Grand Lodge of Ohio
Encyclopedia
The Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio is the governing body of the largest group of Masonic lodges in Ohio
(the next largest being the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio). The Grand Lodge of Ohio follows the Anglo-American tradition of Freemasonry that is common in the United States.
and, on January 7, Rufus Putnam
was elected Grand Master.
Prior to formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, six lodges operated under authority of charters issued by their individual parent grand lodges in the eastern United States:
Erie Lodge was the driving force behind the formation of the Grand Lodge, and proposed the idea to the other lodges in the state. Due to a dispute over the credentials of its representative, James Kilbourne
, New England Lodge was not present at the convention but is considered a founding lodge nevertheless.
The Grand Lodge of Ohio has had a continual existence since 1808 and in 2010 had over 500 chartered lodges operating in Ohio with a total membership of over 100,000.
Grand Lodge of Ohio, formally requested recognition of his grand lodge by the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio. The Grand Lodge granted fraternal recognition at its 186th annual session on October 20, 1995. The agreement between the two grand lodges states:
The agreement was signed by Steven Reece, Grand Master, and Frederick E. Kelley, Sr., Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio as well as James E. Olmstead, Grand Master, and Neil M. Smalley, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio.
and six officers who are appointed by the Grand Master:
The Grand Lodge’s headquarters building is located at 634 High Street, Worthington, Ohio
. It was built in 1955 and adjoins the lodge hall built in 1820 by New England Lodge No. 4, which now serves as the museum of the Grand Lodge and is the oldest Masonic lodge hall west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
(the next largest being the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio). The Grand Lodge of Ohio follows the Anglo-American tradition of Freemasonry that is common in the United States.
Formation
The Grand Lodge of Ohio was formed on January 4–8, 1808 by a convention of five of the six Masonic lodges then meeting in Ohio. The convention was held in the statehouse at ChillicotheChillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
and, on January 7, Rufus Putnam
Rufus Putnam
Rufus Putnam was a colonial military officer during the French and Indian War, and a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
was elected Grand Master.
Prior to formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, six lodges operated under authority of charters issued by their individual parent grand lodges in the eastern United States:
- American Union Lodge No. 1 – chartered in 1776 by the Provincial Grand Lodge of New England (Moderns), one of the predecessors of the current Grand Lodge of MassachusettsGrand Lodge of MassachusettsThe Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, commonly referred to as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and abbreviated GLMA, is the main governing body of Freemasonry within Massachusetts, and maintains Lodges in other jurisdictions...
. Originally a military traveling lodge, it settled permanently in MariettaMarietta, OhioMarietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
in June of 1790. - Cincinnati Lodge No. 13 – chartered in 1806 by the Grand Lodge of KentuckyGrand Lodge of KentuckyThe Grand Lodge of Kentucky is one of two state organizations that supervise Masonic lodges in the state of Kentucky. It was established in 1800....
and located in Cincinnati. Its members had originally formed Nova Caesarea Lodge No. 10, chartered by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey in 1791, which charter they returned to that Grand Lodge previous to requesting a new one from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. - Erie Lodge No. 47 – chartered in 1803 by the Grand Lodge of ConnecticutGrand Lodge of ConnecticutThe Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Connecticut is the main governing body of Freemasonry in the U.S. state of Connecticut as recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England. The Grand Lodge of Connecticut is headquartered at Wallingford,...
and located in WarrenWarren, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
. - New England Lodge No. 48 – chartered in 1803 by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and located in Worthington.
- Lodge of Amity No. 105 – chartered in 1805 by the Grand Lodge of PennsylvaniaGrand Lodge of PennsylvaniaThe Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction Thereunto Belonging is the premier masonic organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
and located in ZanesvilleZanesville, OhioZanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
. - Scioto Lodge No. 2 – chartered in 1805 by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and located in Chillicothe.
Erie Lodge was the driving force behind the formation of the Grand Lodge, and proposed the idea to the other lodges in the state. Due to a dispute over the credentials of its representative, James Kilbourne
James Kilbourne
James Kilbourne was an American surveyor and politician from Ohio.Kilbourne was born in New Britain, Connecticut, and moved his family to Ohio in 1803, when he founded the city of Worthington, Ohio. In 1805 he was appointed United States surveyor of public lands...
, New England Lodge was not present at the convention but is considered a founding lodge nevertheless.
The Grand Lodge of Ohio has had a continual existence since 1808 and in 2010 had over 500 chartered lodges operating in Ohio with a total membership of over 100,000.
Prince Hall recognition
On December 4, 1994, Steven Reece, Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Prince HallPrince Hall
Prince Hall , was a tireless abolitionist and a leader of the free black community in Boston. Hall tried to gain New England’s enslaved and free blacks a place in some of the most crucial spheres of society, Freemasonry, education and the military...
Grand Lodge of Ohio, formally requested recognition of his grand lodge by the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio. The Grand Lodge granted fraternal recognition at its 186th annual session on October 20, 1995. The agreement between the two grand lodges states:
The agreement was signed by Steven Reece, Grand Master, and Frederick E. Kelley, Sr., Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio as well as James E. Olmstead, Grand Master, and Neil M. Smalley, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio.
Officers
There are six officers who are elected annually:- Grand MasterGrand Master (Masonic)In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
- Deputy Grand Master
- Senior Grand Warden
- Junior Grand Warden
- Grand Treasurer
- Grand Secretary
and six officers who are appointed by the Grand Master:
- Grand Chaplain
- Grand Orator
- Grand Marshal
- Senior Grand Deacon
- Junior Grand Deacon
- Grand Tyler
Voting membership
The voting membership of the Grand Lodge consists of its elected and appointed officers, together with the Masters and Wardens of the chartered lodges under its jurisdiction, the District Deputy Grand Masters during their term of office, and such Past Grand Masters and Past District Deputy Grand Masters as are members of a such lodges.The Grand Lodge’s headquarters building is located at 634 High Street, Worthington, Ohio
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
. It was built in 1955 and adjoins the lodge hall built in 1820 by New England Lodge No. 4, which now serves as the museum of the Grand Lodge and is the oldest Masonic lodge hall west of the Appalachian Mountains.