Illustrious Brother Harry S. Truman, 33°
“Good name and honor are worth more than all the gold and jewels ever mined. - President Harry S. Truman
For centuries, Freemasonry has shaped history, instilling its timeless lessons into extraordinary men who’ve left indelible marks on the world—statesmen, soldiers, scientists, and dreamers alike. Among them stands Brother Harry S. Truman, 33°, a leader whose devotion to Freemasonry was equaled only by his commitment to his country.
A proud son of Missouri, Brother Truman’s journey from a small-town upbringing to the highest office in the country is a testament to perseverance, humility, and steadfast principles. Along the way, his passion for the Craft remained one of his life’s cornerstones. Rising through the ranks of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, Brother Truman brought to Freemasonry the same quiet resolve and sense of duty that would later define his presidency.
Harry Truman was a lifelong Freemason and the 33rd President of the United States of America
As the 33rd President of the United States, Brother Truman presided over the end of World War II and the dawn of a new global order. At every turn, his decisions, whether celebrated or controversial, reflected a commitment to fairness, accountability, and the greater good.
Humble Beginnings: The Making of a President
Born on May 8, 1884, in the quiet town of Lamar, Missouri, Truman was the eldest child of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. The family moved frequently during his early years, drawn by his father’s work as a farmer and livestock dealer, teaching young Truman the importance of adaptability.
Growing up in Independence, Missouri, Truman first attended school at the age of eight. Encouraged by his mother, Truman developed a love of music, history, and mathematics and became a dedicated pianist, rising each morning before dawn to practice. After graduating from high school in 1901, Truman briefly studied at Spalding’s Commercial College and worked in the mailroom of The Kansas City Star before becoming a timekeeper for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. This role required him to live in workmen's camps and exposed Truman to the grit and determination of everyday laborers.
Truman at age 13 in 1897
Before long, he was called back to the family farm in Grandview to manage operations. It was during this period that Freemasonry came into his life and played a formative role in shaping his character. In 1911, two years after joining the fraternity, Brother Truman helped establish Grandview Lodge No. 618, serving as its first Worshipful Master. For a young man overcoming years of shyness, this milestone marked an important step in his journey as a leader. Within a month, Brother Truman conducted the lodge’s first degree ceremony, proudly telling his future wife Bess Wallace, “Some time in the far distant future, I’ll be bragging about having performed that ceremony.”
Life on the farm was punctuated by a courtship with Bess Wallace, whom Brother Truman had known since childhood. Although his initial proposal in 1911 was turned down, he never wavered in his devotion, determined to prove himself worthy of her hand. To supplement his income, Brother Truman explored various business ventures, including mining, real estate speculation, and oil leasing. While these endeavors provided occasional financial relief, none proved sustainable.
A Leader Emerges
When World War I erupted, Brother Truman, then in his early 30s, volunteered without hesitation. His poor eyesight initially disqualified him but determined to serve his country, he memorized the eye chart to pass the test. He quickly rose to the rank of captain, commanding Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery. Under his command, the men of Battery D—initially known for discipline problems—became a cohesive unit that thrived under his evenhanded leadership. Brother Truman gained their respect through his fairness and his ability to inspire confidence, even in the chaos of battle.
In France, Brother Truman’s unit saw action in the Vosges, Saint Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne campaigns. One pivotal moment occurred during a night attack when his men began to retreat. However, Brother Truman’s booming voice, punctuated with colorful language from his railroad days, rallied his soldiers, turning the tide of the skirmish. Later, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Brother Truman defied orders to protect the lives of fellow soldiers, destroying an enemy artillery battery poised to wreak havoc on neighboring troops.
From Citizen to Statesman
Honorably discharged from the Army in 1919, he wasted no time in marrying his lifelong love, Bess Wallace. Settling into civilian life, he partnered with his wartime friend Eddie Jacobson to open a haberdashery in Kansas City which enjoyed initial success before falling victim to the recession of 1921.
These hard years only deepened Brother Truman’s devotion to Freemasonry, as he immersed himself in Masonic ritual and officiated ceremonies across Jackson County. By 1925, his reputation as a capable and dedicated Mason earned him the role of District Deputy Grand Master and Lecturer. For five years, he traveled tirelessly throughout the district, instructing lodges and fostering the bonds of brotherhood. His influence was widely recognized, with fellow Mason Gaylon Babcock recalling, “He was an excellent director. If things weren’t going smoothly, Harry would come in and get them going. He was a good lodge man.”
Truman campaigning in Thayer, Missouri, c. October 5, 1934
Guided by a growing sense of civic duty and encouraged by the support of the Kansas City Democratic machine, Brother Truman entered public service. He was elected in 1922 as a judge for Jackson County’s eastern district and quickly proved himself to be a competent and fair administrator. He oversaw transformative public works projects, including the ambitious Ten-Year Plan, which reshaped the city with new roads and modern infrastructure. A true Mason, his leadership revealed a steadfast commitment to progress and a deep concern for the welfare of his community.
Because of this, by the early 1930s, Brother Truman had developed a reputation as a diligent and ethical public servant, a rarity in the often-corrupt world of Missouri politics. This reputation, coupled with his connections through Freemasonry, the American Legion, and the military, positioned him as a viable candidate for higher office. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1934, campaigning tirelessly across Missouri, and won in a landslide. In Washington, he quickly distinguished himself as an independent thinker unafraid to act according to his conscience.
