September/October 2007 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 5 BEACONA JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF OHIO AND THE OHIO MASONIC HOME Sports Legends Support The Ohio Masonic Home The William Blair & Co. Former Major League some money that will help the Jim Perry Legends Golf Classic baseball players Brothers people served by The Ohio combines two great institutions Tommy Helms, Galen Cisco, Jon Masonic Home,” said Jim Perry, – sports and the Masonic Warden and Bill Virdon were the former Cy Young Award- fraternity. This year’s fi fth returning players to the Classic, winner who leads the event. annual event at Greene Country while newcomers included “We bring in a great bunch of Club in Fairborn, welcomed Brothers Bob Friend and Billy guys who enjoy the event and several former ball players who Wynne. Playing in the Jim Perry appreciate the opportunity to are also brother Masons. Legends Golf Classic not only support a worthwhile charity.” lets them have a good Brother Jon Warden, a former time with old friends and Detroit Tigers pitcher and meet new people, but also ESPN2 correspondent, served allows them to mix with as the master of ceremonies for fraternity brothers and the Golf Classic dinner. As a help a Masonic charity: player, Warden helped Detroit The Ohio Masonic Home win the World Series in his lone and the Pathways Center season in 1968, in which he had for Alzheimer’s Care at a 4-1 record. “This event attracts the Springfi eld Masonic a lot of great people,” Brother Community. Warden said. “It’s a fun outing “We appreciate the for a worthy charity. The more opportunity to raise Brother Bill Virdon Brother Galen Cisco (Story continues on page 12) Ohio Lodges Invest In Future With Scholarships; 135 Lodges Give More Than $200,000 Annually “The study of the liberal arts, mind but also for the betterment scholarships and grants. And that valuable branch of educa- of society. this does not include Grand tion which tends so effectually Today, Ohio Freemasons do Lodge Scholarships. to polish and adorn the mind, is more than simply recommend Lodge scholarships take earnestly recommended to your for one’s consideration the many forms and their amounts consideration…”-- Charge to a study of the liberal arts. They can vary from a few hundred Fellow Craft. provide fi nancial backing to dollars to several thousand. The wise Brothers who wrote deserving students in the form Some scholarships are only for the initiation ceremonies of of academic scholarships. members and their children Freemasonry fully understood In fact, 135 Lodges, just over and grand children, but many the importance of education not 25% of all Ohio Lodges, provide are open to applicants regard- only to polish and adorn the more than $200,000 in annual less of any Masonic affi liation, which is charity indeed. (Story continues on page 5) Message from the Grand Master By Michael A. Himes, Grand Master As this would have never been able to Family of Freemasonry. It was an Masonic year join, and that once they were in the experience I shall never forget. draws to a door the principles and precepts of In a few short weeks the reins close, it is now Masonry would instill in them the of the Grand Lodge of Ohio will time to look urge to return and participate. This be turned over to a new corps of back on past has been supported by numbers, offi cers. As we enter into a year of events, and showing that the attendance and celebration of the 200th anniversary look forward participation of Grand Master’s of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, I to an exciting Class members has been equal to, if ask that you support your new future for the Grand Lodge of Ohio. not greater, than the same numbers Grand Lodge offi cers as you have When the year started, I had for ‘traditional’ candidates. supported me during these past eight several goals in mind. One was to My other goal was to once again years. If you will do so, we cannot have a successful Grand Master’s support our Special Olympians in a help but move forward in our quest Class, and, through the efforts of manner representative of the well- to bring the light of Freemasonry to countless members, 2,777 new known charity of our great Craft. more and more people. Master Masons were given light in My expectations were met and Finally, Brenda and I cannot our great Fraternity. Although some exceeded by the amazing generosity say ‘Thank You’ enough for your still question bringing in members of each of you, and the plaudits and prayers, thoughts, help, and in this manner, there is no doubt commendations we received at the friendship during our tenure in that a number of lodges in this Opening Ceremonies are therefore the Grand Lodge line. Although jurisdiction would not be able to extended to all of the Ohio Masonic this year has been challenging, it fi eld offi cers without the infl ux of Family. I cannot express adequately has also given us opportunities to new men afforded by our Grand the feelings I had while presenting educate, serve, and show charity Master’s Classes. our donation check, but I know toward others. Our lives are richer From the inception of these that I was lifted up not only by the because of these opportunities, and classes in 2002, I have stated that applause of the participants and they are fuller because of the love of they have given us an opportunity their families but also by the well- each of you, our Masonic family. to bring men into the lodge who wishes and support of the entire The Beacon is New Masonic Benefi t published bi-monthly for Cell Phone Users Please report all changes of address to your lodge secretary, who, in turn, will notify the Grand Secretary, who A new member benefi t has large corporations. However, maintains the database that produces been created for those who are the Verizon Wireless Employee The BEACON mailing labels. members of Ohio Masonic Lodges End User Program is now Paul Quinn, or Ohio Eastern Star Chapters! available to all Ohio Master Director of Marketing and Masons and Eastern Star Communications Ohio Master Masons or Eastern The Ohio Masonic Home members who have a current 2655 W. National Road Star members who are currently dues card. Springfi eld, OH 45504-3698 Verizon Wireless customers and 937/525-3074 who have a price plan with a More information regarding [email protected] monthly access fee of $34.99 or switching over a current George Braatz, P.G.M., greater, can now receive a 15% Verizon account or starting a Grand Secretary at discount from Verizon Wireless. new one can be found at the The Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Ohio Grand Lodge webpage, P.O. Box 629 Normally, this kind of discount is Worthington, OH 43085 only available to employees of www.freemason.com. 614/885-5318 [email protected] 2 September / October 2007 What Can You Do to Help? By Worshipful Brother Wm. David Bannerman, Chief Executive Offi cer, The Ohio Masonic Home Why is charity so important? Are inside, not because we had to or Can you give time to help in an we, as Masons, bound to our oath? expected anything in return. I-CARE committee, a fundraising Do we really expect to support To be charitable, you have event or a planning meeting? Can each other and to help those who to believe in the goodness of you donate something like a box are distressed, no matter if they are mankind, in the face of adversity of spaghetti for the next dinner, or Masons or not? and the occasional bad apple. It is your old tools for an auction? Can I must have learned charity when reaching out to others, doing more you help a child learn to read? Can I was very young. I don’t remember than the minimum and often not you give a fi nancial gift? Can you anyone defi ning it for me, but social being recognized for your efforts. give through your will? justice, compassion and fairness Doing the right thing should feel Give what you can and as much were in my very being. Charity was good. It is also being willing to ask as you can to make this world a doing the right thing for someone for a donation or for support for better place. That is why charity is in distress, no matter what. It what you believe in. It is making a important. Don’t wait. I helped bury was fi nding hope in all things, generous donation yourself. How many friends who were generous not expecting reciprocity. I never many of you have a One Grand with their time and money to the expected anyone to pay me back. I Club Pin and wear it frequently? things they believed in while they sort of expected a “pay it forward” Have you left a few dollars in your were alive, but left no legacy of their thing if I expected anything at all. will for the charities of your choice? beliefs in their will or estate. Find Good deeds were done just because. I think charity and charitable a way to make a difference today. We helped push cars on slippery purposes are the foundation of our Then tell me about it. roads for the good feeling we had society. We can express our support for those things we believe are Ohio Masonic Home Chief Executive important.