| ANDREW
JOHNSON
(Dec 29, 1808 - Jul 31, 1875)
17th
President of the United States of America
(1865-1869) 16th Vice-President
of the United States of America (1865)
MASONIC RECORD
(Lodge records lost during the
Civil War) Initiated: May 5, 1851, Greeneville
Lodge No. 119, Greeneville, Tennessee.
Brother Johnson is supposed to
have been a Chapter Mason but the name of
the Chapter and date of exaltation are unknown;
was Knighted in Nashville Commandery No.1,
Nashville, Tennessee, July 26, 1859, and,
the First President to become a Scottish
Rite Mason, received those degrees in the
White House June 20, 1867, from Benjamin
B. French, 33 Deg. and A.T.C. Pierson, 33
Deg., both active members of the Supreme
Council, S.J.
He participated in five cornerstone
layings; the monument to Bro. Stephen a
Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, September 6,
1866; Masonic Temple, Baltimore, Maryland,
November 20, 1866; Masonic Temple Boston,
Massachusetts, June 24, 1867; National Cemetery,
Antietam, Maryland, October 17, 1867; and
Masonic Temple, Washington, D.C., May 20,
1868. To attend this ceremony he gave leave
to all Masons in government service, and
President Johnson marched on foot in the
parade as a Master Mason.
At the cornerstone laying of the
Baltimore Temple some one suggested that
a chair be brought to the reviewing platform
for him. Brother Johnson refused it, saying:
"We all meet on the level."
He died July 31, 1875, and was
buried with full Masonic Honors by Greeneville
Lodge No.119, R.W.G. C. Connor, Deputy Grand
Master of Tennessee conducting the services
in the presence of four Lodges and Coeur
de Lion Commandery No.9 of Knoxville, which
performed the Templar service.
Military Governor of Tennessee,
1862-1865.
Presidential Portrait |