NEWS STORY: Historic Bible Nearby, If Bush Chooses It

c. 2005 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Four years ago, a 234-year-old red goatskin-covered Bible sat inside the Capitol awaiting the moment George W. Bush would take the oath of office for his first term as president. If Bush had used that Bible, he would have joined Presidents George Washington, Warren Harding, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy […]

c. 2005 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ Four years ago, a 234-year-old red goatskin-covered Bible sat inside the Capitol awaiting the moment George W. Bush would take the oath of office for his first term as president. If Bush had used that Bible, he would have joined Presidents George Washington, Warren Harding, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and his own father, George H.W. Bush, in placing his hand on it.

But the Secret Service wanted the Bible outside on the Capitol steps one hour before the ceremony began. The Bible’s caretakers determined the delicate pages shouldn’t be exposed to the rain and sleet falling that day, so Bush used a family Bible instead, the same Bible he plans to use this year.


If Bush changes his mind, the historic Bible is on display nearby in the National Archives building to celebrate the 2005 presidential inauguration. It’s on loan from St. John’s Lodge No. 1 of the Free and Accepted Masons in New York City and can be viewed until Jan. 25.

The Lodge has not had any communication from the White House, but the Bible could be made ready quickly, said Ryan Johnson, chairman of the George Washington Inaugural Bible Committee.

The Bible, which Washington kissed at his inauguration on April 30, 1789, is treated with the same dignity and care as the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Because it is a Freemason Bible, not belonging to any denomination, it was considered appropriate for the first presidential inauguration, according to Johnson.

By using a Masonic Bible, “you’re not ticking anyone off,” Johnson said. “This is the document that was used to launch the executive branch of the federal government.”

The King James-version Bible, printed in London in 1767, has 103 steel-plate engravings and gold decorations. Lodge master Jonathan Hampton presented it to the Masons on the lodge’s opening day in 1770.

Nineteen years later, the first inaugural planners forgot about a Bible until the last minute, so one of Washington’s aides grabbed the Bible from the lodge, according to popular legend. Other historians say Washington planned to use the Masonic bible all along.


Washington placed his hand on chapters 49 and 50 of Genesis, where Jacob blesses his sons and acknowledges their differences, symbolizing the unification of the 13 original colonies. After the oath, Washington said “I swear, so help me God” and kissed the page.

The Bible is handled with gloves and travels with three St. John’s members at all times. Contrary to popular rumor, it can be transported on airplanes.

“The Bible does fly,” Johnson said. “The Bible goes by train. The Bible goes by subway.”

Only the president, the governor of New York, the grand master of Masons in New York State, the master-elect of St. John’s Lodge and third-degree candidates of St. John’s Lodge may take their oaths on the Bible.

The book was present at the laying of the cornerstones of the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument and Statue of Liberty pedestal, among other historic events. It was also present at the funeral processions of Presidents Washington, Andrew Jackson and Zachary Taylor.

MO/RB END RNS

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