PG Masonic Lodge 178

10/11/2026

10/08/2026

TODAY WE SAILED WESTWARD

Often we have heard the story of how Columbus, despite the mutterings of his crew, kept his little white-winged fleet sailing onward over an apparently boundless and endless sea. He had failed miserably in his calculations of the distance around the earth, the distance to be traveled in achieving his dream. It was fortunate for him that land impeded his way to the great pacific, of which he knew nothing. His little ships never would have completed the longer journey; and we learn that land was sighted only a few hours before the time set down by agreement with the muttering crew for turning back.

One would expect Columbus to have set down in his log the daily progress of the little band of argonauts seeking the golden treasures of the East; but in at least the final days of the adventure the only entry was, "Today we sailed westward."

That was all: "Today we sailed westward."

Many Freemasons become discouraged because the Fraternity seems not to be reaching its goal, or because it does not set sail for goals for which many believe it should strive.

Yet we really have more reason to feel hopeful than did Columbus, who had an unwilling crew and no chance to reach the goal at which he aimed.

Those who really man the ships of Freemasonry are not an unwilling crew. They gladly remain at their posts. They are certain there are spiritual rewards awaiting the programs which they promote. That is not a rainbow in the distance that recedes as we approach. It is the solid land of achievement that appears.

"Today we sail westward," but "Eastward toward the Light" might be a better way of expressing it for a Freemason.

Author unknown

10/06/2026

THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES

The Four Cardinal Virtues form part of the moral foundation upon which a Mason builds his character.

Temperance teaches us to govern our passions and keep our desires within due bounds. Fortitude gives us the courage to remain steadfast when tested by hardship, temptation, or adversity. Prudence teaches us to think before we act, weighing our words and decisions with wisdom. Justice reminds us to deal fairly and uprightly with every person, giving each his proper due.

These virtues were never intended merely to be studied. They are meant to be lived.

The working tools and architecture of Freemasonry give visible form to lessons that must ultimately be built within the man himself. Every worthy decision lays another stone. Every passion brought under proper control removes another rough edge. Every act of integrity brings the rough ashlar a little closer to the perfect.

The greatest temple a Mason will ever labor upon is his own character.

Temperance. Fortitude. Prudence. Justice.

Not simply virtues to admire, but principles to practice. 🔨📐⚖️

Making good men better, one stone at a time.

10/03/2026

THE CONVIVIAL MASON

I now present to you the working tools of the convivial Mason. They are the Fork, the Knife and the Tumbler.

The Fork is an implement which enables even the most inexperienced Mason to secure, sometimes by reaching across the table, the most delicate and succulent morsels which adorn our festive board to delight the eye and stimulate the jaded appetite. It is further used to convey the various portions to the aperture which has been specially designed to receive them, and which reduces all nutriment to a common level. More especially, should this implement be used in partaking of peas, which, if conveyed to the mouth by aid of the knife, often prove very elusive.

The Knife, when properly ground and sharpened, is used in bringing crude matter into due form, assisting us to dissect the anatomy of even the most venerable rooster; and to further prepare and divide the same into proper proportions to suit the dimension of the aforesaid aperture, so, that it may not be filled to excess, and thus prevent that flow of fervid eloquence which should at all times be the distinguishing characteristics of the convivial mason.

The Tumbler enables us, with accuracy and precision, to ascertain and determine the quantity of liquid which we find best conduces to the preservation of our general joviality, and while all Tumblers have not an engraving or marking upon them commonly known as "the pretty", the skillful craftsman can measure his "tot" by the aid of the two, or three finger rule.

But as we are not met here as speculative, but rather as energetic and operative Masons, we apply these rules to our Morals.

In this sense the Fork points out that we should not at all times sit down and wait for what we most desire, but should reach out, secure, and retain it, profiting by our opportunities, and assimilating the knowledge gained by our experiences. Nor should we forget that the little things of life require to be looked after. And as the prongs of the Fork are equal and mutually assist each other, being joined together in one compact structure, so are we all equal when met together as Masons, and the Fork should teach us to stand shoulder to shoulder, and practice those four qualities which cannot be too strongly recommended to your notice, viz, straightforwardness in our dealings with one another; sympathy with the failings of a brother; good temper in our differences of opinion; and fidelity to the sacred tie which binds us together.

