The George Washington Masonic Bible

Our earliest Minute book records George Washington’s entrance into Freemasonry here at the Lodge at Fredericksburg. He was Initiated an Entered Apprentice on November 4, 1752. He was Passed to the second degree of Fellowcraft on March 3, 1753; and he was Raised to the third degree of Master Mason on August 4, 1753.

While it appears that he was only twenty years and nine months of age when he was initiated, George Washington was actually a full 21 years of age, due to the British Empires decision to shift from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar in 1752. The Masonic Bible which he used in those ceremonies was one of the Lodge’s original King James Version Bible which was printed in Cambridge in 1668. This Masonic Bible remains in the stewardship of Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4 to this day.

Requesting the George Washington Masonic Bible

The members of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 not only acknowledge the importance of our responsibility in the care of this significant Masonic Artifact, but likewise the fact that the legacy of this artifact belongs to all Freemasonry throughout the world. As such, we recognize that other Lodges and Masonic jurisdictions will at times make requests for the presence of this Masonic artifact at some of their functions and ceremonies.

Should you choose to make this requests it is important for you to understand that their are rules to be followed and expectations to be met with regard to the security, well-being and overall protection of this precious artifact. So before making such a request, we ask that you review the rules in the attached document and concur in writing that you will adhere to them:

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