Post by ricardo on Jan 1, 2008 2:44:15 GMT
On 4,5,7,8 January 1808, delegates assembled in Chillicothe OH, to form the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
The following news report is from 'The Marietta Times' of 31 December 2007 - www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new177_1231200784149.asp
[glow=red,2,300]
Ohio Masons are coming home to Marietta
[/glow]
In a few day, hundreds of Freemasons from hundreds of lodges throughout the state will converge here to kick off a year-long celebration of the bicentennial of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
"The Grand Lodge will visit every district in Ohio, and Marietta will be first - because it all started here," said Bill Reynolds, a Mason and local historian.
Marietta's American Union Lodge was the first in the Buckeye State. www.mariettamasonicbodies.com/
A dinner is planned for Friday at the Shrine Club, and more than 350 Masons, guests and members of the community are expected. The event was open to the public, but is now sold out.
Visitation to 600 Ohio lodges will continue throughout the year. On the Fourth of July, there will be another major Mason event in Marietta when the Masons dedicate a plaque at the grave of Rufus Putnam in Mound Cemetery.
Freemasonry came to the United States by way of England in the earliest days of settlement of New England.
"A large number of Revolutionary War soldiers were Freemasons," Reynolds said.
At Fort Harmar, Jonathan Hart brought the charter for the American Union Lodge. Across the river at Campus Martius, Putnam, Samuel Holdren Parsons, Robert Oliver and others were Masons when they arrived at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers.
The American Union Lodge at Marietta was active even before Ohio became a state, Reynolds said.
Reynolds, twice past master of the American Union Lodge, said George Washington was a member of Freemasonry.
"Washington sat in our lodge meetings," he said.
Masons are sometimes misunderstood, according to Reynolds.
"People don't become Masons to gain advantage over other people, but to become better servants to their communities," he said.
Reynolds will be portraying Rufus Putnam, circa 1789 when Putnam was first grand master of Masons in Ohio.
Tommy Logston of Belpre has been a Mason since 1963 and is helping coordinate the local celebration. He is looking forward to the programs.
"It's going to be a very busy year," Logston said.
Belpre Lodge 609 has 230 members and meets the third Friday of the month, he said.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime for us," Logston said. "We're proud to be a Mason. It's not a cult, not a secret society. It becomes a way of life."
Logston said the goal is "to make good men better."
A large gathering of Masons is planned in Columbus this summer for a re-enactment of laying the cornerstone of the Ohio Statehouse. More than 20,000 Masons are expected, Logston said.
"They say they are also going to feed all of us. I can't imagine how that's going to work," he said.
The following news report is from 'The Marietta Times' of 31 December 2007 - www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new177_1231200784149.asp
[glow=red,2,300]
Ohio Masons are coming home to Marietta
[/glow]
In a few day, hundreds of Freemasons from hundreds of lodges throughout the state will converge here to kick off a year-long celebration of the bicentennial of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
"The Grand Lodge will visit every district in Ohio, and Marietta will be first - because it all started here," said Bill Reynolds, a Mason and local historian.
Marietta's American Union Lodge was the first in the Buckeye State. www.mariettamasonicbodies.com/
A dinner is planned for Friday at the Shrine Club, and more than 350 Masons, guests and members of the community are expected. The event was open to the public, but is now sold out.
Visitation to 600 Ohio lodges will continue throughout the year. On the Fourth of July, there will be another major Mason event in Marietta when the Masons dedicate a plaque at the grave of Rufus Putnam in Mound Cemetery.
Freemasonry came to the United States by way of England in the earliest days of settlement of New England.
"A large number of Revolutionary War soldiers were Freemasons," Reynolds said.
At Fort Harmar, Jonathan Hart brought the charter for the American Union Lodge. Across the river at Campus Martius, Putnam, Samuel Holdren Parsons, Robert Oliver and others were Masons when they arrived at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers.
The American Union Lodge at Marietta was active even before Ohio became a state, Reynolds said.
Reynolds, twice past master of the American Union Lodge, said George Washington was a member of Freemasonry.
"Washington sat in our lodge meetings," he said.
Masons are sometimes misunderstood, according to Reynolds.
"People don't become Masons to gain advantage over other people, but to become better servants to their communities," he said.
Reynolds will be portraying Rufus Putnam, circa 1789 when Putnam was first grand master of Masons in Ohio.
Tommy Logston of Belpre has been a Mason since 1963 and is helping coordinate the local celebration. He is looking forward to the programs.
"It's going to be a very busy year," Logston said.
Belpre Lodge 609 has 230 members and meets the third Friday of the month, he said.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime for us," Logston said. "We're proud to be a Mason. It's not a cult, not a secret society. It becomes a way of life."
Logston said the goal is "to make good men better."
A large gathering of Masons is planned in Columbus this summer for a re-enactment of laying the cornerstone of the Ohio Statehouse. More than 20,000 Masons are expected, Logston said.
"They say they are also going to feed all of us. I can't imagine how that's going to work," he said.