Shown here is an innocuous visitors slip from Masonic Lodge No. 43 in Lancaster, PA. But, look closer. You’ll see that it dates from the fall of 1917 and the signer is Bro. William Howard Taft. By the time that Taft visited Lodge 43, he had already served as President of the United States. At this time in his life, Taft was the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Red Cross, and, thanks to President Woodrow Wilson, was given the military rank of Major General for his efforts. Just five years after this visit, Bro. Taft would become the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. What a cool piece of history!
h/t – Pennsylvania Academy of Masonic Knowledge
