9th Masonic District of Ohio

Madison Lodge is now on Myspace

Just want to let everyone know that Madison Lodge now has a Myspace page. In an effort to get our name out into the community more I started this page for general info about Madison Lodge and Masonry.

Everyone please feel free to stop by and chekc it out.

http://www.myspace.com/madisonlodge221

Thanks, Ron Mullins
Senior Warden

Valley to Initiate New Members in Lancaster

The Valley will be holding a “part day” degree program in Lancaster on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Along with the 4th degree and the 20th degree (the ever popular “George Washington” degree), the new 26th “Friend and Eternal Brother” degree will be offered. By the way, this will be the first time the new 26th degree will be conferred in the Valley of Columbus.

The day starts with registration of candidates at 11:30 AM. Following registration, a light lunch will be served for all Brethren and their Ladies. The 4th degree will start at 1:00 PM. The 20th Degree will follow at 2:00PM. The day will conclude with the 26th degree at 3:30PM. After the degree work everyone will be invited to have dinner at Shaw’s Restaurant. (Dinner is a Dutch treat; reservations required).

While the Brothers are enjoying the portrayal of the degrees, starting at 1:00 PM, their Ladies will be traveling about Lancaster visiting the Glass Museum, the Georgian Mansion, the birthplace and boyhood home of General W. T. Sherman, and the Decorative Arts Center.

The only cost for the day will be the $100 initiation fee for new candidates. Yes, candidates will become Scottish Rite Masons after witnessing the 4th degree, then they will become 32˚ Masons upon witnessing the 31st and 32nd degrees at a future reunion. New candidates attending this event will have no dues accessed for the remainder of 2008.

To take part in this fun-filled day, please RSVP to the Valley office with the coupon below before Friday, February 15, 2008. And don’t forget, we need your help to get candidates to attend this event.

For more information, visit the Valley of Columbus at http://www.32srmason.org

Chandler #138 - December 2007 Newsletter

The December 2007 Newsletter can be read by clicking here

You can visit our website by clicking here

Brian Knoll, P.M.
Chandler Lodge #138

Urania #311 - December 2007 Newsletter

Christmas are just around the corner and the brethren of Urania #311 wish you and your families a very safe and enjoyable holiday season. Congratulations to all of the new Worshipful Masters and Officers around the district. We look forward to seeing all you very soon in the up-coming inspection season!

The December 2007 Newsletter can be read by clicking here

You can visit our website by clicking here

Charles Dyer
Junior Warden
Urania Lodge #311

In Memoriam: Ill. Bro. Ronald J. Wedly

On November 25, 2007 the 9th District lost a very special man to all whom have come to know him; Ill. Ronald J. Weldy was a familiar and comforting face to those in the 9th Masonic District for many years. His heart worn on his sleeve all the days of his life, and we are all better men becasue of his impact and dedication to Masonry and our District.

The following is the obituary from the Columbus Dispatch dated November 28, 2007. This article will have comments enabled, please feel free to add you thoughts and memories of Ill. Bro. Ronald J. Weldy in memoriam.

9th World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, DC, will host the 9th World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges in Washington, DC., May 7 - 10, 2008.

Conference Sessions:

Standing Up to Darkness Thursday, May 8th, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Ethics: cultivating ethical behavior in a civil society
- Brotherhood of Man: countering fanaticism, intolerance, and tyranny
Masonic Integrity Thursday, May 8th, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Guarding Against Manipulation: countering forces trying to infiltrate lodges for their own objectives
- Maintaining Grand Lodge Integrity: preventing schisms
Global Fraternal Networking Friday, May 9th, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Strengthening civil society: assisting civic groups to establish worldwide partnerships for the betterment of humanity
- Developing and promoting cultural and academic exchanges among Masons worldwide
Special Masonic Program Friday, May 9th, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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Urania #311 - November 2007 Newsletter

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner and the brethren of Urania #311 wish you and your families a very safe and enjoyable holiday season. Congratulations to all of the new Worshipful Masters and Officers around the district. We look forward to seeing all you very soon in the up-coming inspection season!

The November 2007 Newsletter can be read by clicking here

You can visit our website by clicking here

Charles Dyer
Junior Warden
Urania Lodge #311

Ohio Masons Celebrate Grand Lodge Bicentennial

On Saturday, October 20th, the Grand Lodge of Ohio launched a year-long celebration of its Bicentennial with the installation of Most Worshipful Brother Ronald L. Winnett and the Grand Lodge Officers.

