Famous Tall Cedar
Warren Gamaliel Harding

Warren Gamaliel Harding, 29th President (1921--1923), was born in  Morrow County, Ohio, November 2, 1865. His interest in the Order was of his mature years. He was initiated in Marion Lodge No.70, Marion, Ohio, June 28,1901, when thirty-six years of age, but was not passed until August 13, 1920, nineteen years later. He was raised August 27, 1920.

His three years as a Master Mason were short but crowded. Albert Pike Lodge No.36, Washington, D.C., made him an Honorary Member and presented him with a Gold Membership Card at the White House May 4, 1921; Marion Chapter No.62, Marion, Ohio, exalted him January 13,  1921; Marion Council No.22, elected him to the Cryptic Rite but he died before receiving it; March 1, 1921, Marion Commandery No.36, conferred upon him the Red Cross, Malta and Temple Degrees; January 5, 1921, he received the Scottish Rite Degrees from the 4th through 32nd in Columbus, Ohio. The Supreme Council of the Northern Jurisdiction elected him to receive the 33 deg. September 22, 1921. The degree was to be given him a year later, but he could not attend on account of Mrs. Harding’s illness. He died before the session of 1923. Aladdin Temple of the Shrine, Columbus, Ohio, created him a Noble (the first President to receive the Red Fez) January 7, 1921; Almas Temple, Washington, D.C. elected him an Honorary Member March 21, 1921; the Imperial Council of the Shrine elected him an Honorary Member June 1923; Kallipolis Grotto, Washington, D.C. made him a Prophet at the White House May 11,1921, presenting him with a Gold Life Membership Card; Evergreen Forest No.49, Milford, Delaware, made him a Tall Cedar, June 9, 1923, and Washington Chapter No. 3, National Sojourners, presented him with a Gold Badge of Membership at the White House, May 28, 1923.

By letters and personal conversations, he evidenced much interest in his new relationships. He had agreed to review the Ascension Day Parade of Knights Templar in Washington, D.C. in 1921, but weather prevented it. May 9,1921, he reviewed a parade of Shriners and in the evening made an address at a ceremonial of Almas Temple, Washington, D.C. In 1923 he visited the Scottish Rite Bodies in St. Augustine, Florida; June 5, of the same year he delivered an address before the Imperial Council of the Shrine, Washington, D.C.; later, wearing his Fez, he reviewed the parade, declaring it:” “The greatest spectacle I ever witnessed.: In July, 1923, he officiated at the laying of the cornerstone for the Masonic Temple of Ketchikan Lodge No. 159, Alaska.

He died in San Francisco, California, August 2, 1923; and after laying in state in the National Capital, was buried in Marion, Ohio, August 10th.