The man called "father of our country" was born on this date in 1732. In 1752, he was initiated as a Freemason. He remained a Mason all his life. The Masonic Lodge is often called a secret society, but they are far from secret, they say, and prefer to call themselves "a society with secrets," and a charitable organization "dedicated to freedom, self-improvement, and brotherhood." This hardly seems like the sinister organization some make it out to be. Washington debunked the idea that the Masons practiced the rituals of any occult lodges; he said the Masons did not "propagate diabolical tenets" of any magical orders. Here is Washington's response to criticism of the Masons:

So far as I am acquainted with the principles and Doctrines of Free Masonry, I conceive them to be founded on benevolence, and to be exercised for the good of mankind.
-Letter to the Grand Lodge of Maryland, 25 September 1798

In any Masonic lodge one can find portraits of George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and several other presidents in Masonic regalia. Washington achieved the degree of Master Mason, but was not tremendously active in the organization. Masons call their rituals "plays" these days, and only a small offshoot of the organization-the Esoteric School of Masonry-admits to any occult practices. But oh, to be a fly on the wall at a Masonic ritual attended by the father of our country!

Holiday lore:
We all know the lore about our first president-cherry tree, silver dollar, wooden teeth-but the truth behind this most legendary of American figures is sometimes more entertaining than the folklore. For instance, did you know that once, when young George went for a dip in the Rappahannock, two Fredericksburg women stole his clothes? This story is recorded in the Spotsylvania County records. Picture the young man scampering home flustered and naked, and the icon of the dollar bill becomes just a bit more real.