MASONS IN OHIO
The William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton, OH, 44708, will open "The Masons in Ohio", which runs through June 7. Items relating to William McKinley, James A. Garfield, Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding, the four Ohio presidents who were Freemasons, is included, in addition to artifacts from the organization's history.
Call 330-455-7043 or http://www.mckinleymuseum.org for more information.
Hours:9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday Admission:Adult - $7 |
McKinley's Masonic Heritage Honored in the Keller Gallery
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As a part of their bicentennial celebration, the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio has created a traveling exhibit depicting the history of Freemasonry and the Masonic fraternity in Ohio from 1808 to 2008, which will open on McKinley Day (January 31) in the Keller Gallery.
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Materials relating to McKinley, Garfield, Taft, and Harding, the four Ohio presidents who were Freemasons, will be included in the exhibit, in addition to artifacts from the organization's general history.
William McKinley became a Mason while serving in the Civil War in May 1865. After moving to Canton, McKinley affiliated with Canton Lodge No. 60 in August 1867. Two years later he became a Charter Member of Eagle Lodge No. 43, which was renamed William McKinley Lodge after his assassination.
Masonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Its origins are unknown, because records have been lost over time. Most scholars trace its roots back to trade guilds in medieval Europe. There are currently 520 Masonic Lodges in Ohio with a combined total membership of 112,000.
The exhibit will be on view through June 7, 2009.