02/16/2026
This President’s Day, we pause to reflect on one of the most enduring and inspiring figures in our Fraternity’s history: Brother George Washington, the Father of our Country and a devoted Freemason.
In November 1752, at the age of just 20, young George Washington entered the mysteries of our beloved fraternity as an Entered Apprentice in Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 in Virginia. By August 1753, he had been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
Though the demands of military service, public life, and the revolution limited his attendance at lodge, his commitment to Freemasonry never wavered. He served as Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22, he welcomed Masonic delegations during his presidency, and in 1793 he laid the cornerstone of the United States Capitol wearing Masonic regalia— a powerful symbol of how our Masonic principles guided the birth of this great nation.
But why does Brother Washington’s membership matter so deeply to us today? Because he embodied the very virtues we strive to live by: integrity, courage, humility, and brotherly love. In an age of uncertainty, he led not through force alone, but through moral example—refusing kingship, stepping down from power, and placing duty above self. These are not mere historical facts; they are Masonic ideals in action.
Washington himself wrote that the grand object of Masonry is “to promote the happiness of the human race.” He lived that truth. His life showed the world that Freemasonry is no idle pursuit, but a forge for character that can shape men capable of building republics and enduring legacies.
As Masons, we honor Brother Washington not merely as a famous name, but as a model—a reminder that our rituals, symbols, and obligations are meant to produce men who serve their families, their communities, and their country with unwavering principle. In his memory, let us rededicate ourselves to the same path: to square our actions, to walk uprightly, and to spread light, truth, and relief wherever we go.
To the memory of our illustrious Brother George Washington - patriot, leader, and Brother Mason - may we ever prove worthy of the legacy he left us.
So mote it be.