United States Marine Corps<\/a> lieutenant general and the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lejeune had nearly 40 years service in the Marine Corps including commanding the U.S. Army’s 2nd Division during World War I. His service with the Marine Corps after he retired was as the 5th Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n General Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. tells this story of General Lejeune\u2019s initiation as it originated with fellow U S. Army officers in the second Army Division when General Lejeune commanded it.<\/p>\n \u201cGeneral Lejeune is reported to have called his driver and told him he was going to Coblenz. When he named the hour of departure, the driver\u2019s face fell. \u2018I was going to ask if I could get off this afternoon, sir,\u2019 he said. \u2018No, you had better come along,\u2019 the General replied, \u2018You will have plenty of time to yourself in Coblenz.\u2019 \u2018Yes sir,\u2019 said the driver, although he was not wholly cheerful. \u2018Where to, sir?\u2019 he asked as he was entering Coblenz about three o\u2019clock that afternoon. The driver gave his chief a peculiar look as he nodded that he understood. \u201cAt the gate in front of the Temple, General Lejeune tarried a moment to tell the driver to be back promptly at seven o\u2019clock. \u2018But, sir,\u2019 was the smiling reply, \u2018I also have been notified to report here this afternoon,\u2019 and together they entered the Temple to take their First Degrees.\u201d<\/p>\n Generals Lejeune and Shepherd were raise in this same Lodge on the same night. When General Shepherd, then a company commander, submitted his petition, he was sponsored and coached by the company gunnery sergeant of his company. He elaborated and evaluated much later saying \u201cThus did Overseas Lodge develop and strengthen a fellowship between men of all ranks in the Army and the Marine Corps. Upon its return to America, Overseas Lodge was established at Providence, Rhode Island<\/p>\n \n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/eb1870.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Famous-mason-John-LeJeune.jpg” alt=”Famous freemason John LeJeune” show_in_lightbox=”on” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brother John Lejeune January 10th 1867 \u2013 November 20th 1942 Member of: Overseas Lodge #40, Providence, Rhode Island United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and the 13th Commandant of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1141,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Brother John Lejeune<\/p> Member of Overseas Lodge #40<\/p> Providence, Rhode Island<\/p>![\"Famous](\"http:\/\/www.eb1870.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Famous-mason-John-LeJeune.jpg\")
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