BEACON January/February 2009
VOLUME 16, ISSUE 1
A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF OHIO AND THE OHIO MASONIC HOME
Statewide Open House Planned for All Masonic Lodges on March 21 On Saturday, March 21, every
Masonic Lodge in the state of Ohio will open its doors for a public open house. The Masonic Lodge can often be one of the prominent buildings in many Ohio communities. However in some cases, the public has rarely had the opportunity to step inside. That is about to change. “It’s time for the public to have a chance to see what’s behind those closed doors and to experience some of the genuine fellowship Masons share,” says Charles R. Murphy, Grand Master of Ohio Masons. “Also, it’s a great opportunity to introduce a prospective member to the fraternity.”
Each local Lodge will set its own agenda and schedule for March 21. The Grand Master has simply asked each to participate. Multiple Lodges meeting in one building may hold a joint open house. Lodges are also encouraged to work with the appendant organizations meeting in their buildings to give the public a glimpse of the whole Masonic family, including women’s and youth organizations. “Every Lodge has some housekeeping issues, too which they need to attend, “ says Murphy. “However, I think the renewed relationship with the community will make all the work well worth it.”
Brothers wishing to volunteer to help at the open house should contact their Lodge’s Secretary or Master as soon as possible.
Grand Master’s (One-Day) Class Set for June 13 A Grand Master’s (one-day) Class will be held in each of Ohio’s 25 Masonic Districts on Saturday, June 13, Most Worshipful Brother Charles R. Murphy has announced. The Grand Master’s Class is a good way for a Lodge to finish up candidates who have been stalled in their progress through the degrees. It is also a good opportunity for relatives to be able to share the experience of a member of the family joining the
fraternity on one day, or for those potential candidates who have time-constraint problems that have kept them from joining in the past. Only the three Symbolic Lodge degrees will be conferred on that Saturday in order to allow each Lodge enough time to host a meal with their new members and their families. “By having a dinner after the degree work, our new
members will have a chance to enjoy two important aspects of our Fraternity, ritual and fellowship,” says Murphy. He has appointed Right Worshipful Brother Steven L. Smiseck, a Past District Deputy Grand Master in the 14th Masonic District, as the Grand Lodge chairman of the event. As part of his program this year, Most Worshipful Brother Murphy has sent a letter to Continued on page 3