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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. 

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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.

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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

James "Jim" White, Jr.

Treasurer

Kenneth "Ken" E. Fowler Jr, PGC

Senior Deacon

​William "Bill" Pepper, PM

Junior Steward

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Senior Warden

Michael Rodgers

Junior Warden

Charles "Chuck" Porter, Jr., PM

Secretary

Michael "Mike" A. Swain, PM

Assistant Secretary

Harry "Bud" Skinner, PM

Junior Deacon

​James Connell

Chaplain

Paul Wolff

Senior Steward

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Tiler

Jonathan Skinner

Orator

Fred Palmer

Marshal

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A Letter from our Worshipful Master

Brethren,

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The fall season is quickly approaching and I hope all the Brothers and their families are enjoying the cooler weather.

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We had a successful turnout for our September Stated Communication as well as a very positive response to our speaker and his presentation on the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge. Thanks to all the Brothers and family members who brought a great selection of side dishes and desserts to compliment the burgers and hot dogs provided by PM Bud and Lady Rita.

 

Our next Stated Communication will be on Thursday, October 3rd with dinner beginning at 6pm and Lodge opening at 730pm. The menu will be fried chicken with some side dishes and cake for dessert. For anybody reading this please RSVP with the number attending so we can ensure an adequate amount of food for all.

 

Dress for the evening will be suit and tie for the Brothers and tuxedos for the officers.

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For our program this month, we will once again be having the Window Santas charity founders who will provide a recap of last year’s successful gift wrapping and distribution as well as their plans for the upcoming Christmas season. Also, in continuation of my theme of “Honoring U.S. Military Veterans: Past– Present – Future”, the planned speaker will be George Widger, the local founder of the Pigeon Run Cemetery Restoration Project in Bear, DE. During his work on that project he has discovered the graves of several 19th century veterans from the War of 1812 and the American Civil War which will be a part of his discussion.

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A couple of important upcoming events include the 219th Grand Lodge Annual Communication on Monday, October 8th and the Grand Lodge Public Installation of Officers on Tuesday, October 9th. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to myself and/or visit the Grand Lodge website.

 

Fraternally,

Jim White

Worshipful Master

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