You’ve probably heard of the Freemasons, commonly shortened to just “Masons.” If you haven’t, the Masons are a private fraternal organization that traces its roots back to the Medieval Era. Stonemasons back then formed guilds, and over the centuries, some of them turned into what we now know as the Masons. The change took place back in 1717 when the first Grand Lodge opened. You don’t have to be a stonemason to join these days, but you do have to be male and willing to go through the process if someone in your local masonic lodge approaches you about the group.
Freemasons and Their Symbols
It makes sense for members of the Freemasons to put one of their official symbols on their headstones, because the organization loves symbols in general. One of their prominent symbols is called the “Eye of Providence.” If you want to see what it looks like (a pyramid with an eye on it), just look at the back of a dollar bill.
Other symbols, like the square and compass, and the letter G, appear frequently on gravestones.
The part that looks like a “V” is the square, which is a common construction tool that’s used to keep the corners of walls and sidewalks straight. According to Freemasonry lore, the square symbolizes how they need to their lives and “square” things up, becoming a better person.
The compass, which is facing downward through the square, is another drafting, engineering, and construction tool. It symbolizes a way for Freemasons to measure their conduct and make sure that they’re acting as morally as possible.
Then there’s the G. This letter appears in the middle of the symbol, between the square and the compass. No one, except for members of the Freemasons, truly know what it stands for. Theories include “God,” the Hebrew symbol for “3,” “Gnosis,” or “Geometry.”
Freemasons in Ohio
The history of Freemasons in Ohio starts with General Rufus Putnam. He was a Freemason prior to the Revolutionary War. Once the war ended, he started the Ohio Company, leading some of his fellow veterans and their families to settle in what is now Marietta. After helping create the settlement, he received permission to establish American Union Lodge No. 1, giving the Freemasons a foothold in what soon became Ohio.
The building that became American Union Lodge No. 1 is still standing, and still a Masonic Lodge. It’s located in Marietta, right on the Muskingum River.
Found in Ohio 