This is an invitation to attend a Secretary Education Summit presented by the State Secretary Association. District Representatives for the State Secretary Association will be facilitating these training events around the state. The District Representatives from the 21st and 22nd Districts have teamed up to facilitate the 1st meeting on September 26, 2026. WB’s Ed Lowe and Jeffrey Kopacka have worked on finalizing the agenda and look forward to presenting the material to you. The target audience for this event includes all current and future Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries from the 21st and 22nd Districts and open to all who can attend.
Ohio Masonic history includes the formation of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1849. An Ohio History Journal review explains that the organization grew from earlier Prince Hall Masonic activity west of the Allegheny Mountains and that Ohio lodges affiliated with it continued to expand in the decades that followed. This history also invites honest reflection on the barriers and divisions that shaped American fraternal life. Learning how different Masonic traditions developed can deepen our appreciation for fellowship, perseverance and the continuing importance of treating one another with dignity. What Ohio Masonic history topic would you like to see explored in a future Lodge education program? Sources: https://resources.ohiohistory.org/ohj/browse/displaypages.php?display=0071&display=164&display=192
Fun fact: The Ohio History Journal reports that John Brown, later known for his controversial role in the events at Harpers Ferry, was raised in Hudson Lodge No. 68 in Hudson, Ohio. Lodge records documented his initiation in 1824, his advancement through the Degrees and his election to a lodge office. The same historical account notes that Brown later became an opponent of Freemasonry, making his story complex rather than simple. Studying such records encourages us to distinguish documented history from later assumptions and legend. What unusual or unexpected Masonic connection have you discovered while researching your own Lodge’s past? Sources: https://resources.ohiohistory.org/ohj/browse/displaypages.php?display%5B%5D=0071&display%5B%5D=24&display%5B%5D=32
Fun fact: Justice Noah H. Swayne, the 35th Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was also an Ohio Freemason. He became a member of Clinton Lodge No. 96 in Coshocton in 1827 and later affiliated with Columbus Lodge No. 30 in 1841. Before joining the Supreme Court, Swayne served Ohio in several public roles, including county attorney, state legislator and United States Attorney. President Abraham Lincoln nominated him to the high court in 1862, where he served for two decades. History often reveals unexpected connections between Lodge life and public service. What Ohio Mason from the past would you feature in a Lodge education program? Sources: https://www.freemason.com/noah-swayne-freemason/
2025 Past Masters Convocation
2026 Wardens and Deacons Training
