Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Happy 250th Birthday America! I can recall all of the excitement in 1976 around the 200th birthday of the United States. How has that been 50 years ago already!

Freemasonry is woven into the fabric of the founding of the country. Numerous founding fathers were Freemasons and played pivotal roles into the United States gaining our independence. Instead of rehashing all of those stories, I put together samples of what others are saying as we celebrate 250 years.

Grand Lodge of Ohio

As America marks 250 years of independence, it’s worth noting the presence and impact of Freemasonry during the nation’s founding. Some of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, led the Continental Army, and drafted the Constitution were Masons. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere are among the most well known, but the list extends broadly across the founding generation. General Rufus Putnam, who was elected Ohio’s first Grand Master, served under General Washington during the Revolutionary War. Freemasonry provided these men with a shared set of values, such as brotherhood, equality, and the pursuit of truth. These ideals not only shaped their conduct in the lodge but their vision for a new nation. Some of the symbols central to our fraternity are still visible in American life today, in places most people encounter without realizing their origin.

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country, it is important for us to acknowledge the enduring influence of Freemasonry as one of the primary sources of the foundational concepts in the Declaration of Independence. Lodges should make every effort to be a focal point in their communities for America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. Special events throughout the year will unite our Pennsylvania brethren with our counterparts across the country as we reaffirm the ideals that built this nation. Let’s lead the way in celebrating our great nation’s founding!

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the air is filled with reflection. We look back at 1776 not just as a date on a calendar, but as the moment a nation was born with powerful ideals such Liberty and Justice for all.

For RI Freemasons, this milestone carries a personal resonance. History shows us that the Great Architect of the Universe used many “living stones”—many of them Masons—to build the framework of American democracy. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock exemplified the tenets of the Craft and imprinted them in the Declaration of Independence.

Happy Birthday America!

~GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Happy Fathers Day! I lost my own father, Jack Knott, that I wrote about here on the Midnight Freemason in 2020, there article is here http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2020/07/losing-my-father.html. One thing about time, is that it may separate you time wise from a particular event, but it never quite fills the void that losing someone creates.

The older I get myself, the more that I appreciate all that my father did for me. As my brother and I were growing up, our father was often working two jobs, that enabled our mother to stay at home with us. I don’t think I ever fully appreciated all that he was doing for us, to help ensure our success. Though my father is gone, I think of him daily and the wisdom and opportunities he passed along to me.

So let me give a shout out to my father Jack and all the fathers out there in the world! We sure appreciate everything they have done and continue to do for us!

Happy Fathers Day!

~ GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.