Grand Master Winnett explained after his installation that the spread of Freemasonry throughout Ohio over the past 200 years will be reenacted by the passing of a Bicentennial Lantern in each District. A District Deputy Grand Master from each of the 25 Masonic Districts was presented with a Bicentennial Lantern that they will carry to the oldest Lodge in their Districts. The Lodge will then make a special visitation to the next oldest Lodge in the District and pass on the Lantern. Over the course of the year, each District will pass the Lantern through all its Lodges from oldest to youngest. The 25 Lanterns will be reassembled and used to open the 2008 Grand Lodge Session.

A specially commissioned painting, entitled “From Whence We Came,” was unveiled at the close of the Grand Session. The painting depicts a meeting held on March 1, 1786, when eleven pioneers met at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts to form the Ohio Company of Associates, four of whose prominent members were Freemasons. From left are Gen. Benjamin Tupper, Col. John Brooks, Gen. Winthrop Sargent, the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, and Gen. Rufus Putnam. This association founded the city of Marietta, the first American settlement in what would become the state of Ohio. Since this humble beginning, Freemasons have worked with their fellow citizens to help nurture the destiny of the Buckeye State.

Many more activities have been planned to celebrate the Bicentennial, please revisit the Grand Lodge web page for future details.

Grand Master Ronald L. Winnett

Ronald L. Winnett was born September 2, 1942 in Wheeling, WV, the son of Orvil C. Winnett and Iona Moore Winnett. He attended public schools in Wheeling through his junior year of high school. While still in Wheeling, he was active in Boy Scouts and joined the Wheeling Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

Near the end of his junior year, his father was transferred to Columbus, OH so he finished school at North High School, graduating in 1961. After moving, he transferred to Aladdin Chapter, Order of DeMolay and helped lead his Chapter to its first state basketball championship.

After high school, he worked at Bowman Pharmaceutical Company while attending Columbus Business University at night taking business law and accounting. Later he was promoted to a sales representative calling on doctors and hospitals over three states.

One day he received a letter that Uncle Sam was interested in him so he decided he wanted to control his destiny and he joined the United States Army in February 1964. Through his 32 years of service both active and reserve, he attended several schools for education in the medical field, finance and leadership. The last sixteen years of his service were spent working with the Director of Civilian Marksmanship in Washington D.C., assisting in the running of the National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, OH. At the same time, he was the Sergeant Major of a Medical Battalion (Dental). He retired in September 1997.

All the while, in keeping busy with his military duties, he also worked for Western Electric, a.k.a. ATT and Lucent Technologies from which he retired in 2002. He remarked that sometimes he did not know which his "part time job" was.

He was also honored by being commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in 1985 by Governor Martha L. Collins.

Ron and Linda were married in November 1993. They have four children between them: Michele, Jonathan, Douglas and Gregory. They also have eight grandchildren.

Ron is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Most Worshipful Brother Winnett was raised in Grove City Lodge #689 on May 11, 1981, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1990. He was elected to the line of the Fourteenth District Masonic Officers Association in 1991 and served as President in 1995. At the present, he is an honorary member of six symbolic Lodges around the state. He is a member of Westgate Chapter #216, Westgate Council #129, Willis Commandery #82, Thomas Smith Webb York Rite College, Andrew J. White #245 Allied Masonic Degrees, Royal Order of Scotland and St. Jerome Conclave Red Cross of Constantine.

Ron has been a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus since 1983. In 1983, he also became a member of the Aladdin Shrine where he is a member of the Past Master Unit and Royal Order of Jesters. He also holds membership in Columbus Chapter #10 National Sojourners and the Grove City Chapter #602 Order of the Eastern Star. He has been elected to receive the 33rd Degree in 2008.

He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of the Fourteenth Masonic District in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

In October 2000, he was appointed Junior Grand Deacon by Most Worshipful Brother Jack L. Allen. He was subsequently appointed to Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Marshal and Grand Orator. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 2004, Senior Grand Warden in 2005, and Deputy Grand Master in 2006. On October 20, 2007, he was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio.

Chandler #138 - October 2007 Newsletter

The September 2007 Newsletter can be read by clicking here

You can visit our website by clicking here

Brian Knoll
Worshipful Master
Chandler Lodge #138