News Release: Cornerstone Ceremony

Please retype on your Lodge letterhead.

NEWS

(Mm/day/yr)

For further information, please contact: (Name of Lodge Secretary and telephone number.)

The cornerstone of (Name of Building) will be laid by state officers of Ohio’s Masonic Fraternity and local members of (Name) Masonic Lodge No. (#) on (Month & day) in (City.) The ceremony will take place at (Time) at (Place) located at (Address) in (City.)

(Fill in more detailed, newsworthy information about the building.)

The cornerstone ceremony is an ancient tradition popular in the United States since the colonial days. The Freemasons, whose origins are the medieval stonemasons, continue this tradition as a public service.

The cornerstone laying ceremony symbolically uses the tools of the operative Mason to bring a special message of faith in the craftsmanship of a new building. This tradition is a wonderful way to begin the life of a new building.

(If applicable:) A (breakfast, luncheon or dinner) will (precede or follow) the ceremony at (Time) at the (Name) Masonic Lodge, located at (Address) in (City.) (Name) Lodge has been a member of the community for (#) years. It has (#) members and is one of (#) Masonic Lodges in (Name) County.

This year Ohio Masons are proud to celebrate the Bicentennial of their statewide organization, the Grand Lodge of Ohio. The Grand Lodge was formed at the Old Statehouse in Chillicothe on January 3, 4, 7 & 8, 1808. As part of their year-long celebration, the Grand Lodge will reenact the cornerstone ceremony of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

There are currently 532 local Masonic Lodges in Ohio with a combined membership of 114,000. Annually, Ohio Freemasons contribute $15 million to charities that include Special Olympics Ohio, college scholarships and elderly care.

General information is available at www.freemason.com.

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