"Freemason Stonemasons and Their Role in the Construction of the U.S. Capitol"

From the July/August 2025 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.


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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Scottish Right Journal podcast, an audio presentation
of the Scottish Right Journal, brought to you by the
Supreme Council of the Scottish Right Southern Jurisdiction Mother Supreme
Council of the World. This week's article is Freemason Stonemasons
and their Role in the Construction of the US Capitol
by Brother Thomas Saharski, thirty second degree, and comes from

(00:22):
the July August twenty twenty five issue of the Scottish
Right Journal. The Stonemason marks at the White House and
Capitol make for an intriguing story. In nineteen forty eight,
President Harry S. Truman thirty third degree discovered that the
US White House was structurally unsound. He then presided over
the most intensive repair and modernization of the White House

(00:44):
in the mid twentieth century. During the course of renovation,
a number of stones were discovered showing original Stonemason builder's marks.
During the course of renovation, a number of stones were
discovered showing original Stonemason builder's marks. Recognizing it their cultural importance,
Brother Truman preserved them. Eventually, he and the Grand Lodge

(01:05):
of the District of Columbia distributed them to forty nine
Masonic Grand Lodges in the United States, multiple Regular lodges,
and other private institutions. Most notably, stones were given to
the Masonic Lodge Truman founded and Grandview, Missouri, and Alexandria
Washington Lodge, where George Washington had served as master brother.
Truman believed that these marks connected stone Masons, not just

(01:28):
speculative but operative Masons, with an important moment in American
Freemasonry's history, given that so many of the country's founding
fathers and early statesmen were Freemasons. In May twenty eleven,
the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia organized
an exhibit featuring forty five of the White House stones

(01:49):
President Truman donated to the Grand lodges. The exhibit opened
in conjunction with the Memorial Association's one hundredth anniversary. Likewise,
such stones had been traced to the Capitol building and
its original stone carvers and stone cutters. The earliest census
in Washington confirms the work site consisted of families of tradesmen. Indeed,

(02:11):
many Scottish Freemasons were involved in the building of the
US Capitol and the White House, including Colin Williamson, a
master Stonemason in the sense of an architect and builder.
He had an applied education and theoretical training in construction.
Brother Williamson's private life revolved around Freemasonry. He was a
member of Lodge Kilmalimock number forty five in Moray, Scotland.

(02:34):
Williamson continued his Masonic membership in the United States at
Federal Lodge number fifteen under the Grand Lodge of Maryland,
which became Federal Lodge number one in Washington when the
Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia was founded in
eighteen eleven. Other Scottish Masons were employed in the building
of the Capitol from Journeyman Lodge number eight in their
native Scotland. In twenty eleven, some brothers from that lodge

(02:57):
came over for the showing of the Capitol Stones's which
were displayed along with the White House stones. For me,
it has been a fascinating topic that there is a
direct connection between eighteenth century Stonemasons who were also Freemasons,
and I am continuing to research this history in some depth.
Records from the National Archives, as well as articles such

(03:19):
as the White House Foundation Stones have been invaluable aids
in this exploration. Like and share this article and don't
forget to subscribe to the channel. If you wish to comment,
please leave one and as a reminder, hit the notifications bell.
Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be
found in the corresponding print edition. The Scottish Rite Journal

(03:42):
is published by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Right
Southern Jurisdiction Mother Supreme Council of the World. Mark Dreysenstock
thirty third degree Managing Editor. I'm your host, Matt Bauers