THIS FROM THE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BIBLE

WASHINGTON LETTER Jan-14-2005 (970 words) Backgrounder. With photo. xxxn

'I swear': Last-minute availability put Masons' Bible into history

By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Ryan Johnson explains it, George Washington's inauguration ceremony was painstakingly planned down to the tiniest detail about seating arrangements -- with just one exception.

As the first president of the United States arrived at New York's City Hall by horse-drawn carriage and prepared to step onto the open balcony that April 30 in 1789, it belatedly occurred to organizers that there ought to be a Bible on which Washington could take the oath of office.

One of the men at hand, parade marshal Jacob Morton, also happened to be master of the St. John's Lodge No. 1 of the Masons and offered to provide one from the lodge, located nearby at the corner of Water and Wall streets. The organization's 1767 King James Version was rushed to the hall and opened to Genesis, at the end of Chapter 49 and the beginning of Chapter 50, where Washington placed his hand for the ceremony.

As he completed the oath written for the occasion, Washington added the unscripted words, "I swear, so help me God," and bowed to kiss the Bible.

Thus was born a tradition followed by almost every one of the 42 presidents inaugurated since then, including some who have used the very same Bible.

The volume is still owned by the St. John's Lodge, which Johnson serves as chairman of the George Washington Inaugural Bible Committee. He was one of three lodge members who escorted the Bible to Washington in January for it to be displayed as part of an inauguration exhibit at the National Archives.

At a Jan. 10 presentation at the Archives, Johnson explained that in the 1770s it was something of a luxury to have a copy of the Bible, let alone one of as high quality as the Masons' edition.

Prior to the nation's independence, no publisher in the colonies had been allowed to print Bibles, because the authorization of the King of England was needed. Like the Masons' Bible, those used in the fledgling republic tended to come from Europe and at great expense.

In commemoration of the new importance of the George Washington Inaugural Bible, as it came to be known, it soon had a new engraved image of the president inserted to face the opening page portrait of King George II.

Johnson said it was likely unintentional, but the use of the Masons' Bible for Washington's ceremony also may have dodged an ecumenical problem.

"No church's Bible would have been acceptable to people of the various denominations," he explained. By using one owned by a fraternal organization instead of a Bible from one of New York's 22 different churches, a potential disagreement over the president favoring one denomination over another was avoided, Johnson said.

In the two centuries since then, the Washington Bible has been used at a variety of national events, including other inaugurations, the dedication of the Washington Monument and the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol building, Johnson said. Lodge rules also allow it to be used for various Masonic ceremonies and the inaugurations of New York governors.

Records weren't kept to indicate whether other early presidents may have used the Washington Bible for their inaugurations, but four in the 20th century did: Warren G. Harding in 1921, Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953; Jimmy Carter in 1977 and George H.W. Bush in 1989. President George W. Bush had hoped to use it for his first inauguration in 2001, but the damp weather that day put a crimp in the plans.

Johnson explained that the Bible was brought to Washington for the ceremony, but the Secret Service wanted it in place on the podium an hour before the ceremony started.

Given the Bible's age and historic value, the Masons weren't willing to let it be exposed to the cold drizzle that long, so Bush used a family Bible.

Records kept by the Architect of the Capitol suggest only one president in the 216 years since Washington was inaugurated did not take the oath of office with one hand on a Bible. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, "affirmed"-- but did not "swear" -- his oath with one hand on a law book, instead of a Bible. Some historical records say Pierce did so because of a crisis of faith after his only remaining child, an 11-year-old boy, was killed in a train accident a few weeks before the inauguration.

The nation's only Catholic president to date, John F. Kennedy, used his family's Douay Version of the Bible. The 1850 edition was brought by his Fitzgerald ancestors from Ireland, according to the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. That Bible, a massive tome now on display at the library, was kept current with records of family births through the time of Kennedy's presidency.

