Western Star Lodge installs officers in open ceremony

BOARDMAN

Michael J. Hughes of New Middletown was installed as worshipful master of Western Star Lodge 21, Free and Accepted Masons, during an open ceremony on Dec. 3 at Western Star Masonic Temple, 8387 Tod Ave.

Also inducted were T.J. Perren, senior warden; William T. Adams Jr., junior warden; R. Sean Craig, treasurer; Tad C. Fithian, secretary; James A. Patrick Jr., chaplain; David J. Venerose Jr., senior deacon; Shaun M. Laughlin, junior deacon; Eric P. Ericson, senior steward; Anthony D. Larkin, Tyler; Clarence E. Shawver, education officer; and Edward C. Wick Jr., trustee.

Martin R. Schuller and James A. Streeky, assisted by other past masters of the lodge, conducted the 108th annual installation ceremony, the 10th since the lodge moved to its own building in Boardman.

The lodge meets from 8 to 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the fellowship hall of Elijah’s Diner, where the installation, dinner and reception took place.

Freemasonry is the oldest, largest and most widely recognized fraternal organization in the world. There are more than 2 million Freemasons in North America alone. The 110,000 Freemasons in Ohio provide approximately $18 million in charitable giving annually. In 2009 they gave more than $92,000 in college scholarships, contributed $200,000 to Ohio Summer Special Olympics, funded $80,00 in free training for hundreds of Ohio schoolteachers to recognize students at nonacademic risk, and provided more than $12 million in elderly care.

For more information visit www.thefreemason.com or www.westernstar21.org.