The Grand Lodge of Ohio, formally known as the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio, is the governing body of the largest group of Masonic lodges in

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

(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. In 2018, the

Grand Lodge A Grand Lodge (or Grand Orient or other similar title) is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country. In Freemasonry A Grand Lodge or Grand Orient is the us ...

reported a total membership of 75,000 Master Masons. The current Grand Master is Most Worshipful Brother Timothy S. Wheeland.

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 Chillicothe and, on January 7,

Rufus Putnam Brigadier-General Rufus Putnam (April 9, 1738 – May 4, 1824) was an American military officer who fought during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. As an organizer of the Ohio Company of Associates, he was instrumental ...

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 Massachusetts The 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 ...

. Originally a military traveling lodge, it settled permanently in

Marietta Marietta may refer to: Places in the United States *Marietta, Jacksonville, Florida *Marietta, Georgia, the largest US city named Marietta *Marietta, Illinois *Marietta, Indiana *Marietta, Kansas *Marietta, Minnesota *Marietta, Mississippi *Mar ...

in June 1790. # Cincinnati Lodge No. 13 – chartered in 1806 by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky 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 Connecticut and located in

Warren A warren is a network of wild rodent or lagomorph, typically rabbit burrows. Domestic warrens are artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. The term evolved from the medieval A ...

.Gould, ''supra,'' p. 91 # 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 Pennsylvania The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, officially The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdictions Thereunto Belonging, is the premier masonic organizati ...

and located in

Zanesville Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. It is located east of Columbus and had a population of 24,765 as of the 2020 census, down from 25,487 as of the 2010 census. Historically the state capit ...

. # Scioto Lodge No. 2 – chartered in 1805 by the

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 (October 19, 1770April 9, 1850) was an American surveyor, politician from Ohio, and Episcopalian clergyman. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1813 to 1817. Early life and career Kilbourne was ...

, 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 2018 had over 450 chartered lodges operating in Ohio with a total membership of over 75,000.

Prince Hall recognition

On December 4, 1994, Steven Reece, Grand Master of The Most Worshipful

Prince Hall Prince Hall (1807) was an American abolitionist and leader in the free black community in Boston. He founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and lobbied for education rights for African American children. He was also active in the back-to-Africa movem ...

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 Master :* 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 and District Education Officers during their term of office, and such Past Grand Masters and Past District Deputy Grand Masters as are members of such lodges. Until 2012, the Grand Lodge's headquarters and museum were located in

Worthington, Ohio Worthington is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States, and is a northern suburb of Columbus. The population in the 2020 Census was 14,786. The city was founded in 1803 by the Scioto Company led by James Kilbourne, who was later elected to ...

. The Worthington building was built in 1955 and adjoined the lodge hall built in 1820 by New England Lodge No. 4. The 1820 building is said to be the oldest Masonic lodge hall west of the Appalachian Mountains.Podcast at http://www.freemason.com/podcast/2007/08/grand-lodge-museum.html In 2012, the Grand Lodge moved its headquarters and museum to the campus of the Ohio Masonic Home in Springfield.

References

External links

Grand Lodge of OhioMost Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of OhioThe Grand Lodge of Ohio
at The Masonic Wiki {{Freemasonry in the Americas

Freemasonry in the United States 1808 establishments in Ohio