News Release:  Passing the Torch
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NEWS

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Passing the Torch of Brotherhood
Freemasons celebrate Bicentennial

Members of (Older Lodge’s Name) No. (Lodge Number) in (City Name) made a special visit to (Younger Lodge’s Name) No. (Lodge Number) of (City Name) as part of the year long bicentennial celebration for the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio. 

The visit celebrated the symbolic “passing of the torch of brotherhood” from the older to the younger Lodge.  (Older Lodge’s Name) No. (Lodge Number) was chartered in (founding year), and (Younger Lodge’s Name) No. (Lodge Number) was chartered in (founding year).

The specially made punched-tin lantern, a popular decoration among early pioneers, will be passed from Lodge to Lodge in their local Masonic District, starting with the oldest and ending with the youngest.  There are 25 Districts in Ohio, and all will participate in this program.

The passing of this symbolic torch reminds the Freemasons of how their fraternity has grown over the last 200 years.

The first Masonic Lodge in Ohio was American Union Lodge No. 1, which was reorganized in Marietta in 1780.  In early January of 1808, representatives of the six Ohio Masonic Lodges met in Chillicothe at the then State Capital Building and formed a state governing body, called the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio. 

Today there are some 540 Masonic Lodges in Ohio with a combined membership of 120,000.  For more information visit www.freemason.com.