Prior to reciting the following charges which are a part of every installation

in the state of Illinois I feel an explanation is warranted as to the important

role the Masonic Fraternity played in the formation of this country. I'm sure

you wont find these facts in any history book but according to my research I

find them to be true. For Instance All I ever read of Paul Revere was that

he rode a horse through the countryside shouting "The British are Coming."

 

But Did you know that:

The following charges were written by Most Worshipful Brother Paul Revere

when he was Grand Master of Masons of the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts in 1795.                 

           

Did you know that:

George Washington served as Master of his Lodge at the same time he

served as president of the United States.

 

Did you know that:

The cornerstones of the Capital Building the White House and a great

number of other official buildings in Washington were laid by the Masonic

Fraternity

 

Did you know that:

George Washington took his oath of office on a Masonic Bible that was

borrowed from Saints John Lodge in New York City and that this Bible is

still in the possession of that Lodge and that President George Bush also

took his oath of office on the same Bible on the 200th anniversary.

 

Did you know that:

50 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons.

 

Did you know that:

20 Of the 29 Major Generals in Washington's Army were Masons

 

Did you know that:

59 Of the 66 Brigadier Generals were Masons.

 

Did you know that:

50 of the 55 members of the Constitutional Convention were Masons.

 

And did you know that:

The Governors of the original 13 States were all Masons.

 

You can see by that little explanation that the Fraternity did play an

important role in our formation over 200 years ago and these charges are

just as meaningful to our Fraternity today as they were in 1795.