Sousa was proud to be a Mason. He entered Masonry at age 26 and was a Master Mason for 51 years. Three of his best known marches have Masonic origins: “The Crusader” (1888), “The Thunderer” (1889), and “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine” (1923).
John Philip Sousa’s Masonic History: 15 July 1881, Initiated, Hiram Lodge No. 10, Washington D.C. (never transferred); 2 September 1881, Passed, Hiram Lodge; 10 November 1881, Raised, Hiram Lodge; 16 September 1886, Received Capitular Degrees and exalted in Eureka Chapter No. 4 (later Eureka Naval Chapter); 3 December 1886, Received Order of Red Cross, Malta, and Temple; 10 December 1886, Knighted in Columbia Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, Washington, DC; 21 April 1922, Initiated in A.A.O.N.M.S., Almas Temple, Washington, DC, named honorary leader of Almas Temple Band.
On 10 March 1932, a Masonic memorial service was held at the grave site in Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC, after Sousa’s death.
More info: Brother John Philip Sousa, Salesman of Americanism
in the Paul Edmund Bierley book, The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa it makes mention of Masonry to page 47 and there is no mention on that page?
Dear Mr. Walsh,
The mention of Masonry on p.47 in Dr. Bierley’s book falls under the photo caption on that page as it shows the Masonic members of Mr. Sousa’s band for the 1921-22 season.
If JP Sousa was Knighted into Temple of the Knights Templar Commandery No 2. in December 1886 and “The Gladiator” is published in 1886, isn’t this march also a Masonic
march? The U.S. Marine Band site claims that this march may have been written for his Knighting into the highest order of York rite masonry.
Dear Mr. Ellenberger,
Thank you very much for your query regarding Mr. Sousa’s “The Gladiator” march with possible connections to the Masons. While the 1886 timeline seems to fit, the dedication to Boston journalist, Charles Towle, raises more questions than answers as the relationship between the two gentlemen is unknown to this day. Author Patrick Warfield speculates “The Gladiator” could have Masonic ties as many of Sousa’s mid-1880s marches have perhaps due to Sousa, his Father, and many members of the Marine Band belonging to various Masonic Orders at the time.
Sincerely,
Barry Owen Furrer