Scottish Rite History
RONALD
WILSON REAGAN (1911-2004)
Fortieth President (1981-1989)
Ronald
Reagan has often been referred
to as a Freemason. President
Reagan was not a Freemason although
he was an honorary member of the Scottish Rite and of the Imperial Council of the
Shrine. President Reagan was
on numerous occasions involved
in Shrine and Masonic functions
throughout his career.
The
confusion as to his membership
arises from a ceremony held
in the Oval Office of the White
House on February 11th, 1988,
when a group of Freemasons presented
President Reagan with a certificate
of honor from the Grand Lodge
of Washington, D.C., he
then was made an Honorary Scottish
Rite mason. The title of Freemason
can only be conferred by a Grand
Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons. In President Reagan's case this
was not done, probably because
the ceremonies would have taken
a full day to confer and the
president's time was limited;
therefore, President Reagan
should only be referred to as
an honorary Shriner or honorary Scottish Rite Mason as you must be a Mason before you may become a full member of the Shrine or Scottish Rite as the Shrine and Scottish Rite
are concordant bodies of Masonry.
This was arguably a great opportunity missed to make our 40th president a Mason at sight.