MCKINLEY LODGE Masons attend state convention

NILES -- Several members of the Niles McKinley Lodge No. 794 Free & amp; Accepted Masons attended the annual statewide Freemasons meeting Friday and Saturday in Columbus.
Representing the Niles McKinley Lodge were Douglas Nutter, Thomas Redmond Sr., James Cunningham, Charles Chagnot Jr., Marc Stevens and Curtis Miller.
Jim S. Deyo, a retired Columbus banking executive from Mount Sterling, presided over the 196th annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The event concluded with the installation of state officers.
To become a member of the Ohio branch of the world's oldest and largest men's fraternity, a man must be at least age 19, believe in a supreme being, have a good reputation and be a resident of the state for at least a year.
There are 121,000 Ohio Freemasons in 540 Masonic lodges that provide about $15 million a year for charities. This year, the Masons gave out $94,000 in college scholarships, contributed $125,000 to Ohio Summer Special Olympics and funded $70,000 in training for hundreds of Ohio teachers to recognize pupils at nonacademic risk. An additional $12 million was provided for care of the elderly. Many needy Ohio families are helped by the Masons' charitable foundation.
For more information, contact Stevens, secretary, at (330) 393-9372, or go to the lodge's Web site at www.niles794.org.