The Knife points out the value of patience and assiduity, for as it requires to be sharp, and in good condition to enable it to cope with some of the problems which confront it, so we are taught to take care of our mental and corporeal faculties that we may not be left behind in the battle of life. It also teaches us not to cut off more than we can comfortably chew, but to limit our desires in every station of life, that, arising to eminence by merit, we may live respected and die regretted.

The Tumbler inculcates the necessity for moderation in all things, for as it has no graduated scale by which to measure its varying contents, the user must exercise his own judgement as to the quantity of liquid poured therein. So we are expected to ascertain, and not exceed the limits of our internal economy, for, as the Tumbler will only hold a certain quantity without detriment to its surroundings, so should we learn our capacity, and thus avoid either overflowing with unseemly hilarity or confusing our mental and physical powers. And as the perfect Tumbler rings true whether it is empty, or whether it contains liquor, so should the perfect convivial Mason ring true after labor at the Supper Table. A cracked Tumbler is despised and rejected.

Thus the Working Tools of the Convivial Mason teach us to bear in mind and act according to the cardinal virtues of Prudence and Temperance, so that when we shall be summoned to drink the Tyler's Toast, after partaking of all the good things which a bountiful Providence has provided for us, we may arise and depart homeward with the gratifying testimony of a contented mind, and equal poise, and a clear brain.

By Tony Huglin - Blyth Lodge No. 2869

09/26/2026

🔴⚒️ ON THIS DAY IN MASONIC HISTORY SEPTEMBER 26, 1872 ⚒️🔴

The Birth of the Shrine

On September 26, 1872, another important chapter in the history of Freemasonry began in New York City.

On that day, a meeting was held at the old Masonic Hall in New York City to formally organize a new Masonic fraternity.

That organization would become known around the world as:

🎩 SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL

Originally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., the organization established Mecca Shriners as its first Shrine Center.

September 26, 1872, is recognized by Shriners International as the official founding of the fraternity.

🏛️ IT STARTED WITH MASONS

The story actually began a couple of years earlier.

Around 1870, a group of Masons regularly gathered for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage in New York City. Among them were Dr. Walter M. Fleming, a physician and Mason, and William J. “Billy” Florence, a well-known actor.

The men began discussing the creation of another fraternity for Masons one emphasizing fun, fellowship and camaraderie.

Their ideas eventually became the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

On September 26, 1872, that vision officially became reality with the organization of Mecca Shriners.

🎩 BUT HERE’S SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW…

Most people recognize the Shriners.

They see the red fezzes, the parades, the miniature cars, the motorcycles, the bands and all the colorful Shrine units.

And most importantly, people know the Shriners because of their tremendous philanthropic work helping children.

But there is something many people outside of Freemasonry don’t realize:

EVERY SHRINER IS A MASON.

Not every Mason is a Shriner…

But every Shriner is a Mason.

A man must first become a Master Mason before he can become a Shriner.

The red fez comes after the Masonic journey not before it.

A man first enters the Lodge as an Entered Apprentice, progresses to Fellow Craft, and ultimately becomes a Master Mason.

Only then can he pursue membership in the Shrine.

So when people see a Shriner helping children, participating in a parade, volunteering in the community or wearing that unmistakable red fez, they are seeing another branch of the Masonic family.

**The Lodge comes first.

The Shrine comes later.**

And there is even a famous bit of wordplay hidden within the Shrine’s original name:

A.A.O.N.M.S.

is an anagram of:

“A MASON.”

❤️ FROM FELLOWSHIP TO PHILANTHROPY

The Shrine was originally created as a place where Masons could enjoy fellowship and camaraderie, but philanthropy became one of its defining missions.

In 1922, the first Shriners hospital opened in Shreveport, Louisiana, beginning what would eventually grow into the modern Shriners Children’s healthcare system.

For generations, Shriners have dedicated themselves to helping children and families through specialized pediatric care.

It is a remarkable example of taking the principles learned in the Lodge and putting them into action beyond the Lodge room.

Brotherly Love.
Relief.
Truth.

🔴 OUR LOCAL SHRINE CONNECTION

For the brethren of Smithfield Masonic Lodge No. 182, this history has a very local connection.

Just across the Ohio River in Wheeling, West Virginia, we have:

🎩 OSIRIS SHRINERS

📍 1 Monument Place
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003

Osiris Shriners is our closest Shrine Center and an important part of the Masonic community in the Ohio Valley.

