John W. Geary - Freemasonry

Freemasonry

John W. Geary was made a Mason at Sight on January 4, 1847 in Pennsylvania (Philanthropy Lodge #255), just before he left with his troops to fight in the Mexican War. When in California, he was stationed in San Francisco, and served as one its first Mayors. He caused the land that became Union Square to be set–aside as a park. Geary Street is named for him. During the Civil War, he was the commanding Union general at the fall of Savannah, Georgia. He placed Federal troops about the quarters of Solomon′s Lodge No. 1 to save it from looting and damage. Later, while Geary was governor of Pennsylvania, the Lodge sent him a resolution of thanks. He answered by claiming it was the principles and tenets of Freemasonry that helped Reconstruction to be as successful as it finally turned out to be. In this reply, he said: “…I feel again justified in referring to our beloved institution, by saying that to Freemasonry the people of the country are indebted for many mitigations of the suffering caused by the direful passions of war.”