Born on the level! Born on the square!
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM MECKLENBURG POLK 1758-1834
William Polk as a Freemason

To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth is a time-honored expression meaning a person enters the world with wealthy parents to give their infant a good start in life. To a Mason, to be born on the level means one’s family starts a child with all of God’s blessings that everyone deserves and that is inherent in a Masonic family. And to be born on the square means one’s Masonic heritage endows a child with moral and ethical values that will guide and add meaning to his entire life.

One man in the history of North Carolina admirably fits both descriptions: William Polk. His father Thomas Polk was a great leader of men and Masons with an impeccable record. And fate caused William to be born on the Square of Charlotte, literally at the junction of Trade and Tryon streets, then, and now, the busiest and most prosperous spot in the State of North Carolina.

In 1789 William Polk was initiated at the age of 31 in Phoenix Lodge 8 in Fayetteville, the same lodge that had been known as Union Lodge before 1787. The tradition at Phalanx 31 in Charlotte is that Will Polk was their founding Master. But if that were the case, he had to be a Mason before 1789 when he was initiated in Fayetteville. Well, when Richard Caswell was raised as a Mason in New Bern in 1772, it was his second time.

So historically it is possible Will Polk was already a Mason when he was raised in Fayetteville. That would allow for Phalanx having been working as South Carolina lodge Number 7 about 1787, with Will Polk as its first Master. Read Launching the Craft by Thomas Parramore, a NC Grand Lodge book also showing Polk as still active in Phalanx 31 in 1799.

The most important Masonic activity in the fraternal career of William Polk was his service in Raleigh as Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina during the years 1799, 1800 and 1801. He was the fifth Grand Master in North Carolina history, following William Richardson Davie as fourth. Will Polk stylishly signed the charter of Hiram 40 lodge in Raleigh December 15, 1800, in his capacity as Grand Master. The signing occurred a full year after the charter date.

Brother Polk was named one of the commissioners to welcome Brother Lafayette back to America in 1825, a major Masonic event. He signed in as a visitor at Democratic 21 in Raleigh at one point. His omnipresence in Freemasonry is as evident as his omnipresence in military action.

Masonry continued in the family with Leonidas Polk, Will’s son whose Masonic personal treasures are in hand today. English visitor Colonel Fremantle described Leonidas as a grand seigneur –“good looking, tall, looks much more the soldier than the clergyman, beloved by the soldiers on account of his great personal courage and agreeable manners.”

Will Polk at one point in history brought all three North Carolina Masonic presidents together! The story is not widely known. This from Historical Documents of Freedom by Stanley L. Klos:

“Referring to William Polk’s influence on the rising fortunes of the state of Tennessee, it has been said that as the personal friend and associate of Andrew Jackson he greatly advanced the interests and enhanced the wealth of the hero of New Orleans by furnishing him information, taken from his field notes as a surveyor, that enabled Jackson to secure valuable tracts of land in the state of Tennessee; that to Samuel Polk, father of the president, he gave the agency for renting and selling portions of his (William’s) estate; and that, as first president of the Bank of North Carolina, he made Jacob Johnson, the father of President Andrew Johnson, its first porter, so that of the three native North Carolinians who entered the White House through the gate of Tennessee, all were indebted for benefactions and promotion to the same individual.” Meaning William Polk.


read more | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com