This year, we celebrate the bi-centennial of Royal Arch Masonry in the state of Ohio. Twohundred years of Capitular Masonry! As we now celebrate this milestone, I look back and I wonder
how our Grand Chapter came into being. I picture a group of men, meeting somewhere in central Ohio,
perhaps after a Chapter meeting; probably in a room filled with cigar smoke. They were Royal Arch
Masons and they were meeting to discuss the formation of a Grand Chapter in the state of Ohio. After
all, Ohio's Grand Lodge had already been in existence for eight years! Among those present at that
meeting were Companions Samuel Hoit, Chester Griswold and John Snow (who became our first three
Grand High Priests). As a result of that meeting and those discussions, these, and the other Companions
that were present, agreed that it was vital that Ohio form a Grand Chapter.
The necessary procedures were followed; and with the assistance of noted Freemason Thomas
Webb Smith called "The Founding Father of the York Rite,", the Grand Chapter of Ohio was granted a
charter on October 24, 1816, by Most Excellent Companion Dewitt Clinton, General Grand High Priest
of the General Grand Chapter International. I can picture the Companions receiving the charter and I
can imagine the sense of pride and pleasure the Companions felt in seeing their plans come to fruition.
That was 200 years ago and in those 200 years, our Grand Chapter has been a stalwart in Capitular
Masonry becoming the largest Grand Chapter in the world with, at one time, over 80,000 members;
respected by other Grand Chapters for our educational programs, Management Manual, Chapter of
Research; and for the having the premier Council of Anointed High Priests in the nation. We have been
blessed with leaders such as Reuben Lemmon, William Tecumseh Sherman O’Hara and Edward Selby,
all who served as Grand High Priests in Ohio as well as General Grand High Priests of the General
Grand Chapter, International. Grafton M. Acklin, Grand High Priest in 1897 who served as Grand
Master of the General Grand Council International in 1884-85 and more recently, Past Grand High
Priest Oliver H. Ormiston who served as a Grand Officer, in one capacity or another for over 40 years.
A record that may never be achieved again!
Our 200 years have not been without strife and controversy. We weathered the Anti-Masonic
party and the public outcry of the Morgan affair in 1826 when William Morgan, a resident of Batavia,
New York whose disappearance, and presumed murder ignited a powerful movement against the
Freemasons. After Morgan announced his intention to publish a book exposing Freemasonry's secrets,
he was arrested and disappeared soon after, and although never proved, is believed to have been
kidnapped and killed by some Masons.
We survived the 1835-1836 “war” with Michigan over possession of the disputed Toledo strip.
Past Grand High Priest Samuel Stokeley, a Brigadier General in the Ohio militia, was sent north to put
down those insurgents and end the dispute. It was finally settled by President (and Brother) Andrew
Jackson and by Congress granting Michigan statehood. (Although the battle with Michigan seems to
continue yet today, not over a boundary dispute, but now over a football game.)
And just a short half century after our formation, we mourned for our Companion Royal Arch
Masons who made the ultimate sacrifice as Brother fought Brother; Companion fought Companion in
the great war that divided our Nation.
We can, however, take pride in the many accomplishments and successes we have had in our two
hundred years. So many to enumerate with the foremost event for our Grand Chapter being the
formation of the Ohio Masonic Home. Grand High Priest William Hillman, in his 1887 annual report
stated "….. it seems to me to be a gross neglect of duty and a violation of the principles of our noble
order to allow any worthy Mason, after long years of faithful attendance… to be with his faithful
Companion in poverty, in the decrepitude of old age, turned over to the county poorhouse, to eke out
there declining years; and at last, to be laid to rest in a pauper’s grave.” The matter was referred to the
Grand Chapter's committee on charity and a resolution subsequently presented to establish our Ohio
Masonic Home. Care, Compassion and Concern. Tenets that continue to shine today just as brightly as
they did with the seating of the cornerstone in 1892.
We Royal Arch Masons can take great pride in the stained glass window depicting the Good
Samaritan, donated by the Grand Chapter, which greets each visitor when ascending the staircase in
Bushnell Hall.
Companions, hanging on the wall of each of our Chapters is the original or, in some cases, a
copy of the charter, granted to them by the Grand Chapter which empowers them to work. If you look
above the secretary's desk you'll see the charter of this Chapter, granted by the Grand Chapter.
Since 1816 charters of our Chapters has hung proudly in various temples in Ohio. Today, 200
years later, many of them show some signs of wear, the brilliant lettering has faded just a little, and
perhaps slightly frayed around the edges. But they still bear, now, just as when they were granted, proud
witness to who we are - Royal Arch Masons. A group of men bringing light to un-informed Brethren;
men bound together by love of God, love of country, and love of our fellow man. Today, many of our
Chapters have relinquished their charters and others, like some of those charters, show some signs of
wear. Our membership is down somewhat. Perhaps our brilliance has faded a bit, like the letters on
those beautiful old documents and goodness knows, we’re a little ragged around the edges sometimes.
But we, the great- great- great grandsons of our founding fathers, still bear proud witness to who we are.
A group of men bound together by love of God, love of country, and a love of our fellow man. We
believe in the goodness of the ancient Masonic tenets of brotherly love, relief, and truth and are
committed to the preservation of our Grand Chapter and the principles for which it stands. As long as
we remember these things, then the purpose of those early Companions in forming this Grand Chapter
will have been fulfilled.
And now Companions, it is my fondest wish that in another 100 years, some as yet unborn
Companion will be standing here, reflecting on 300 years of Capitular Masonry in Ohio, and celebrate
who they are and what they do - just as we today celebrate who we are and what we do.
So mote it be.