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Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin,
Jr.
(1930- ) |
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Cecil B. DeMille
(1881-1959) |
| Before
becoming an astronaut, Aldrin flew 66 combat missions in the Korean Conflict. He
later went on to become not only present for man's first flight to the moon but he also,
after Neil Armstrong, was the second human to set foot on the moon. He joined
Montclair Lodge #144, in New Jersey, and later affiliated with Clear Lake Lodge #1417 in
Seabrook, Tx. A member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Houston, he received the 33rd
from the Southern Jurisdiction in 1969. |
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DeMille was an
American motion-picture producer/director whose use of spectacle attracted vast audiences
and made him a dominant figure in Hollywood for almost five decades. He was the
first director to use a megaphone on the set and the first to install a loudspeaker for
issuing orders. His 1956 remake of the epic film, "The Ten
Commandments," is a classic. DeMille was a member of Prince of Orange Lodge #16
in New York City. |
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Henry Ford
(1863-1947) |
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Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790) |
| In 1908,
Henry Ford unveiled the Model T - - "A car for anybody and everybody." By
1927, there were more model Ts on the road than all other cars combined. Ironically,
this was the same year that saw the end to the Model T. Ford was raised in Palestine
Lodge #357, Detroit, in 1894. When he received his 33rd in 1940, he said,
"Masonry is the best balance wheel the United States has." |
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No other individual
was more heavily involved in the birth of our nation than Benjamin Franklin. He
helped draft both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Franklin
was not only one of the United States' Founding Fathers, he was also an inventor.
Among other things, he gave us bifocals, the lightning rod, the Franklin Stove, and the
odometer. This early Mason was Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and
also served as Master of the Lodge of Nine Sisters at Paris. |
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Fiorello LaGuardia
(1882-1947) |
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George C. Marshall
(1880-1959) |
| LaGuardia
was an American political reformer, a Congressman (1916-1933), and mayor of New York City
(1934-1945). New York's LaGuardia Airport is named in his honor. During World
War II, the colorful mayor read comics over the radio to entertain children during the
1945 newspaper strike. He was a member of Garibaldi Lodge #542, in New York City. |
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Marsall was a general
of the army and US Army chief of staff during World War II and later Secretary of State
and of Defense. The European Recovery Program he proposed in 1947 became known as
the Marshall Plan. He received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. General Marshall
was made a Mason "at sight" in 1941 by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
the District of Columbia. |
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James Naismith
(1861-1939) |
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Norman Vincent Peale
(1898-1993) |
| Naismith was a
physical education instructor at Springfield College in Massachusetts when he decided to
develop a new game that would provide an interlude between football and baseball. He
nailed a peach basket to a YMCA gymnasium in 1891. Within a year official rules
were drawn up and leagues began to form. Americans of all ages have enjoyed the
game of basketball ever since. He joined Roswell Lee Lodge, Springfield, Ma, in 1894
and later affiliated with Lawrence Lodge #6 in Kansas. Here he served as Master in
1927. His Scottish Rite membership was also in Kansas. |
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Peale
was a well-known clergyman whose upbeat religious philosophy and skill as a speaker made
him one of America's most popular Protestant ministers. He was also the publisher of
Guideposts magazine and a writer of many books including the best seller Power
of Positive Thinking. A member of Midwood Lodge #1062, Brooklyn, he was Grand
Chaplain for the Grand Lodge of New York. He received the 33rd in 1959 and the
Gourgas Medal in 1973. |
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George M. Pullman
(1831-1897) |
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Richard B.
"Red" Skelton
(1913-1997) |
| Pullman
was a cabinet maker who saw a need for a more comfortable way to travel by train.
With his cabinet making skills he came up with the idea for a sleeper car. In 1867,
Pullman established the Pullman Palace Car Company which was contracted to make sleeper
cars. He also developed an industrial town of Pullman, now part of Chicago, to build
his cars. He was a member Renovation Lodge #97, Albion, NY. |
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For decades,
audiences were thrilled by and applauded Skelton's comedic genius not only on the
vaudeville circuit but also on his highly rated TV show. He performed before the
Queen of England, entertained eight Presidents and rendered private performances for three
Popes. A member of Vincennes Lodge #1 in Indiana, and the Scottish Rite Valley of
Evansville, he received the 33rd in 1969 and was honored with the prestigious Gourgas
Medal in 1995. |
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Paul Whiteman
(1890-1967) |
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Denton True "Cy" Young
(1867-1955) |
| Whiteman, an American Band Leader, was known as the "King of
Jazz" for popularizing a musical style that helped to introduce jazz to mainstream
audiences during the 1920s and 1930s. American composer Ferde Grofe, who was an
arranger for Whiteman, composed "Grand Canyon Suite" for him. Whiteman was
a member of St. Cecile Lodge #569 in New York. His "It's Only A Paper
Moon" is the background music for this page. |
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Cy Young was a major league baseball pitcher for 22 years and
won 511 games. In 1937, he was the first pitcher to be elected to the Baseball Hall
of Fame. Today, the Cy Young Award, named in his honor, is annually given to the
best pitcher in the American and National Leagues. The "Grand Old Man of
Baseball" was a member of Mystic Tie Lodge #194, Uhrichsville, Ohio, and the Scottish
Rite Valley of Columbus. |
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John Jacob Astor
(1763-1848)
When John Jacob Astor left Germany in his
late teens years, he worked his way to London and eventually to America.