Their home at Monument Place is itself steeped in history. The historic property dates back to 1798, and Osiris Shriners acquired the property in 1926.

That means the Shrine’s history isn’t something that exists only in old photographs or books from New York City.

It’s right here in our own backyard.

For Masons in the Ohio Valley, Osiris provides another opportunity to experience Shrine fellowship, participate in activities and support the charitable mission that has defined the organization for generations.

🎩 OTHER SHRINE CENTERS IN OUR REGION

🔴 OSIRIS SHRINERS

Wheeling, West Virginia
📍 1 Monument Place
Wheeling, WV 26003

🔴 TADMOR SHRINERS

Akron, Ohio
📍 3485 Fortuna Drive, Unit 200
Akron, OH 44312

🔴 AL KORAN SHRINERS

Middleburg Heights, Ohio
📍 6801 Engle Road, Suite B
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130

These Shrine organizations represent just a few of the many ways Masons can continue their journey of fellowship and service beyond their individual Lodges.

⚒️ FROM THE LODGE TO THE SHRINE

Becoming a Master Mason does not necessarily have to be the end of a Mason’s journey.

For some, the next step may be the Scottish Rite.

For others, the York Rite.

For others, the Shrine.

And for many, it may simply mean continuing to serve their Lodge and their community.

Each path provides another opportunity to practice the principles learned in Freemasonry.

The Shrine simply adds another dimension:

Brotherhood.

Fellowship.

Family.

Fun.

Philanthropy.

And behind every red fez is a man who first became a Mason.

🎩🔴 SEPTEMBER 26, 1872 — 154 YEARS OF THE SHRINE 🔴🎩

Today, Smithfield Masonic Lodge No. 182 recognizes the 154th anniversary of the founding of Shriners International.

From 13 Masons gathering together in New York City…

To Shrine Centers across the country…

To Osiris Shriners right here in Wheeling…

To men wearing the red fez in communities around the world…

The story continues.

And perhaps the simplest way to explain the relationship is:

You don’t become a Shriner and then become a Mason.

You become a Mason… and then you have the opportunity to become a Shriner.

The Lodge is where the journey begins.

The Shrine is one of the many places that journey can lead.

⚒️ Brotherhood
❤️ Relief
🎩 Fellowship
🔴 Philanthropy

Happy 154th Anniversary to Shriners International!

09/18/2026

THE MASONIC ORATOR EDUCATIONAL SERIES
LESSON 11 — MASONIC BODIES EXPLAINED
Blue Lodge • York Rite • Scottish Rite • Shrine • Grotto • Eastern Star • Research • Youth

One of the most persistent misconceptions about Freemasonry is that its many organizations form a pyramid of increasingly powerful ranks. They do not.

Craft Freemasonry consists of three Degrees: Entered Apprentice → Fellow Craft → Master Mason. With Master Mason being the highest any Mason can be.

That foundation matters. A 32° or 33° Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar, Shriner, or Grotto Prophet is still a Master Mason. These organizations offer additional education, ritual, fellowship, charity, research, or service. Their titles do not place them above the Master Mason Degree or give them authority over Craft Freemasonry.

THE BLUE LODGE — THE FOUNDATION

The Lodge is where a man becomes a Freemason through the three Craft Degrees. It is where Masonry's central allegorical and moral lessons are taught, members govern their Lodge, perform Degree work, practice charity, receive education, and serve their communities. A Mason never has to join anything beyond it; a lifetime can be spent studying and practicing the Craft.

THE YORK RITE

In the United States, the York Rite commonly develops through Chapter, Council, and Commandery.

Royal Arch Masonry — Chapter expands Temple themes and ideas introduced in Craft Masonry. Its Degrees commonly include Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason, although arrangements vary. Royal Arch Masonry also supports research and charitable efforts, including Royal Arch Research Assistance.

Cryptic Masonry — Council continues the Temple narrative through Royal Master and Select Master, with Super Excellent Master also conferred in many jurisdictions. Its lessons develop preservation, loss, fidelity, and recovery. Cryptic Masonry is associated with the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation.

Knights Templar — Commandery moves into explicitly Christian chivalric tradition, drawing upon traditions of knighthood, Malta, and the Temple. Membership requirements therefore differ from Craft Masonry and should be checked locally. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation supports vision research, education, and care.

THE SCOTTISH RITE

The Scottish Rite probably causes the most public confusion because people see 4°, 14°, 18°, 32°, and 33° and assume these are ranks above the 3° Master Mason. They are not.

