ABOUT FREEMASONRY

There can be an endless number of reasons to which a man feels he wants to become a Freemason. These intentions can be summarized with the eight categories of Tradition, Morality, Self-Improvement, Fraternity, Fellowship, Charity, Education and Leadership. As a body of Freemasons, Ionic Lodge #31 strives to inspire and strengthen these core values within its members to develop them as individuals in addition to strengthening the Lodge as a whole.

For this reason, we pride ourselves in the inclusion of each of our officers and members in as much as they would like to offer, while keeping in mind each individuals opinion and point-of-view to further develop our everyday lodge-related activities. From the newest member to the Worshipful Master, each person's opinion shall be heard with equal regularity within the body of a Lodge.

As Masons, we can consistently be looking for opportunities to better ourselves - sometimes even without trying. Our principles can apply to occupations, friendships, communities and other social or occupational organizations. All men are welcomed within our fraternity, of all faiths and walks of life; as long as they believe in a Supreme Being: God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha, etc., your presence within our organization will be welcomed.

As a Freemason you will be referred to as a "Brother" by your peers. This inclusion will allow admittance into any standing Lodge in the world. Each state and territory of the United States has a Grand Lodge, the governing body within their state. There are many subordinate lodges within each state, and around the world to which you would be welcomed to enter given the proper verbal and physical codes of admission.

On social media, we are active in connecting with our fellow members. It is common to find regular postings of events that other members might interested in. It can be used for a singular salutation or a marketplace for Masons to sell items and ask their Brothers if they would like them first. Some of these groups are private, but admission to them comes with the package. You can visit the Brother to Brother Page, Ionic #31 Masonic Lodge Page and the Freemasons in Delaware Page. Other lodges within Delaware and elsewhere have their own specific pages to explore as well.

History of Ionic Lodge #31

Ionic Lodge #31 was chartered on November 4, 1950. They first met in Newport, Delaware and was the first lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Delaware in nearly 50 years. Grand Master Henry I. Law and his officer's initiated Edward H. Livermore, Jr. as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge. The name of the lodge was chosen for a specific reason. Of the twenty-two other active lodges in the state, there was already a Corinthian and a Doric Lodge, but there was no Ionic Lodge thus completing the 3 types of Greek columns in architecture.

By 1950, the population in Delaware was shifting to the suburbs and Armstrong Lodge was growing exponentially. Armstrong members made up 12 of the 13 charter members of Ionic #31. The 13th individual came from Nanticoke Lodge in Federalsburg, MD.

Some Notable Dates In Ionic History:

December 1953: Ionic Lodge reached 100 members
1955: Ionic began sponsoring and furnishing a room in the Delaware Masonic Home
1958: Theodore H. Work, Jr. was the first member of Ionic Lodge to serve on Delaware's Grand Staff as Junior Grand Warden
Henry F. Seeds became the third PM to serve on Grand Staff in 1964 as Senior Grand Steward, but the first to be elected to Senior Grand Warden in 1969. RW Seeds supported the inception of the Delaware Freemason, a local Masonic newspaper
By 1971, Ionic's membership had grown to nearly 400 members.
August 1975: Ionic members and their wives traveled to Oak Ridge, Tennessee to confer a Master Mason degree with Union Lodge #38 in Kingston, Tennessee in Eblen's Cave. While the Brothers were meeting, the ladies were treated to a guided tour of the Oak Ridge Atomic Facility.
1994: Ionic Lodge began participating in Adopt-A-Highway for a section of Route 4 that runs between Newport and Stanton.
1997: PM George Grandel of Ionic Lodge had the winning design for the new State Quarter to be issued as the first State Quarter by the US Mint.
August 2022: Members of Ionic Lodge #31 and the Masonic Brotherhood Riders returned to Tennessee for another Cave Degree. The Ionic Ladies met and socialized with the ladies from the other lodges at a nice luncheon at a local restaurant.

OUR 2024-2025 OFFICER LINE

Worshipful Master

Michael Rodgers

Senior Warden

Charles "Chuck" Porter, Jr., PM

Junior Warden

Craig Cannon, PM

Treasurer

Robert Noble, PM

Secretary

Harry "Bud" Skinner, PM

Senior Deacon

Jason Alexander

Junior Deacon

James Connell

Senior Steward

Joe Marvasi

Junior Steward

Chaplain

Paul Wolff

Tiler

Jonathan Skinner

Orator

Fred Palmer

Marshal

A Letter from our Worshipful Master

Dear Brethren,

April is upon us! The world is reawakening from the deep slumber of this past winter. Soon everything will be full of color once again. Trees are budding, flowers are blooming and activity in the hive is beginning to pick back up. So should we continue our masonic labors with a renewed fervency and zeal.

This past Wednesday the lodge with the assistance of members from Temple 11 Passed Jonathan Perez to the degree of Fellow Craft. Then Friday with the assistance of a member from Temple 11 and Hiram 25, we initiated two worthy candidates into Freemasonry. The Entered Apprentice lecture was presented by Past Master Joshua Hall of Harmony Lodge No.13 in outstanding form. A fantastic time was had by all both evenings and I would like to thank all of the Brothers that came out!

I look forward to seeing you at our stated communication on April 2nd. Tuxedo for officers coat and tie for the Brothers. We will enjoy a home cooked meal of pulled chicken BBQ, baked potato bar, corn, coleslaw and rolls. Feel free to bring along a dessert if you wish. Dinner starts at 6:30 PM. We will vote on the date for our spring Adopt a Highway. Lodge will open at 7:30 PM and RW JGW Eric T. Downs will present on the symbolism in the EA Degree. Lauryn will have an activity for the ladies to do while Lodge is in session.

I am also interested in learning what activities you would like to do together outside of Lodge his Spring.

Should you have any items you wish to include in the Trestleboard, please feel free to reach out to me or the Secretary.

Fraternally,

Michael Rodgers

Worshipful Master