As a senator, Brother Truman initially struggled to gain the recognition of President (and fellow Freemason) Franklin D. Roosevelt, but he made his mark with speeches railing against corporate greed and Wall Street’s influence on national affairs. He stepped into the national spotlight as chairman of the Truman Committee during World War II as he investigated waste and corruption in wartime government contracts.
Fittingly, Brother Truman’s commitment to the Craft reached its zenith during this period when, in 1940, he was elected Grand Master of Missouri. Presiding over the annual meeting in St. Louis in 1941, Brother Truman reflected on his term with pride, writing to Bess, “Well, my tour of duty as Grand Master ended up in a blaze of glory… My good friends were the happiest men you ever saw, and I felt like it was worth all the effort and time.”
By 1944, the U.S. stood at a critical juncture, and so did Senator Truman. As FDR sought an unprecedented fourth term, his advisors recognized that the vice presidency would likely serve as a bridge to the presidency itself. Vice President Henry Wallace was considered too polarizing by many Democratic Party leaders and a compromise candidate was needed to unite the party and offer steady leadership if Brother Roosevelt’s health failed.
The Burden of Leadership
Brother Truman initially resisted overtures to join the ticket, but his presence on the ballot bolstered Brother Roosevelt’s appeal to mainstream voters, leading to a sweeping electoral victory. Sworn in as vice president on January 20, 1945, Brother Truman’s brief tenure in the role was largely uneventful as Brother Roosevelt, preoccupied with wartime demands, rarely included Truman in major decisions, leaving him in the dark on critical issues like the Manhattan Project.
Everything changed on April 12, 1945, when Brother Roosevelt succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage. Summoned urgently to the White House, Brother Truman was met by Eleanor Roosevelt, who delivered the life-altering news. By 7:09 p.m., Brother Truman was sworn in as the 33rd President of the United States, bearing the weight of leadership during the closing months of World War II.
Vice President Truman is sworn in as president in the Cabinet Room at the White House
Thrust into the presidency with little preparation, Brother Truman faced monumental challenges. The White House was woefully understaffed, forcing him to act as his own chief of staff and liaison to Congress as he quickly set about replacing Brother Roosevelt’s cabinet with trusted allies. While his unpolished public image drew criticism, his work ethic and ability to grasp complex issues, such as the federal budget, earned him respect. His fiery speeches—peppered with sharp criticism of opponents—endeared him to supporters, earning him the nickname “Give ’Em Hell, Harry.”
One of Truman’s first major decisions would become the most controversial of his career: the use of atomic bombs on Japan. In July 1945, during the Potsdam Conference with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill, Brother Truman learned of the successful Trinity test of the atomic bomb. With Japan refusing to surrender, Truman authorized the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, followed by Nagasaki three days later.
The devastation was unimaginable, but it also hastened Japan’s surrender, effectively ending the war. Brother Truman defended the decision as a necessity to save lives on both sides, citing military estimates that an invasion of Japan could result in up to one million Allied casualties. The weight of the decision was not lost on Brother Truman, and though modern criticism debates the morality of using such a weapon, the president stood by his choice, asserting that it had brought a swift end to the bloodiest conflict in human history.
The Fair Deal and the Cold War
Even as his political career soared, Brother Truman remained deeply connected to Freemasonry. In 1945, he received the 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite, the highest honor of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction. This distinction, bestowed shortly after he became president, marked the culmination of his Masonic journey. That same year, the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, awarded Truman its first Gourgas Medal, the Supreme Council's highest honor. Brother Truman later reflected on the fraternity’s impact, writing, “Freemasonry is a system of morals which makes it easier to live with your fellow man, whether he understands it or not.”
Joseph Stalin, Harry S. Truman, and Winston Churchill in July 1945
Brother Truman’s presidency helped bring World War II to a close, yet peace was short-lived as the threat of Soviet expansion in Europe loomed. In 1949, he helped establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), creating a collective defense against Soviet aggression. The Korean War, which erupted in 1950, tested Brother Truman’s resolve further.
Domestically, Brother Truman championed his Fair Deal program, proposing expanded public housing, civil rights protections, and national health insurance. Though many initiatives faced opposition and failed to pass, his efforts laid the groundwork for future reforms. Brother Truman’s commitment to civil rights was groundbreaking; his executive order desegregating the military marked a historic step toward equality.
A Modest Farewell
Brother Truman’s presidency ended in 1953 as Cold War fears and frustrations over the Korean War took their toll. When he left the White House, he returned to his home in Independence, Missouri, marking the start of a modest and active retirement. He spearheaded the establishment of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, the first of its kind. Brother Truman personally donated his presidential papers and testified before Congress to ensure their preservation, leaving behind an invaluable resource for historians and the public alike. His memoirs were both critical and commercial successes, providing firsthand insight into one of the most transformative periods in American history.
He continued to play a role in public life despite his advancing age, teaching occasional university courses and campaigning for Democratic candidates. On December 26, 1972, at the age of 88, Illustrious Brother Harry S. Truman passed away in Kansas City after battling pneumonia and multiple organ failures. His simple funeral at the Truman Library reflected the humility and values that had defined his life. Bess Truman, who outlived her husband by nearly a decade, was laid to rest beside him in 1982.
To many, Brother Truman’s legacy endures as a shining example of how commitment to principle can shape history and inspire generations. From his humble beginnings to his legacy as a leader, Truman’s story continues to inspire Freemasons and citizens alike to uphold honor and strive for the greater good.