Past Exhibitions | Oct, 1 2013 9:00AM - Dec, 9 2013 5:00PM
This Bible was used at the inauguration of George Washington when he took office as the first President of the United States. Since then, the historic Bible has been used at four other inaugurations: President Harding in 1921, President Eisenhower in 1953, President Jimmy Carter in 1977, and President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
The Bible is the property of St. John's Lodge No. 1, Ancient York Masons, Free & Accepted Masons, the oldest Lodge in New York State, founded in 1757.
Did You Know...
On April 30th, 1789, at the inauguration of George Washington as first President of the United States, it was discovered that a Bible had not been procured for the Oath of Office. The then Master of St. John’s Lodge, Jacob Morton, volunteered to fetch the St. John’s Lodge Bible and this was gratefully accepted by Chancellor Robert Livingstone, who was to administer the Oath.
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