There are some firm rules about the use and handling of the George Washington Bible. Only a president being sworn in is allowed to touch the pages of the Bible without gloves, for instance. But Johnson said one popular belief -- that it cannot travel by airplane -- is a myth.

The misconception that the Masons wouldn't allow it to be transported by airplane was based on the refusal of a previous grand master of the lodge to fly ever again after he returned from a stint in the military as a helicopter pilot, Johnson said. If he wouldn't fly, neither could the Bible when he was escorting it.

Gilbert Savitzky, grand secretary of the lodge, said the Masons do obtain special permission for the Bible not to be X-rayed for airport security, however. Instead, when it must be transported by air, arrangements are made for it to be inspected by hand, including being screened for explosives residue.

END
 

The Education Committee is formed under section 1-310 of the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. The committee meets on a regular basis to plan the Educational Symposiums, Grand Lodge of Education of Nebraska Breakfasts, and other activities to fulfill our mission statement.

The Committee is always seeking interested Brothers that would like to help out. If you are interested, please contact one of the committee members. 

Bringing Masonic Education to Light

In 1997, The Masonic Education Committee set at goal to provide Masonic Education to every Mason in Nebraska. We decided to do this by publishing a newsletter entitled "To Light". Thanks to several hundred Brothers that subscribed, we were able to sustain the newsletter for 4 years. During that time we set a goal of lobbying for a Grand Lodge assessment so that all Masons in Nebraska could receive this publication. That goal has now been achieved.

Now that the special assessment is now in place, all Nebraska Masons are receiving "To Light" as part of the "Nebraska Mason" newspaper. "To Light" will be bringing you educational articles on a variety of topics of interest to Masons.

You will be able to read back issues on the Nebraska Grand Lodge Website at www.glne.org . Check the Website often for updates and new information.

THE NEBRASKA MASON

150 YEARS OF SERVICE  TO GOD AND NEBRASKA MASONRY

TO COVER WHAT HAS BEEN COVERED BY OUR LEARNED COLLEAGUES IN OMAHA #1 REPORT would be a waste of time and it would be impossible to better  what was written as to the early days of the formation of Masonry. They covered where Masonry began in England, the formation of our Nebraska Grand Lodge, and the formation of our early lodges in Omaha and Belleview with much research. The web-link to this site is http://www.firstlodge.com/BEGINNINGS.html.

This editor will attempt to bring you further into Masonry, How Masons helped Nebraska become a state, Masons and their Masonic Temples, and Masons who helped start  the City of Lincoln and our State Capitols. 

        Robert Carrel Jordan
Father of Nebraska Masonry

Robert Carrel Jordan, Our First Grand Master, was a member of Capitol  Lodge #3 Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Omaha, Nebraska. He knew well what it took to be a Mason and live like one. There was never a doubt in his mind as to a Masons's trust in God, faith in his fellow man, and belief in the immortality of the soul.

Our Nebraska Grand Lodge was instituted in September 1857 by Nebraska's first lodge Nebraska  Lodge #1 in Belleview, Nebraska, Western Star Lodge #2 in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and Capitol Lodge #3 in Omaha. Nebraska Lodge #1 moved to Omaha in 1888 under the name Omaha #1.

At that time in 1857, Omaha had app. 800 inhabitants and were glad to be called the Territorial Capitol of Nebraska. Most of the officials at that time were Masons.

President Pierce appointed Francis Burt of South Carolina as the first governor of the Nebraska Territory. When Burt died two days after his inauguration on Jan. 16, 1854, the territory's secretary of state, Thomas Cuming, became acting governor. Cuming organized the territorial government and took a census so that legislative elections could be held.

A struggle between the new town of Omaha and the old town of Bellevue to be the territorial capital was decided in favor of Omaha by Cuming, who called the first session of the legislature to meet there. However, the issue was not settled until Nebraska achieved statehood in 1867, when the capital was moved to Lancaster, now known as Lincoln.

The House of Representatives met on the first floor, and the council or upper house met on the second floor. Both chambers were fitted out with school desks. The curtains were made of red and green calico. It was the only brick building in Omaha City and was distinct in the landscape as the capitol today.

The capitol was extremely divided. Many of the delegates were not from Nebraska as some were from Iowa and as far away as Michigan. Many tried to bring the capitol to Belleview but Acting Governor Cumming was to well entrenched and Omaha City won out. Cumming died in 1858 or his grandiose plan of using the Territorial Capitol to build Council Bluffs might have succeeded.   

Second Territorial Capitol

Nebraska Territory came into being on May 30, 1854 when President Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed by the Senate on May 25th and the House on March 3rd. On February 22, 1855 a resolution to place the Territorial Capitol in Omaha was passed. Governor Izard appointed James C. Mitchell to locate the site to build the capitol. On March 17th 1855 he reported that it would be built in the center of Capitol Square, where present day Central High School sits at 20th & Dodge. By December the foundation was complete. It was in use as the Territorial Capitol from approximately 1858 to 1867 when Nebraska became a state and the capitol was removed to Lincoln. The Territorial Capitol was 137’ x 93’ with the Supreme Court, Library and government offices on the first floor. The Legislative and governor’s offices were on the second floor. In 1869 the building and grounds were presented to Omaha. By 1872 it had been completely torn down and replaced by Omaha High School.

This image, looking northwest from 12th and Farnam in approximately 1867, shows the Nebraska Territorial Capitol is located on the horizon. In Farnam Street it appears that an auction is taking place at Newman, Porterfield’s Auction & Commission company. To the right is a Variety Hall, and Fancy Goods & Toy store. To the west is a tobacco and cigar store, and on the corner a store selling groceries and provisions. Across 13th Street is Champion Bakery and a wholesale grocery store. The steeple of the First Methodist Episcopal Church located on 13th street is seen behind the Champion Bakery building. A sign for W. H. Major selling Shoes, Hats & Caps is seen in the lower left.

The Pioneer Block located on Farnam Street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets was the first home of  Capitol Lodge #3  A.F.& A.M. The third Lodge in Nebraska, Capital Lodge No. 3 of Omaha , was created January 9, 1857, by the Grand Master of Iowa. At that time this lodge was officially designated and chartered as Capital Lodge No. 101 of Iowa. Just when the name change came from Capital to Capitol is open for discussion. The first Capitol building was being completed about the time that Capitol Lodge was formed. This building stood at the summit of Capitol Hill, and the broad avenue that led to it was called Capitol Avenue. For several years meetings were held in the east third of the Pioneer Block 1108 Farnam Street, Omaha . Covert Lodge No.11 was chartered June 22, 1866 and shared the same meeting quarters with Capital No. 3.  These two lodges later moved to new quarters on the third floor of the building at 1313 Farnam Street. Because of the continuing rapid growth in membership for these two lodges, it was only a period of a few years until a new lodge was organized. St. Johns Lodge No. 25 received their Charter October 28, 1869 . Thus at that time there were three lodges meeting in the building at 1313 Farnam Street.
  
 In the early I 870’s fire destroyed this building and most of the property of the Lodge. However, work continued uninterruptedly at temporary quarters and on October 21 1876, the cornerstone was laid for Omaha’s first distinctly Masonic building at Sixteenth and Capitol Avenue. Capitol Lodge was a leader in this work.

During the last territorial legislature the battles over reapportionment and capital removal raged so hotly that at one point fists and guns were brandished. When the removal issue finally came to a vote before the first State Legislature meeting in Omaha, however, there was little protest from north of the Platte. A last-ditch attempt to steer Democrats living south of the river away from the bill came from Omaha Senator J. N. H. Patrick, who attempted to revive Civil War hatreds by moving that the name "Capital City" be removed from the bill and "Lincoln" (for Abraham Lincoln) substituted. Although the new name was accepted, the ploy failed and capital removal became a fact.