2024 News
Feast of the Pascal Lamb
TOver forty members and family attended the Valley of the Fireland's Feast of the Pascal Lamb held at Elyria Lodge on March 25. Among them was Theresa Porter, widow of Brother John Porter, seen here with Ill. Kita, 33o and Ill. Joe Radocy, 33o and Deputy's Assistant for the Valley.
Spring Cookie Class
Thirty ladies attended a cookie decorating class on the morning of March 9, 2024. Led by Elisha Noon, the participants practiced piping, then piped Royal Icing onto the supplied cookies. The morning was capped by a lunch of sandwiches and snacks.
Rite On
Ninety Valley members and guests celebrated the beginning of another Valley year at Messenburg's Plaza Place in Huron. Several awards were given and members recognized. Leland Kemerley was inducted into the Valley Colonels, a local organization established to honor Valley members who have made long-standing exceptional contributions ot the Valley. Arnold Humpreys and Steven Herner received a gold star to place in their Gold Passport jewel for completing their third passport. Scott Haynes, Thomas Payne, William Carter, Scott Savick, and Anton Smith received their 32nd degree certificates from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Several veterans were given the Peace and Freedom pin to wear. The four newest 33rd degree Masons in the Valley received their 33rd degree jewels from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and a 33rd degree jacket from the valley. The evening closed with a brief talk by Joesph Radocy, the Deputy's Representative for the Valley, and Hannah Holbrook, a violinist and past librarian at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, who discussed and peformed several Civil War sogns.
First Degree Nights Give the Valley Max Points and Three New Members
On February 13, 2024, 23 Valley members met for the first degree night of the year at Galion Lodge. Two new Scottish Rite Masons were welcomed into the Valley along with one Mason who had been inducted into the Valley in October but had not received his cap. All three witnessed the 4th degree followed by the 26th degree, with a discussion of the impact of the Civil War on the lives of Northern and Southern Masons and an overview of the Battle of Gettysburg. These candidates also provided the final points needed to take the Valley of the Firelands to the full 105 points for the 2024 Valley of Excellence award. This marks the fourth year in a row that the Firelands has reached the maximum number of points for the award.
On February 17 the degree was repeated in Milan. Over 30 Valley members and visitors attended, and 1 new member of the Valley of the Firelands was initiated with the 4th degree.