Friendship Masonic Lodge Installs Officers

Friendship Masonic Lodge #89 held their annual Installation of Officers on Monday December 9th 2024. Elected Master Michael Carpenter, Senior Warden Shawn Carpenter, Junior Warden Michael Howiler, Senior Deacon Aaron Neilson, Junior Deacon Steven Petrey, Secretary Kenneth Phillips, Treasurer Ronald Wyscarver, Chaplain Tony Akers, Tyler Colby Rinehart, Senior Steward Dale Kelley, Junior Steward Joe Sellers and Lodge Education Officer Wesley Moore. Friendship Masonic Lodge has been in Barnesville since 1828.

Dale Plumly of Somerton was not able to attend the ceremonies to receive his 75-year member award from Friendship Lodge.  Plumly, 96, joined the former Somerton Blue Lodge #354, F & A M on September 13, 1950. His membership transferred to Friendship when Somerton merged with the Barnesville lodge in 1995.

Making the presentation to Plumly were District Deputy Mitch Slotwinski, Michael Carpenter, Rich Carpenter and Shawn Carpenter.

Plumly, however, is not the oldest member of Friendship Lodge. Robert “Bobbie” Boswell, 102, currently a resident of the Walton Home, joined the lodge in 1948.        

In preparing this report, Wesley Moore, a member of the lodge, noted that for 196 years, “of supporting our community, churches, schools and sporting events. We support the Five Loaves Ministry, LifeWise Academy, after school lunch programs the food trucks, and a $1,000 scholarship to a Barnesville and Union Local senior every year, to mention a few”.

Friendship Lodge again this year partnered with other eastern Ohio Lodges to prepare fruit baskets for senior members and widows of members.  Friendship, Flushing, Harrison (Cadiz) and Point Pleasant (Pleasant City) lodges will distribute 95 baskets throughout their respective communities.

   Submitted by Wesley Moore, Sr., a member of Friendship Lodge