The Foundation of Brotherhood:
Our Blue Lodges
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Dayton Masonic Center is proud to serve as the home for five distinct Masonic Blue Lodges, each offering a unique atmosphere while remaining dedicated to the core values of the craft. These lodges are where every Mason’s journey begins, focusing on the three symbolic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. We invite you to find the lodge that best fits your schedule and personality among our resident bodies:
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Dayton Lodge #147: Steeped in over 150 years of tradition, this lodge emphasizes family functions and community connection.
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John W. Durst Lodge #716: A lodge committed to preserving Masonic heritage and fostering camaraderie among its members.
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Solar Lodge #730: Known for its convenient weekend meeting schedule on Saturday mornings.
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Millennium Lodge #779: A modern lodge that meets twice a month, frequently enjoying fellowship dinners before their meetings.
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St. Johns Lodge #13: One of the area's historic lodges, contributing to the rich legacy of Freemasonry within our walls.
Our Story
Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest secular fraternal organization, often described by its members as a "system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols". It traces its roots to the medieval guilds of stonemasons who built Europe’s great cathedrals and castles.
What is Freemasonry?
At its core, Freemasonry is a fraternity focused on self-improvement and community service. It is not a religion, though it requires members to believe in a Supreme Being.
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The Lodge: The basic unit of the organization is the local Lodge, where members meet for administrative business, social dinners, and ceremonial rituals.
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The Degrees: New members progress through three symbolic stages called "degrees"—Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason—each teaching different moral lessons.
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Symbols: Masons use the tools of stonemasonry metaphorically. For example, the Square and Compasses represent honesty and self-control.
Why Men Join
Men from diverse backgrounds—including historical figures like George Washington and Winston Churchill—have joined for various personal reasons.
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Brotherhood and Fellowship: Many join to find a "third place" outside of home and work. It offers a lifelong community of like-minded men who provide mutual support during hardships.
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Personal Growth: The fraternity provides a structured environment for character building. Members often refer to the goal of "making good men better".
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Philanthropy: Freemasonry is one of the world's largest charitable donors. In the U.S. alone, Masonic organizations like the Shriners donate millions daily to children's hospitals and local causes.
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Leadership Development: By serving as Lodge officers, men develop public speaking and management skills in a supportive environment where peers want them to succeed.
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Historical Legacy: Some join to continue a family tradition or to be part of an ancient institution with rich traditions and rituals.
Core Principles
The organization is founded on three primary tenets:
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Brotherly Love: Caring for one another and the community.
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Relief: Assisting those in distress, often anonymously.
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Truth: Striving for individual integrity and the pursuit of knowledge.
To maintain harmony, discussion of politics and religion is strictly forbidden during Lodge meetings.
There is a Blue Lodge for Everyone
Find Yours
Scott H. Oldfield - Worshipful Master
937-329-7606
Raymond L. Elam, Jr. - Secretary
937-329-7606
One of Ohio's earliest chartered Masonic lodges (1812). located in Dayton, Ohio, apart of the second district.
Meeting Times:
2nd Tuesday @ 7:00PM
4th Tuesday @ 7:00PM
Every month except July & August
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Dan Frye - Secretary
937-477-0605
Dayton Masonic Lodge No. 147 was chartered October 21, 1847, and consequently we have a long and proud heritage in Ohio Masonry. Like other Masonic Lodges, Dayton Lodge holds regular stated business meetings for the obvious reason of maintaining our existence as a Masonic Lodge. But we put emphasis on the family, and have as many family functions as possible, such as our picnic, dinners, dances, and other outings.
We meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM.
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WB William M. Patrick, Jr.
937-367-6657
Late in the autumn of 1943 the need for at least two additional Symbolic Lodges in Dayton became apparent.
The first meeting, the meeting for the institution of John W. Durst Lodge U.D. was called by Worshipful Brother Stewart on Saturday, May 6, 1944.
*Stated Meetings are 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 7:30 pm*
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David Litteral - Secretary
937-903-7844
Solar Lodge #730 was founded on October 21, 1950 out of a necessity of options for members that were working 3rd shifts at local factories. We have evolved since the time of our founding to include men from every profession, who are seeking to become more knowledgeable in freemasonry.
We meet on the second and fourth Saturdays of most months at 9 AM. No meetings are held in July or August, and November’s annual meeting and officer installation are on the first and third Saturdays, respectively. December only sees Solar Lodge meet on the second Saturday.
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Dakota D. Williams, PM - Worshipful Master
937-654-5677
Bruce Hall - Secretary
937-475-2925
We meet at the majestic Dayton Masonic Center, overlooking the Great Miami river and the city of Dayton OH. Our regular meetings are every 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7:00 PM. We frequently enjoy dinner together before our meetings.
MWB Shawn A Johnson - Grand Master of Ohio
MWB Keith W. Newton - Grand Secretary
Not in the Dayton area? Check out the Grand Lodge of Ohio and find a Lodge near you.
FIND A LOCAL MASONIC LODGE
Whether you are exploring Freemasonry for the first time, or you’re a long-time member looking for a specific lodge address, you’ve come to the right place. If you want to learn more about the process of joining Freemasonry and finding a lodge, visit our How to Join page.
Choosing a Lodge
There are several factors that may go into your decision on which lodge to join. Our map will help you identify the lodges that are closest to your home or workplace. From there, review the lodges’ meeting times and reach out to the listed contact to learn more. Each lodge has its own personality, so we recommend attending a meeting and getting to know the Brothers to find the best fit for you.