St John's Lodge No 1 Foundation, Inc

04/30/2026

HTTPS://lnkd.in/eA4GjnZ3

On April 30, 1789, President George Washington took his oath of office during the First Presidential Inauguration in New York City, which served as the first capital of the United States. This most august of events occurred at Federal Hall in what is now lower Manhattan. As the story goes, shortly before the ceremony was to begin, the men assembled realized they did not have a Bible. Jacob Morton was serving as the Marshal for the Inauguration and was also the master of St. John's Lodge No. 1. He went to the Lodge building, which was then on Ann Street, retrieved the Lodge Bible, and returned for the oath of office ceremony.

During the oath of office, the Bible was held by Samuel Otis, who hailed from Massachusetts and served as the first Secretary of the United States Senate. The oath itself was administered by Robert Livingston, the Chancellor of New York and the Grand Master of Masons for the Grand Lodge of New York.

Also on the balcony that day were John Adams, the first Vice President; George Clinton, the first Govenor of New York; John Jay, who subsequently became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Philip Schuyler, who served as a Senator from New York in the 1st Congress of the United States; and Henry Knox, who was only 20 years old at the time the American Revolution began, rose to the rank of Major General and became the 1st United States Secretary of War. It should be noted that Jacob Morton, the Marshal for the Inauguration and Master of St. John's Lodge No. 1, subsequently became Grand Master of Masons in New York in 1801.

The Lodge Bible of St. John's Lodge No. 1 became known as the "George Washington Inaugural Bible." It has since been used for the inauguration of four other presidents: Warren G. Harding in 1921, Dwight D. Eisenhower in 153, James E. Carter in 1977, and George H. W. Bush in 1989.

To learn more about this Bible, visit https://lnkd.in/eCs6Qkb9

02/22/2026

Happy Birthday President Washington. February 22 nd, 1732.

Preserving the George Washington Inaugural Bible and educating all in Early American History.

07/04/2025

https://youtu.be/0L3lb1Aav6I

On this date in 1776, 56 brave men representing thirteen colonies took turns signing a document declaring their independence from the British Crown and Great Britain. This document, called "The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America," became known as "The Declaration of Independence."

On July 4th, America celebrates her Independence. We remember and honor the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence, mindful of the risks they took, the sacrifices they made, and the suffering many of them subsequently endured. And we remember the self-evident truths enumerated in the Declaration:

"...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...."

Happy Birthday, America!
Gwbible.org

06/15/2025

U.S. Flag Day - today is FLAG DAY, celebrated as a commemoration of the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777. Although not an official federal holiday, Flag Day is observed annually.

Here at GWBible.org, we're committed to honoring our nation's history. That includes promoting patriotism and supporting veterans. Please visit our website to learn more about us.

05/27/2025

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we honor and pay respect to those soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and Coast Guard members who have given their lives in the service to our nation.

From the American Revolution through the Global War on Terrorism, our service members have intentionally put themselves in harm’s way to fight for and defend our nation’s interests. Many have lost their lives and thus have given, in the heartfelt words of President Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address, “the last full measure of devotion.”

It is proper that we take time to remember and honor their ultimate sacrifice. This Memorial Day, let us remember and honor the sacrifice of our fallen service members.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
- John 15:13

02/23/2025

Happy Birthday, President Washington!

On this date (the 22nd of February) in 1732, George Washington was born on his family’s estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia, which was considered part of the British Colonies. Did you know that Washington’s birthday was also on the 11th of February in 1731? At the time of his birth, the British used the Julian calendar. In 1752, the British Empire switched to the Gregorian calendar, which adjusted the date of Washington’s birth to the date we observe today.

On February 22, 1932 - two hundred years after George Washington’s birth - General Douglas MacArthur signed an order that authorized the Purple Heart medal to be awarded to servicemen for merit. This date was chosen specifically to honor Washington who had established the original Purple Heart medal in the 1780s as a recognition of merit. After a number of changes in the criteria to award it, the Purple Heart medal came to be awarded to service men and women who are wounded or killed by enemy action in combat.

When the U.S. Army reinstituted the Purple Heart, the new design had a profile of George Washington and bore his coat of arms. This design is still used today.

The eligibility date for the new Purple Heart medal was made retroactive to 1917 so that servicemen wounded in the First World War could receive the medal. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York. To learn more about the history of the Purple Heart medal, please check out the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor's website.

At GWBible.org, we’re committed to honoring our nation’s history, as well as our men and women in uniform, and our veterans.

ThePurpleHeart.com

The George Washington Inaugural Bible Foundation in New York helps protect and conserve the George Washington Inaugural Bible.

02/17/2025

Happy President’s Day! Today we celebrate the birthdays of two of our nation’s greatest presidents. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia, which was then part of the British Empire. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky.

https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/

Did you know that some people consider it a tradition to have cherry pie on President’s Day? This tradition stems from the legend of young George Washington using his newly gifted hatchet on his father’s cherry tree. And George’s subsequent honesty when his father discovered the damage and asked his young son about it.

On President’s Day, in addition to Washington and Lincoln, we honor the other 43 men who have served as U.S. President.

At GWBible.org, we’re committed to honoring our nation’s history. We are supporters of the Presidential Library and Museum system. Next time you’re in Springfield, Illinois, consider visiting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, located in Springfield, Illinois, welcomes tourists, students, researchers and event planners to the complex, which includes Union Station and Union Square Park.

01/24/2025

01/20/2025

President Donald J. Trump was sworn in today as our Nation’s 47th President. Due to the cold weather, his ceremony was held inside the Capitol Rotunda. President Trump swore his oath of office on the Lincoln Bible and a family Bible given to him by his mother when he was a child. President Trump previously used the Lincoln Bible during his first inauguration in 2017 and also used a family Bible.

Before the swearing-in, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York and Reverend Franklin Graham led those assembled in prayer.

President Barack Obama used the Lincoln Bible for both of his inaugurations, in 2009 and 2013. Obama was the 44th President.

The Bible used for today’s Presidential Inauguration was first used by President Abraham Lincoln during his inauguration in 1861. It is the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible and was published by Oxford University Press in England. This Bible is owned by the Library of Congress and was donated to them by the widow of Robert Todd Lincoln (President Lincoln’s eldest son) in 1928.

01/09/2025

Remembering President Jimmy Carter: A Life of Faith and Service

At GWBible.org, we join the nation in mourning the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. President Carter was a man of deep faith, who carried his Christian values into his public service.

Throughout his life, President Carter demonstrated the importance of living by biblical principles. His commitment to peacemaking, human rights, and social justice reflected the teachings of Jesus Christ.

As a Sunday School teacher, President Carter understood the power of faith to shape individual lives and communities. He believed that leaders had a moral responsibility to act with compassion and integrity, principles that are central to the teachings of the Bible.

GWBible.org is a resource for people of all faiths who are interested in exploring the Bible and its relevance to their lives. We believe that the Bible offers timeless wisdom that can guide us in our personal and professional endeavors.

President Carter's life and legacy serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith in leadership. We at GWBible.org offer our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.