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. |