National Sojourners is an American patriotic organization of
Freemasons who have served in the
United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...
. Members are organized and meet in ''Chapters''.
Purpose
The stated purpose of the organization is "''to organize active duty and veterans of the uniformed forces (...) of the United States (...) who are Master Masons (...) for the promotion of good fellowship among its members, (...) for developing true Patriotism and Americanism throughout the Nation (...)''"
The organization pursues its aims by assisting local Masonic authorities through initiatives which promote American patriotism and
Americanism, both with the fraternity and the community.
[National Sojourners - Born in war, nurtured in peace](_blank)
access date 1 Dec 2015 These include: Youth Leadership Programs, essay contests, educational programs and involvement in
ROTC and
JROTC
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC -- commonly pronounced "JAY-rotsee") is a Federal government of the United States, federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools acr ...
awards.
National Sojourners: Americanism programs
access date 1 Dec 2015
History
The organization developed from a group of American Freemasons in the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
who participated from 1898 in meetings of a field lodge attached to the North Dakota Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, which met under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota. When the regiment withdrew from the Philippines in 1900, the American Freemasons left behind formed an informal ''Sojourners Club''.Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
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, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
, formally organized the ''Chicago Sojourners Club.'' Further Sojourners' clubs formed at army posts and naval bases around the United States and overseas. In 1927, the word ''Club'' was officially dropped and the National Sojourners were formally incorporated in 1931. Today, National Sojourners are organized in some 160 chapters in 46 states of the United States as well as in Germany and France.Springfield, Virginia
Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 30,484 as of the 2010 census. Homes and businesses in bordering CDPs includ ...
. It also houses the Museum on Americanism. Both are open to the public.
Notable members
* Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an American naval officer and explorer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor given by the United States, and was a pioneering American aviator, p ...
, USN
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
(1888–1957), member of National Sojourners Chapter No. 3 at Washington
* Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...
Ronald Markarian, USAF
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
(1931-2019), former National President of National Sojourners
* General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur
*President (Colonel)Harry S. Truman
References
{{reflist
External links
Official Website
Masonic organizations
Freemasonry in the United States