Washington’s Inaugural Bible Makes Rare Putnam Appearance

The Bible used in the inauguration of President George Washington in 1789 was on display recently at Philipstown Masonic Lodge 236. Photo by Legislator Bill Gouldman.

Philipstown Masonic Lodge No. 236 in Cold Spring offered a rare public viewing of the George Washington inaugural Bible on Aug. 15, as part of its Revolutionary Putnam County 250 programming.

The 1767 Bible belongs to St. John’s Lodge No. 1 A.Y.M. in New York City, which provided its altar Bible for Washington’s first presidential inauguration on April 30, 1789.

The Bible was later used at the inaugurations of Warren Harding, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush.

Guests entered in small groups for presentations and viewing of the Bible, which was separated from visitors by velvet ropes. No one from the general public was permitted to touch it, and flash photography was prohibited because of the sensitivity of the relic’s historic inks and materials.

Among the presenters for the day were John Hopkins, master of St. John’s Lodge No. 1 in NYC; Manny Juarez, master of the Philipstown lodge and president of the Philipstown Masonic Historical Society; John Uhle, immediate past master of Philipstown lodge; Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne; and County Legislator Bill Gouldman.

Robin Sanders transported the Bible safely from New York City to Philipstown.