next months events

Masons are men, like your grandpa, dad or uncle, who join local clubs they call Lodges, where they can meet friends from all over the world. You can find Masons if you look at their car tags, jackets or rings and see an emblem with a compass to make circles like the one above, a two headed eagle with a 32 or an Aladdin's sword.

At parades and football games, they might be wearing a white apron, a hat with white feathers, or a red fez with a tassel. Sometimes they carry swords, flags or musical instruments. A group of Masons might include clowns, camels and horses, or they might be driving miniature cars and motorcycles. They might be called Scottish Rite, Commandery or Shriners, but they all belong to the same worldwide club of Masons.

They put on dances, dinners, fish fries, and bar-b-ques to raise money for children's hospitals and for medical research. They also give money to help our youth groups and for scholarships. Masons do all kinds of good things!

(The following is from newspaper accounts of the event)

On Wednesday one of the grandest Masonic processions took place for the purpose of laying the cornerstone of the Capitol of the United States. About 10 o'clock, Lodge #9 of Maryland was visited by Lodge #22 of Virginia, with all their officers and Regalia. Directly afterwards appeared, on the Southern banks of the Grand River Potomac, one of the finest companies of Volunteer Artillery that hath lately been seen, parading to receive the President of the United States, who shortly came in sight with his suite, to whom the Artillery paid their military honors. His Excellency and suite crossed the Potomac, and was received in Maryland by the officers and brethren of No.22 Virginia, and No.9 Maryland, whom the President headed, and preceded by a band of music; the rear brought up by the Alexandria Volunteer Artillery, with grand solemnity of march, proceeded to the President's square, in the city of Washington, where they were met and saluted by No.14, of the city of Washington, in all their elegant badges and clothing.

The procession then marched two abreast in the greatest solemn dignity, with music playing, drums beating, colors flying, and spectators rejoicing from the President's square to the Capitol in the city of Washington, where the Grand Marshal ordered a halt, and directed each file in the procession to incline two steps, one to the right, and one to the left, and face each other, which formed an hollow oblong square, through which the Grand Sword Bearer led the van, followed by the Grand Master P. T. on the left, the President of the United States in the center, and the Worshipful Master of No.22 Virginia on the right; all the other orders that composed the procession advanced in the reverse of their order of march from the President's square to the south-east corner of the Capitol, and the artillery filed off to a destined ground to display their maneuvers and discharge their cannon; the President of the United States, the Grand Master P. T ., and Worshipful Master of No.22 taking their stand to the east of a huge stone, and all the craft forming a circle westward. The cornerstone of the Capitol of the United States was then laid with appropriate Masonic Ceremonies.

At frequent intervals volleys were discharged by the artillery. The ceremony ended in prayer. Masonic chaunting honors, and a fifteenth volley from the artillery.

The whole company retired to an extensive booth, where an ox of 500 lbs. weight was barbecued, of which the company generally partook, with every abundance of other recreation. The festival concluded with fifteen successive volleys from the artillery , whose military discipline and maneuvers merit every commendation. Before dark the whole company departed, with joyful hopes of the production of the labor .

It is the oldest, largest and most prestigious fraternity in the world. We're kind of like a civic club, a charitable institution and a fraternity - all rolled into one.

We're like a civic club in that we do a lot of community and statewide projects. We're like a major charity in that we give in excess of $1.5 million away each and every day. But, most importantly, we are a fraternity for men doing good things for each other, and trying to bring men of good morals and ethics together in our community.

To promote a way of life that binds like-minded men in a worldwide brotherhood that transcends all religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational differences; by teaching the great principles of brotherly love, relief and truth; and by the outward expression of these through its fellowship, its compassion and its concern, to find ways in which to serve God, family, country, neighbors and self.

The most important thing we do is take care of each other and our families. We are a fraternity. That means we help other Masons, treat them in special ways, support them no matter where they live. And build friendships all over the world. Not very many organizations do that today.

And we help others. That's why we give over $1.5 million a day to charity. And most of our money goes to help kids. We rank among the top 10 best-liked charitable groups in America.

but we also teach leadership skills, and help men lead an ethics-based life. We promote good relationships and strong family values. We try to do something to strengthen the family unit every day.

Many of this nations presidents were Masons. Do you know who they were? Click on the button below to find out.