The Scottish Rite supplements Craft Masonry through Degrees exploring ethics, philosophy, duty, justice, tolerance, liberty, faith, and responsibility. In the Southern Jurisdiction, its four bodies culminate in the 32°. The 33° is an honor conferred under Scottish Rite rules for distinguished service; it does not make someone a 33rd-level ruler of Freemasonry. Northern and Southern Jurisdictions differ in organization and presentation. Southern Jurisdiction (which I am) philanthropy includes childhood language programs, scholarships, and disaster relief.

The number describes advancement within the Scottish Rite, not authority over other Masons.

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL

The Shrine is among the most recognizable parts of the Masonic family: the fez, parades, fellowship, and especially Shriners Children's. A Shriner must first be a Master Mason. Local temples may include motor corps, bands, clowns, ceremonial groups, and many other units. Shriners Children's provides specialized pediatric healthcare and supports research and medical education.

GROTTOES INTERNATIONAL

The Grotto—formally the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (MOVPER), is an organization for Master Masons centered on Good Fellowship, friendship, fun, family activities, social events, parades, and service. Members are called Prophets and are recognized by the black fez.

Its official charity, the Humanitarian Foundation, operates a program helping children with special needs receive dental care.

Again, the Grotto is not above the Lodge. It gives Master Masons another way to enjoy fellowship while putting service into practice.

THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR

Eastern Star differs because both men and women participate. Male members must be Master Masons in good standing. Under current General Grand Chapter rules, eligible women include qualifying relatives of Master Masons, qualifying Rainbow or Job's Daughters members, and women at least 18 who qualify through sponsorship by an Eastern Star Sister and Brother. Jurisdictional requirements should always be checked.

Its lessons use biblical figures and emphasize values including fidelity, faith, constancy, charity, love, and service. Charitable programs vary by jurisdiction and Chapter.

Eastern Star is closely associated with the Masonic family, but it is not another Craft Degree, and joining Eastern Star does not make a woman a Freemason.

MASONIC RESEARCH

Not every Masonic path is about additional Degrees. Research Lodges and societies study Masonic history, ritual development, symbolism, architecture, manuscripts, biography, social history, and tradition.

Their questions matter: What can we document? What is allegory? What is tradition? What came later? What evidence supports the claim?

Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 in London is the premier Lodge of Masonic research, as it is the world's oldest Masonic Research Lodge.
There are also Jurisdictional Research Lodges, Scottish Rite Research Society, Masonic Society, Grand College of Rites and others.

Research does not create a “higher” Mason. It helps us understand Masonry more accurately, and sometimes separate cherished tradition from demonstrable history.

THE MASONIC YOUTH FAMILY — AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

DeMolay International, the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and Job's Daughters International are associated with the Masonic family, but they are not appendant bodies through which a Mason advances, and their youth members are not Freemasons.

DeMolay accepts young men after age 12 and before 21 and develops leadership, character, fellowship, responsibility, and service; its Squires program serves younger boys.

Rainbow welcomes girls ages 11–20 and emphasizes leadership, service, confidence, friendship, and personal development.

Job's Daughters serves girls and young women, with membership tied to Masonic relationship or sponsorship, and develops leadership, public speaking, teamwork, confidence, and community service.

They provide young people opportunities to grow within the Masonic family, but they are not Masonic Degrees.

MANY PATHS — ONE FOUNDATION

The easiest way to understand the Masonic family is to stop imagining a ladder. Think of a tree.

The easiest way to understand the Masonic family is to stop imagining a ladder. Think of a tree.

The Lodge is the foundation. A Brother becomes a Mason through Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. Afterward, one Brother may explore York Rite; another Scottish Rite; another becomes a Shriner or Prophet; another devotes himself to research; another joins several; and another spends his entire Masonic life serving his Lodge.

None is inherently “more Mason” because of the path he chooses.

The Lodge creates the Mason. Additional bodies provide additional opportunities. Research helps us understand the Craft. Eastern Star broadens participation within the Masonic family. Youth organizations develop leadership, character, confidence, and service without making their members Freemasons.

Underneath all of it remains the same foundation:

Entered Apprentice → Fellow Craft → Master Mason

There are many Masonic paths.

There is no Degree of Craft Freemasonry higher than Master Mason.

~ The Masonic Orator