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[U.S. Presidents]. Excessively rare Masonic Diploma, extra illustrated, signed by thirteen U.S. Presidents....
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Description
[U.S. Presidents]. Excessively rare Masonic Diploma, extra illustrated, signed by thirteen U.S. Presidents. 1 sheet, (16.25 x 12 inches), Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, document for Martin Luther Swinehart, originally dated December 8, 1905, with dated signatures from thirteen Presidents - several of them members themselves - as well as other politicians; some chipping and paper loss, but all signatures are legible.Notable signatures include:
Thomas R. Marshall - March 21, 1906
Theodore Roosevelt - October 7, 1908
William Howard Taft - September 7, 1910
Woodrow Wilson - August 16, 1913
William Jennings Bryan - August 17, 1913
Warren G. Harding - April 13, 1921
Herbert Hoover - April 17, 1924
Calvin Coolidge - May 28, 1924
Franklin D. Roosevelt - November 1, 1934
Harry Truman - October 16, 1945
Dwight D. Eisenhower - March 23, 1953
Gerald R. Ford - October 8, 1984
Ronald Reagan - July 5, 1988
Richard Nixon - June 14, 1989
Jimmy Carter - August 31, 1989
The presidential masonic tradition in America dates all the way back to the founding of America with President George Washington. The fraternal organization probably began here in the eighteenth century as an offshoot of the stonemason guilds prominent in Europe, but it particularly appealed to several Founding Fathers given its strong ties to the Enlightenment movement and its ideals. This is heavily reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, so it comes as no surprise to discover several Founding Fathers besides Washington were also members, including Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, Jr., John Hancock, John Marshall, Henry Knox, and James Monroe. While there has been no concrete evidence to prove that Thomas Jefferson was also a Freemason (not surprising given the organization's reputation for secrecy), the language used in the Declaration confirms that he was a dedicated student of John Locke and the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice; the same democratic ideals so profoundly entrenched in masonic tenants.
To date, fourteen presidents have been documented members, with several more serving in honorary positions or with loosely affiliated ties. Today there are lodges located throughout the country. The modern fraternity operates as a hybrid charitable and social organization dedicated to moral discipline, fellowship, philanthropic pursuits, and those democratic ideals laid out by Thomas Jefferson two hundred and fifty years ago. While only six of the thirteen presidential signatures are from documented members (Ronald Reagan held an honorary position), all the autographs on this incredible document are from twentieth-century presidents or politicians whose terms reflected those ideals so intrinsic to the Freemasons. This was no doubt why none of these men hesitated to put their name to a document affiliated with the fraternity. It further illustrates that the tenants upon which this nation was founded still operate as the basis of governance amongst politicians today. It represents a truly remarkable piece of Americana history.
Auction Info
2022 May 7 Treasures from the Melvin "Pete" Mark, Jr. Collection Signature® Auction #6256 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2022
7th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 18
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