The five Masonic Lodges of Clinton County — Blanchester, Clarksville, Dalton, Sabina and Wilmington — are celebrating the 300th Anniversary of modern Freemasonry.

Masonic scholars believe Ancient Operative Freemasonry arose from the stonemasons’ guilds during the building of King Solomon’s Temple in approximately 1,000 BC. So Freemasonry is actually the oldest, largest and most widely known organization in the world.

A transition from the actual stonemason’s guilds to the fraternal body we have today began when The Grand Lodge of England was founded on June 24, 1717. Freemasonry was exported to the British Colonies in North America by the 1730s and after the American Revolution independent Grand Lodges formed within each of the new 13 states.

The Ohio Grand Lodge, formed in 1808, is one of 51 independent Grand Lodge organizations (one for each state plus the District of Columbia). In three hundred years the total U.S. membership has grown to nearly 1.2 million.

The 300th year observance begins March 25 with a “Grand Master’s Class,” which will allow new members to complete all initiation work in one day. Normally, weeks or months are required for the process; however, this unique experience, which will be held simultaneously in 25 locations across the state, is offered for men whose work or family commitments might prevent them from attaining membership. The 8th Masonic District’s “One Day Class” will be held at Fairborn Masonic Lodge, 1267 Yellow Springs-Fairfield Road in Fairborn.

“2017 is going to be a great year,” said Ohio Grand Master Douglas N. Kaylor of Dayton. “The world is changing and once again men are looking for the benefits that come from uniting with like-minded men dedicated to living well, doing right, and standing up for their beliefs when others seem to be stumbling.”

For more information on local activities throughout the county, please contact Thomas F. Jenkins at [email protected].