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On Monday, the General Henry Knox Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held a 200th anniversary ceremony for the Mount Zion Lodge 9, F&AM. Back row, from left, are Terry A. Whetstone, past president, Ohio Society SAR; Steven Kelley, state secretary, Ohio Society SAR; Paul Phillips, past president 1985 of Mount Zion Lodge 9; Ron Milligan, Tyler of Mount Zion Lodge 9; John Baker, charter member of SAR and member of the Mount Zion Lodge 9; John Price, worshipful master of Mount Zion Lodge 9; John A. Dangelo, senior warden of Mount Zion Lodge 9; Teresa Bemiller, Knox County commissioner; Richard Mavis, Mount Vernon mayor; and Nancy Vail, Mount Vernon councilwoman. Front row, from left, are Donald Weaver, past master 1996 of Mount Zion Lodge 9; Doug O. Brenneman, past grand master Masons in Ohio 1999; James R. Leventry, past master 1983 and 2008 of Mount Zion Lodge 9; Jack Gordon, past master 1963 of Mount Zion Lodge 9; Arthur G. Crim, past district deputy grand master; and Lester Grennell, district deputy grand master.MOUNT VERNON — The General Henry Knox Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honored the 200th anniversary of Mount Zion Lodge 9, Free and Accepted Masons, of Mount Vernon on Monday night.
Many prominent early leaders of the United States were Freemasons, including George Washington, Henry Knox and Paul Revere. Because of their roles in the American Revolution, SAR recognized the fraternal ties between the bicentennial of the Masons, and the city and county namesakes. Other distinguished Freemason figures, including Benjamin Franklin, James Monroe and Andrew Jackson, held their “foundation stones” in the nation’s history.
“It was 235 years ago that the first shots were fired at Lexington, Mass.,” said John Baker, charter member for SAR and a member of the Mount Zion Lodge 9. “It was preceded by Paul Revere’s midnight ride warning John Hancock — who was a Mason and so was Paul Revere — that the British were coming.”
During the ceremony, held at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, Baker read from his essay, “How Mount Vernon and Knox County got their names,” which tells a historical account of the onset of the American Revolution.
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