HARDING GRANTED 28 MASONIC DEGREES IN OHIO
Columbus, Ohio (JFK+50) On January 5, 1921, President-elect Warren G. Harding underwent a twelve hour initiation "in the higher degrees of Masonry before the Scioto Valley Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons*."
While twelve hours may seem a long period of time, the Washington Herald reported the process would normally take "three or four days."
Four hundred Masons participated in the ceremonies. President James A. Garfield and President William McKinley also received advanced masonic degrees in Columbus.
*The Scottish Rite seeks to strengthen the community and believes that each man should act in civil life according to his individual judgment and the dictates of his conscience.
SOURCES
"Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus, Ohio," Valley of Columbus, www.valleyofcolumbus.com/
"Harding Takes 28 Masonic Degrees In Twelve Hours," The Washington Herald, January 6, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
