Page 13 - Nov Dec 2022 MFMW.indd

opinions. He would continue to write poetry in his
spare time, but none were published until 14 years
after his death. Two of his religious poems would
„‡ ‘‡ Š”‹•–‹ƒ Š›•ǡ Dz ‡ˆ‘”‡ –Š‡ ‘”† ‡ ‘™dz
ƒ† Dz ‘”†ǡ ™‹–Š Ž‘™‹‰ ‡ƒ”– ǯ† ”ƒ‹•‡ Š‡‡Ǥdz

‡› †‹‡† ‹ ƒ—ƒ”› ͙͛͜͠ ƒ– –Š‡ ƒ‰‡ ‘ˆ ͛͞ ƒ† ‹• „—”‹‡†
in Frederick, Maryland. Although much conjecture
exists as to whether Francis Scott Key was a Mason,
no hard evidence exists to substantiate that claim.
Several other notable individuals in the War of 1812
were Masons, including James Monroe (Secretary
‘ˆ –ƒ–‡Ȍǡ ‡‡”ƒŽ †”‡™ ƒ •‘ǡ ƒ† ƒŒ‘”
‡‡”ƒŽ ‡™‹• ƒ•• ȋ ‡””‹–‘”‹ƒŽ ‘˜‡”‘” ‘ˆ ‹ Š‹‰ƒǡ
’”‡•‹†‡–‹ƒŽ ƒ†‹†ƒ–‡ ‹ ͙͜͠͠ǡ ƒ† –Š‡ •‡ ‘† ”ƒ†
ƒ•–‡” ‘ˆ Š‹‘ ƒ† –Š‡ Ƥ ”•– ”ƒ† ƒ•–‡” ‘ˆ –Š‡
Michigan Territory.)

›ǣ ”‘Ǥ Š—  Žƒ’‹––ǡ – –ƒ ͛͛͛ǡ ”ƒ† ‘†‰‡ ‘ˆ †‹ƒƒ

The lyrics for this song stem from
a poem by Francis Scott Key in 1814
called “Defense of Fort McHenry.”
The poem was later set to music, and
the song was renamed “The Star-
Spangled Banner.” The original draft
pages are displayed at the Maryland
Historical Society in Baltimore.

0RQWDQD )UHHPDVRQ 3DJH 1RY 'HF 9ROXPH 1R