George Washington Setting the Standard 

Today in History, August 4: 1753 – 21-year-old George Washington becomes a Master Mason, the highest rank of Freemason in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Rather than an evil conspiracy, the Freemasons were (are) a fraternity based on the medieval guild system, thus “masons”. Their requirements were (are) public service and high moral standards. 14 US Presidents were Freemasons.