In a blog post written in March for the official Museum & Library blog, I introduced readers to this document from the collection—Supreme Council member Benjamin Dean’s (1824-1897) 1865 hand-written preamble and resolutions regarding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). In this article, I would like to introduce readers, once again, to Dean’s 1865 document, to examine its meaning, and to explore Mr. Lincoln’s connection to Freemasonry in greater detail.
In the Supreme Council of Sovereign Inspectors General 33º for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States,
May 17, 1865.
Since the last annual meeting of this Supreme Council the nation has been deprived of its chief magistrate by the hand of an assassin.
It is peculiarly fit + proper that a body assembled from all the States of our Jurisdiction, and representing so largely our numerous + influencial [sic] brotherhood, a brotherhood whose ancient charges inculcate among its first duties – “to be peaceable citizens + cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which we reside – to avoid being concerned in plots and conspiracies against government + cheerfully to submit to the decisions of the Supreme Legislature; it is fit + proper that such an assemblage – true to its teachings – should give some expression to the family of our deceased + honored President, of our sympathy with their misfortunes, + pray for the restoration of peace to their troubled minds.
Therefore, resolved – that we deplore the untimely end of our late honored President Abraham Lincoln – cut off by horrid violence – in the midst of the high dignities imposed upon him by this people.
Resolved – that we sympathize with the nation + with his distressed family in their unparallelled [sic] affliction.
Resolved, that this expression of our sympathy be spread upon our records, + a copy thereof be sent by our Secretary General to the family of our deceased President.
Unanimously passed by the Supreme Council, Dean’s document demonstrated how one of the Freemasonry’s governing bodies, the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, expressed not only its sorrow for the President’s death, but also how the Lincoln assassination was an affront to everything Freemasonry embodied. The Grand Lodge of Iowa echoed this belief in its 1865 statement on the assassination, “…as Masons we are taught to detest conspiracies, plots and rebellions; and in an especial manner to abhor asassination.” Furthermore, the Grand Lodge asserted, “in depriving our nation of its chief, by assassination, we recognize a crime without a name; and for which language fails to express our grief and horror.”
As for Mr. Lincoln’s connection to Freemasonry, in an October 1860 interview with American poet and Freemason Rob Morris (1818-1888), the President-elect unequivocally stated that he was “not a Freemason.” However, the President-elect also made it clear in this interview and in a conversation with Grand Master Ira A. W. Buck (ca. 1817-1886) of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, that he possessed “a great respect for the institution” of Freemasonry. In fact, in his conversation with Grand Master Buck, Lincoln stated that he had “often thought” of joining the fraternity, “but no one had asked him to join, and he had put the matter off until business and other causes had engrossed his entire time.” The matter, Lincoln concluded, would have to wait until after the great burden of office had passed.
Mr. Lincoln “was not a Free Mason,” his longtime political ally and friend Grand Master Henry P. H. Bromwell (1823-1903) of Illinois stated in 1865, “but in his life and character he illustrated many of the virtues taught and cherished by the Craft.” For that reason, the Freemasons of Illinois attended the President’s funeral “clothed as Masons,” assembled in “full regalia, according to rank and degree.”
Handwritten preamble and resolution of Benjamin Dean, 1865 May 17. Collection of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, SC 300.002.
