Washington's Inaugural Address - 219 Years Later April 30, 2008

On April 30, 2008 at 12:00 o’clock Noon, members of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, with clergy from St. Paul’s Chapel, will commemorate the first official act of our Founding Fathers and Heroes of the American Revolution by reenacting the 1789 inauguration of our first president and Mason, George Washington. Promising to uphold “liberties and freedoms" under "a government instituted by themselves," President Washington’s stirring message to a fledgling nation are among the most influential words that shaped the identity of the United States. This reenactment is a poignant reminder of our American heritage and honors the men and women whose valor made our democracy possible.

The original Bible used by President Washington at his inauguration on April 30, 1789 will be on display at St. Paul’s Chapel following the reenactment and is on loan courtesy of St. Johns Lodge No. 1.

Geoffrey Hoderath will act as the Master of Ceremonies. William J. Schaefer will play the role of George Washington. Avery Lackner will play Samuel Otis, and Ivan Obolensky, Chairman of the George Washington Inaugural Committee, will play Chancellor Robert Livingston. All actors will be dressed in period costumes and will speak in the vernacular of the time. The Grand Master of the New York Masons, Neal I. Bidnick, will attend and preside.