famousfreemasons-blog

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Marc Zaharovich Chagall, 7 July 1887 – 28 March 1985

Russian-French artist

Initiated in 1912

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Axel Cäsar Springer, May 2, 1912 – September 22, 1985

German publisher and journalist

Initiated into lodge "Die Brückenbauer" ("The Bridge Builders") in 1958

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George Shillibeer, August 11, 1797 – August 21, 1866

English coachbuilder, who introduced the omnibus to London's streets

Initiated into "Etonian Lodge", Windsor on February 25, 1827

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Jean Sibelius, 8 December 1865 – 20 September 1957

Finnish composer

His compositions include ritual music for the three Craft degrees.

Initiated into "Suami Lodge No. 1", Helsinki on August 18, 1922

He served for several years as Grand Organist of the Grand Lodge of Finland.

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Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, 30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 10 May 1940 – 26 July 1945 & 26 October 1951 – 7 April 1955

In 1953 he became the first British prime minister to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Initiated into "Studholme Lodge", London on May 24, 1901

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William Hogarth, 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764

English painter and pictorial satirist

Date of his initiation is unknown, but he is listed as a member of a lodge at the Hand and Apple Tree public house in Holborn in 1725.

Hogarth was appointed Grand Steward of the United Grand Lodge of England for the year 1735, and is the designer of the Grand Lodge's Grand Steward's Jewel.

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Lewis "Lew" Wallace, April 10, 1827 – February 15, 1905

American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, statesman and author. He is best remembered for writing the novel Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Initiated into "Fountain Lodge No. 60", Covington, Indiana on December 15, 1850

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Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, 15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832

Scottish novelist, poet and playwright, who helped popularize the genre of historical novels. Famous works include the books Ivanhoe and Rob Roy.

Initiated, passed and raised in lodge "Saint David, No. 36", Edinburgh on March 2, 1801.

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Franz Joseph Haydn, 31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809

Austrian composer

Initiated into lodge "Zur Wahren Eintracht" ("True Harmony"), Vienna on February 11, 1785

Trivia:

Haydn's initiation was originally scheduled for January 28th. His friend and colleague Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had been present at that date to witness the ceremony. Unfortunately he could not make it to the new date as he had to give a concert that same night.

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Lionel Hampton, April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002

American Jazz musician, especially known for being among the first vibraphone Jazz players.

Unfortunately I was not able to find out the date of his initiation, but apparently he was a member of the Prince Hall "Boyer Lodge No. 1", New York

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Sir John Alexander Macdonald, 11 January 1815 – 6 June 1891

First Prime Minister of Canada, 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891, 1 July 1867 – 5 November 1873

Initiated into "St. John's Lodge No. 5", Kingston Ontario in 1844

Honourary Past Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario

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Harland David "Colonel" Sanders, September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980

American businessman, founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise

Initiated into "Lodge No. 651", Henryville, Indiana on April 6, 1917

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John Philip Sousa, November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932

American composer and conductor most famous for his military marches (e.g. The Stars and Stripes Forever)

Initiated into "Hiram Lodge No.10", Washington, D.C. on July 15th, 1881

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William I (Wilhelm I), 22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888

King of Prussia 2 January 1861 – 9 March 1888

Emperor of Germany 18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888

Initiated in a joined meeting by the Grand Officers of the three Prussian Grand Lodges on May 22, 1840

Protector of the Grand Lodges of Prussia

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I wish every brother out there a happy St. John’s Day and nice and perhaps contemplative St. John’s Day celebrations.

St. John the Baptist, c. 6 BC – c. AD 30-36

Patron Saint of Freemasonry.

Painting: Guido Reni, John baptizing Christ

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Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005

American comedian

Initiated into "Henry Brown Lodge No. 22", Peoria around 1981

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John Theophilus Desaguliers, 12 March 1683 – 29 February 1744

French-born natural philosopher, member of the Royal Society of London, priest of the Church of England, assistent to Sir Isaac Newton, inventor of the planetarium.

Date of his initiation unknown, however he was elected the third Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1719 and later served as Deputy Grand Master of the UGLE in 1723 and 1725.