BLET 160th Anniversary: Early Masonic Influences

The early members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers had strong Masonic beliefs, as evidenced by this photo of a BLE meeting in Illinois, which was taken in the early to mid-1870s. During early Division meetings, officers wore Masonic regalia with ornamentation that signified the office held (Chief Engineer, Secretary-Treasurer, Guide, Chaplain, and others). (BLET Archives)