Hours • Museum: Monday Through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Library: By Appointment Only
Hours • Museum: Monday Through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Library: By Appointment Only
Two years after the end of WWII, Brother Bryant Baker of Constitutional Lodge No. 294, Beverly, England, was asked to speak at the Association meeting in 1947. He brought with him a model and a large picture of a statue of George Washington in Masonic regalia which he was recommending for display in Memorial Hall.
Brother Bryant Baker was born into a family with a long lineage as builders and sculptors in England. Baker’s work and notoriety in his chosen field continued upon his arrival in the United States.
Three United States Presidents sat for Baker – William Howard Taft, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. He also did statues of Presidents Grover Cleveland and Millard Fillmore.
As the statue was being sculpted, the Memorial acquired another unique piece that would have its own historic value and a special connection to Missouri.
The story of the Great Seal begins with a Brother that had been newly initiated on March 4, 1948, named Captain Harvey E. Dudley. Brother Dudley was a personal friend of President Harry S. Truman, currently serving in the White House.
When President Truman learned his friend had petitioned Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, he called another friend, Brother C. Philip Heishley, to instruct him in the Virginia Ritual for raising a candidate.
During a meeting at the White House, Brother Heishley admired the large seal of the United States which hung on the wall, commenting that one like it would be a beautiful addition to the Memorial.
Brother Heishely would later receive a call from the President informing him that a large electrical seal was in storage, but it was broken due to being blown down in a storm. The Seal was originally built and erected on top of the Government Printing Office building in Washington, D.C. This occurred during the war, so there were no extra funds to fix it. It had been simply taken down, put into storage, and listed as junk.
Truman was happy to save the Seal and give it to Heishley, who enlisted the help of Brother Charles W. Saunders (an electrician who served the White House), to repair the Seal.
Saturday afternoon, July 24, 1948, was the date set to raise Harvey E. Dudley. Everything was ready for the President’s arrival to the Memorial.
When the Lodge opened at 1:00 pm, the President had not arrived. After much delay and waiting, the Lodge went about their business. As time passed, there was still no word from the President, so the Lodge was called to refreshment which took place in the Assembly Hall where the Great Seal, seven feet in diameter and electrically lit, was on display.
It was getting late with still no word from the President, so the Lodge resumed labor and proceeded to raise Brother Dudley. President Truman would eventually arrive having been delayed by affairs of the state.
Soviet troops blockaded rail, road and water access to Allied-controlled areas of Berlin.
It is reasonable to assume that President Truman was dealing with this unexpected crisis.
Ultimately, the United States and the United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in Western Germany.
The crisis ended on May 12, 1949, when Soviet troops lifted the blockade on land access to western Berlin.
The 40th Annual Convention of the Association was held on February 22, 1950, and was marked by the unveiling of the George Washington statue.
For the unveiling, all Grand Lodges were represented by their Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries. In addition, 10 Grand Lodges from Canada, the Grand Lodge of Chili, the Grand Lodge of Cuba, and the Grand Lodge of Mexico were represented.
The Grand Lodge of Missouri was represented by:
The complete piece includes the statue of Washington, a facsimile of the Washington chair with military cape laying over the arm, the gavel, pedestal and base all with a total width of 7 ½ tons. The statue is 17’3″ high. It cost $85,000 to complete, with the Order of DeMolay having gifted over $10,000 by 1950 toward its construction.
The morning’s festivities began with a breakfast at the Statler Hotel given by Frank Land in honor of President Truman. It was attended by Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries.
The table of honored guests were members of President Truman’s Cabinet, the Supreme Court, the Senate and House, and other prominent national figures. President Truman gave brief remarks at the breakfast.
The Missouri delegation had the honor of receiving President Truman upon his arrival to the Memorial. After much pomp and circumstance, President Truman, along with other honored guests, pulled the ropes to release the cover on the statue for the unveiling as the U.S. Air Forces Band played.
President Truman then gave a national policy speech. World War II had ended five years before, but another crisis was looming – the spread of communism – the Korean War would begin in June.
President Truman’s speech referenced Washington as a leader who had fought against a tyranny, fought to create a new constitution, then brought that concept of democratic governance into reality through his leadership.
Although given the opportunity and urged by others to remain Commander in Chief, Washington did not sway from the ideals of democracy and stepped aside.
President Truman would argue that George Washington fought for democracy in his time, and we must continue to fight for it. President Truman fought for democracy in the face of WWII, and he was fighting against the spread of communism as he gave the address.
