When we witness the startup of the next President of the United States in about a year , the incoming POTUS will in all likelihood be sworn inusing a exceptional Bible . Some , like Lyndon B. Johnson , have chosen family Bibles . Others have select a Bible used by a former president , which is what Barack Obama did in 2009 when he was blaspheme in with Abraham Lincoln ’s sacred tome .
A few have even chosen to use the Holy Grail of presidential Bibles — the one George Washington placed his bridge player on when he was cuss in on April 30 , 1789 . But that Bible , which is now a precious relic of the United States , was originally nothing more than an second thought .
Washington ’s inaugural took place not in D.C. , but atFederal Hallin New York , where Congress met at the sentence . Everything else had been prepared for the ceremony when someone realize that no one had bring a Holy Bible for Washington to swear on . Jacob Morton , a Mason and the Master of nearby St. John ’s Lodge , offeredto tally and grab the Bible from the altar at St. John ’s . With no other options readily available , Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston gladly charter him up on it . During the ceremony , Washington localise his right hand on the text , which was open to Genesis 49:13 . ( Do n’t look too severely for any substance — the Library of Congresssaysit was “ opened at random due to haste . ” )
Once the inaugural was over , the Bible was return to St. John ’s Lodge No . 1 , and it still belongs to the Lodge today . When the Masons are not using it , they oftendisplaythe George Washington Inaugural Bible at Federal Hall . They ’ve also allowed it to be used in inaugurations for Warren G. Harding , Dwight D. Eisenhower , Jimmy Carter , and George H.W. Bush . George W. Bushhopedto use it at his inauguration in 2001 , but it was raining and no one wanted to run a risk damage such a cherished artefact .
fittingly , the Bible was also used in Washington ’s funeral procession and the dedication of the Washington Monument .
