Concord Freemasons to conduct Open House October 18th 9am-3pm

Concord, Massachusetts – October 1, 2014 – Joining with Masonic lodges across the Commonwealth, the Freemasons from Corinthian Lodge at 58 Monument Square in Concord will open their doors to the public on Saturday, October 18th, from 9 am until 3 pm. If you’ve ever wondered who the Freemasons are, whether they are the descendants of the Knights Templars, or what the inside of their buildings look like, here’s your chance to find out!

The Open House will be followed at 3:30PM by our 218th installation of officers. It’s a very special ceremony to us and the only ceremony we open to the public. We would be honored by your presence. The ceremony takes approximately one hour. We will also be proudly using the officer’s regalia, or “jewels” we believe to be made by none other than Paul Revere.

Corinthian Lodge was chartered on June 16, 1797 by Paul Revere during his term as Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts. At that time the lodge met in the courthouse and at various brothers’ homes until 1820 when the town wanted a schoolhouse and the brothers wanted a permanent location. The lodge contributed $400 to the cause and in return met on the second floor of the current building. With the exception of the ten-year period of 1872-1882 the lodge has continuously met in this building. Today we are a fraternity of approximately 130 men representing many ages, creeds and ethnicities who come together “on the level” to celebrate each other and improve ourselves and our community.

More than 230 lodges will be hosting Open Houses to help the public gain a better understanding of Freemasonry and to demonstrate the positive impact it has on its members, their families, and their communities. Members will provide tours of their building, talk about Freemasonry’s history, discuss its rituals, signs, and symbols, and explain what they do.

“The Open House is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about Freemasonry to meet and talk with Masons in their community,” said Harvey J. Waugh, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, and the presiding officer of over 32,000 members. “Although many have heard of us, very few are aware that for over 281 years we have been part of an unbroken tradition of great men who have changed our world in a number of ways. Men like Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thurgood Marshall, and John Glenn all joined the Masons prior to achieving the greatness we recognize them for. Today, there are countless others that have made their families, workplaces, and communities better because they are Masons. I warmly invite the public to join us on October 18th.”

Freemasons trace their roots to the stonemason guilds that built Europe’s cathedrals and castles during the early part of the last millennium. As construction of these buildings declined, they began accepting members from outside their trade. These new members, influenced by the “Age of Enlightenment,” transformed the organization from a group for builders to one focused on developing the character of its members. Freemasonry was formally organized in London, England in 1717. In 1733 it was formally organized in Massachusetts, making it the oldest Masonic group in the Western Hemisphere and the third oldest in the world.

Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and largest fraternity, seeks to bring together men of every country, religion, race, background, and opinion in order to develop the bonds of friendship between them. Through a large variety of North American Masonic philanthropies, approximately $2,000,000 is given to charity every day, 70% of which benefits the general public. During its symbolic initiation ceremony, members are encouraged to value high principles, ethics, and morals and to live their lives accordingly. By “making good men better,” Freemasonry positively benefits its members, their families and local communities. Freemasonry in Massachusetts is comprised of 32,000 members in more than 230 different lodges throughout the Commonwealth. For additional information, please call 1.800.882.1020, or visit MassFreemasonry.org.

Corinthian Lodge

58 Monument Square

Concord, MA 10742

ConcordMasons.org