, Ohio
J. Edgar Hoover – Director of the FBI (1924-1972)
Federal Lodge No. 1, District of Columbia
Sam Houston – First President of the Republic of Texas
Cumberland Lodge No. 8, Tennessee
Andrew Jackson – 7 th President of the United States
Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Tennessee
Andrew Johnson – 17 th President of the United States
Greenville Lodge No. 19, Tennessee
William McKinley – 25 th President of the United States
Hiram Lodge No. 21, Virginia
James Monroe – 5 th President of the United States
Williamsburg Lodge No. 6, Virginia
James K. Polk – 11 th President of the United States
Columbia Lodge No. 31, Tennessee
Paul Revere – American revolutionary
Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
Franklin D. Roosevelt – 32 nd President of the United States
Holland Lodge No. 8, New York
Theodore Roosevelt – 26 th President of the United States
Matinecock Lodge No. 806, New York
Colonel Harland Sanders – Fonder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
Hugh Harris Lodge No. 938, Kentucky
William Howard Taft – 27 th President of the United States
Kilwinning Lodge No. 356, Ohio
Harry S. Truman – 33 rd President of the United States
Belton Lodge No. 450, Missouri
George Washington – 1 st President of the United States
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Virginia
John Wayne – Actor
Marion McDaniel Lodge No. 56, Arizona
Other Famous Masons: Voltaire, Robert Burns, Mozart, Rudyard Kipling, John Philip Sousa, Arnold Palmer, Roy Rogers, Will Rogers, Sir Walter Scott, Jonathan Swift, Franz Listz, Charles Lindbergh, Marquis de Lafayette, General Douglas MacArthur, John Paul Jones, Patrick Henry, Franz Joseph Haydn, Henry Ford, Sir Alexander Fleming, Harry Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Buffalo Bill Cody, Ty Cobb, Lewis & Clark, Admiral Richard Byrd,
* There have been Kings and Presidents as well as noted actors and writers who have belonged to our fraternity. But Freemasons are men in all walks of life who you may see everyday. The factory worker, shop keeper, policeman, teacher, salesman, plumber or construction worker might be Masons. We may have many different titles but We are ALL Brothers.