During his voyage across the Atlantic, he met a man who was a fur trader.
That acquaintance convinced him to explore the fur trade., and with
determination he amassed a fortune from his fur empire. At one time,
he was considered the wealthiest man in America. Astor was Master of
Holland Lodge #8, New York City in 1788 and later served as Grand Treasurer
for the Grand Lodge of New York.
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Daniel Carter Beard
(1850-1941)
To the scout that knew him, he was
"Uncle Dan". But beard first created a name for himself as
an author and illustrator and was chosen to illustrate Mark Twain's A
Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court. To keep alive the
spirit of the pioneers, he formed "The Society of the Sons of Daniel
Boone." This group grew to become the largest boy's club in
America. It developed into "The Boy Pioneers" in 1905.
By 1910, he had merged his group into the growing Boy Scout movement and
became national scout commissioner. He received the only
gold Eagle badge ever awarded. Bear was raised a Master Mason in
Mariners' Lodge #67 New York City and later became a member of Cornucopia
Lodge #563 Flushing, NY. |
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Francis Bellamy
(1855-1931)
Francis Bellamy, a Baptist Minister, wrote
the original Pledge of Allegiance in 1892. Bellamy, then a chairman
within the National Education Association, structured the public school
program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute - his "Pledge
of Allegiance." The Pledge has since come under several
revisions. Bellamy was a member of Little Falls Lodge # 181, Little
Falls, NY. |
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Irving Berlin
(1888-1989)
Irving Berlin started as a penniless immigrant
when he came to America. His musical talent earned him fame and fortune.
By 1911, Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band" swept the country.
Thus ragtime became a national craze. This piece was probably Berlin's
biggest success, along with "White Christmas" and "God Bless
America." Berlin was a member of Munn Lodge #190, New York City, the
Scottish Rite Valley of New York City, and Mecca Shrine Temple. |
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Gutzon Borglum
(1871-1941)
John Gutzon Borglum, noted Mount Rushmore
sculptor, showed an early aptitude for sketching at the age of seven.
Borglum's sculptures brought him nationwide recognition. His first
attempt at mountain carving in 1916 at Stone Mountain, Georgia, ended when a
misunderstanding caused the work to be terminated by the project's sponsors.
Te Mount Rushmore carvings of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Theodore
Roosevelt, were carved between 1927 and 1941, and were completed by his son,
Lincoln. Borglum was a member of Howard Lodge #35, New York City,
where he served a Master in 1910-11. He was also a member of the
Scottish Rite Valley of New York City. |
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General Omar Bradley
(1893-1981)
Bradley was a US Army officer who commanded the
highly effective 12th Army Group, which helped ensure Allied victory over
Germany during World War II. He later served as the first chairman of the
US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Graduating from West Point in 1915, Bradley
served under Army greats, such as General George S. Patton. Under his
leadership, the US 12th Army Group, the largest force ever placed under an
American group commander, successfully carried out operations in France, Luxembourg,
Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Bradley became a
member of the West Point Lodge #877, Highland Falls, NY in 1923. |
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Everett Dirksen
(1896-1969)
Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen was a predominant
member of Congress, remaining there for over 36 years. In 1957, he
became the party's "whip" and two years later, was elected
Minority Leader. He served under six presidents and became known as
one of the greatest orators of his day. Dirksen had a 19th-century
eloquence that could pack the Senate floor when he rose to speak. He
was a member of Pekin Lodge #29, Pekin, IL., and was Grand Orator of the
Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1954. He received the 33rdo in
1954. |
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Harry Houdini
(1874-1926)
Harry Houdini began performing magic at the age
of sixteen under the name of Eric the Great. He later changed his name
from Eric Weiss to Houdini, hoping to become like his mentor, internationally
known magician Robert Houdini. In 1916, Houdini began a film career but
was best known for his great escapes. He executed the largest stage
illusion of his day making an elephant disappear. Houdini was a member
of St. Cecile Lodge #568 in New York City. |
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