From Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail:
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, like many men in leadership positions of their day, were both Masons. But Lewis clearly embraced the Masonic philosophies to a higher degree than did Clark.
Lewis, at age 22, first joined the Door to Virtue Masonic Lodge #44 in his home of Albemarle, Virginia. He quickly rose to Royal Arch Mason, held office in the lodge and promoted charitable activities for the men to become involved in.
After returning from the Expedition, he became reinstated with the Masons at his earliest opportunity. He was then governor of the Louisiana Territory in St. Louis and in 1808, helped found St. Louis Lodge #111 and became its first “Worshipful Master.”
He continued his close ties to the fraternity – and even carried this Masonic apron with him on his fateful trip back to Washington in 1809. It was found neatly folded in the pocket of his coat when he died, stained with his blood. The apron, something each Mason received to wear during meetings and rituals, was recovered by Lewis’s family and eventually ended up as a treasured artifact of the Grand Lodge in Helena, Montana.
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