News From The Valley

The presiding officers of the Valley of Dayton are pleased to announce that the 2023 spring reunion (April 14-15, 2023) will honor the Illustrious John E. Rhodes, Jr., 33. He is a trustee of the Valley of Dayton and Past Thrice Potent Master of Gabriel Lodge of Perfection (2000-2002). In 2002, he was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General. Thirty-Third Degree. and made an Honorary Member of our Supreme Council.

John is part of a Masonic legacy that began with his grandfather, John H. Rhodes, and continued with his father, Ill. John E. Rhodes, Sr., 33 (also a Past Thrice Potent Master and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Valley of Dayton).  All of them were members of Riverview Lodge # 717 where WB Rhodes was Master in 1986.  Riverview was one of the lodges that came together to found Millennium # 779.

Ill. Bro. Rhodes is a retired dentist in the Brookville area and a proud graduate of The Ohio State University. John is married to Janet, and they have three children: Ruth, Joe, and Leah.  The Rhodes’ fraternal legacy continues in son Joe and son-in-law Matt Trimble, who both belong to Millennium # 779.  John and Janet are blessed with six grandchildren.

John’s leadership and service aren’t confined to Freemasonry. He serves on the Dayton and Montgomery County Board of Health appointed in 2012, and a past president of the board. He was a founding member and Inaugural president of the Brookville Community Scholarship Foundation. John is a long-time member and past president, The Ohio State University Dental School Board of Governors. John served the Brookville business community as  president of the Brookville Chamber of Commerce and named Brookville Citizen of the Year by the chamber in appreciation of his service to the community.

Dr. Rhodes also received the C.W.  “Doc” Thomas award from the Brookville schools in 2016. Dr. Thomas, besides being a prominent Brookville physician and community leader, was also a member of the Valley of Dayton and 33rd Degree Mason.

Join us in congratulating Ill. Bro. John Rhodes on this well-deserved honor! Now is the time to recruit your Masonic friends who aren’t Scottish Rite Masons to be a part of this spring class.

It will be a lecture and color slide program of European Cathedrals accompanied by a display of primitive hand tools that would have built them, A few of the tools date from the 1500 and 1600’s. RWB Herner will discuss the Operative to Speculative Masonry transition. This program is open to the public – families and guests as well as Master Masons are welcome to attend.

In the early 1700s, a cachet of Masonic degrees in current practice was leaked by a mysterious pseudonymous author. While startling to the average person, the esoteric Mason found solemn and moving meaning in these rare degree ceremonies. Join together with RWB Bill Carter in a gathering of Master Masons to peer through the shrouding mists of Masonic history, to learn the startling yet enlightening wisdom from our ancient Brethren.

Our speaker will be RWB William M. Carter III, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio