03/29/2026
When you look at the Statue of Liberty, you aren't just looking at a National Landmark; you're looking at a monument built on the labor and philosophy of the Brotherhood. It stands as a "Perfect Ashlar" on a global scale and a reminder of what can be built when men work together under the Great Architect.
As a kid when I first visited it I had no idea of what I was actually looking at but now visiting it as an adult and a Freemason the symbols are many and clearly visible to the trained eye.
While the statue itself was a gift from France to the United States, its "Masonic DNA" is woven into its very foundation and thats a fact that resonates with the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth that we as Masons uphold
On August 5, 1884, the Grand Lodge of New York presided over the laying of the Statue of Liberty's cornerstone. This was a full Masonic ceremony, led by Grand Master William A. Brodie.
Following that tradition, the stone was tested by the square, level, and plumb to ensure it was "well-formed, true, and trusty."
It was then "consecrated" with corn, wine, and oil which we as Freemasons state are symbols of plenty, joy, and peace.
The two primary figures behind the monument were both Freemasons, which suggests the "Enlightenment" themes of the statue were intentional.
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi the sculptor was a member of Lodge Alsace-Lorraine in Paris. His design a woman holding a torch closely mirrors the Masonic concept of "Illumination" or the spreading of light to dispel ignorance.
Gustave Eiffel the engineer who designed the internal framework was also a Mason. His contribution ensured the "internal strength" of the monument, much like the internal character a Mason seeks to build.
Worshipful Master Mario Wright
Cape Fear Lodge 300
Elizabethtown North Carolina