Open house at local Masonic Lodges Oct. 19

    Masonic Lodge across Maine will open their doors to the public on Saturday, Oct. 19 so that neighbors and friends can learn more about the organization and its members
    Participating lodges in the Penquis region are Pleasant River Lodge in Brownville, Penobscot Lodge in Dexter, Mosaic Lodge in Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis Lodge in Milo, Abner Wade Lodge in Sangerville.

    While the Grand Lodge of Maine has recommended that the open house be held from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., hours may vary at local lodges.
    The Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons is the world’s oldest and largest fraternal organization. Much of the structure of the Masonic fraternity is modeled on the medieval guilds of stone masons who constructed the magnificent cathedrals in Europe during the middle ages. Similarly, a great deal of modern Freemasonry’s moral symbolism draws from the art and science of these builders.
    While the earliest Masonic documents date from the close of the thirteenth century, present Masonic practice and structure emerged 300 years ago when lodges began to accept men of prominence and learning who were not stone masons.
    In 1717, four lodges in England met and formed the first Grand Lodge with a Grand Master at its head. When Maine became a state in 1820, the lodges within its borders formed the Grand Lodge of Maine and elected Maine’s first governor, William King, as the first Grand Master. Today, there are 191 lodges in Maine with a total membership of approximately 25,000.
    Maine Masons have been active in promoting education and practicing charity through a wide range of community betterment programs such as drug abuse prevention, scholarships, outreach efforts to the sick and needy and a child identification program.
    For more information, visit www.mainemason.org.