Brethren,
I would like to share some info about the George Washington Inaugural Bible that I have found out from an article By Frank Ceresi and Carol McMains.
The First Inauguration
Inauguration Day was clear and cool when it finally arrived. Foreign
ambassadors and statesmen alike jammed their way into Federal Hall.
Townspeople mingled with their neighbors from other states to crowd the
roads leading to Federal Hall and Wall Street itself. Historians tell us
that at precisely 11:00 a.m., the Senate door swung open and the House
Speaker, escorted by three Senators and Representatives from the House, went
downstairs to a waiting carriage. Suddenly, it is said that Washington
himself appeared at the door, exchanged nervous greetings with fellow
statesmen, paused only a moment to acknowledge the cheers from his
countrymen, and entered the Hall for the swearing in.
Once inside Federal Hall, we are told that the President-elect, standing
regally and tall, accepted the applause of the joint Congress. He glanced
around for his Vice President, John Adams, sat down on a beautiful crimson
chair and said simply, "I am ready to proceed." Tension wasn't in the air .
. . it was the air!
However, there was an awkward pause and then there was confusion! Though
reports are sketchy at best regarding how long of a period of time confusion
reigned, we know that the cause of the confusion was the missing Bible. What
a scene it must have been as members of the first Congress, with ashen
faces, searched through the building in consternation and without success.
Perhaps many of those present felt that without a Bible the oath could not
be administered nor Washington even proclaimed our first President! Soon,
however, New York State Chancellor, Robert R. Livingston, a fellow Mason,
remembered that his local meeting house, St. John's Lodge, housed a
beautiful altar Bible and, importantly, that Bible was a short few hundred
feet down the block. After a quick trip down the street, the historic Bible
was provided and, in fact, carefully placed upon a red velvet cushion.
Everyone relaxed, calm prevailed, and the stage was set.
Immediately, Chancellor Livingston administered the Oath of Office to
Washington. When the oath was completed, Washington added the phrase, "I
swear, so help me God!" and, bending down, kissed the open Book. While
Chancellor Livingston loudly and joyously proclaimed Washington our nation's
first President, one Joseph Morton, Master of St. John's Lodge, stepped
forward and carefully folded down a corner of the open page, thus preserving
a record of the random Bible opening where Washington had rested his left
hand. Interestingly, fate sometimes does funny things, for the random
selection fell open to Chapter 49 of the Book of Genesis, the book that
Biblical scholars remind us that literally means "the book of new
beginnings."
The scene that ensued was bedlam as the crowd broke into a storm of cheers.
Livingston reportedly said, "It is done." and then turned to the crowd and
shouted, "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!"
Grown men cried and shouted and joyous celebration was the order of the day.
Thursday, April 30, 1789, had been a great day, indeed, and a great era was
born. However, one must wonder whether or not the day would have ended on
such a high note had it not been discovered, at the very last minute, that
the ornate Bible -- now known as President George Washington's inaugural
Bible -- rested in a small room at St. John's Lodge, No. 1, a few short
yards from Federal Hall.
The Bible Today
So what happened to this historic Bible? One would have thought it might
have ended up somewhere in the White House. But, no, that permanent
presidential home wasn't even a thought in 1789. It turns out that very
shortly after the Inauguration the members of the Masonic St. Johns Lodge,
No. 1, inserted a special silk page into the Bible to earmark the very place
where President Washington rested his hand. Thankfully, from the beginning
the Masons have had a keen sense of history, for the Bible has been
carefully preserved under their dominion for well over 200 years in New York
City. They certainly recognize that it is a hidden National Treasure and
regularly invite the public to gaze at its splendor.
Nelson F. Moyer
Worshipful Master
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