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We hope you find the information contained within this website to be informative and engaging. As information technologies continue to improve, so does our desire to utilize these tools as an effective means of communication on all things Masonic.
Even though this website is continuously being developed, we are committed to providing our brethren and their families with timely information on a wide variety of topics and interests (i.e. news and events, Masonic Philanthropies, Masonic Bodies, contact information, related links, etc.). But the brothers of Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 want to extend this commitment even further. We extend this to any and all individuals who may be interested in learning more about Freemasonry and what it's all about.
In an effort to improve our communication with those individuals outside of Freemasonry and this Lodge in particular, we will be posting reference material and web links to several groups and organizations within our fraternity which do an excellent job of explaining the progressive science of Freemasonry.
If you are interested in learning how to join freemasonry, please feel free to follow the "2B1 Ask1" link under the "Masonic Information" page for further instruction.
You may also contact Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 directly through our Lodge Secretary (via the "contact us" page), who will be more than happy to assist you with this process.
On behalf of the brethren of Gila Valley No. 9; We thank you for taking the time to visit our site, and as always we look forward to seeing you in Lodge.
Freemasonry is the largest and oldest secular fraternal order in the world, crossing all religious boundaries to bring men together of all countries, sects, and opinion in peace and harmony. It is a universal brotherhood, dedicated to serving the divine by service to family, country, and mankind.
Freemasonry is a philosophical organization emphasizing the study of moral symbols to build character. This education is, in part, the foundation of a more profound understanding of mankind and his existence. Living today in a throw away / mass consumption society, Freemasonry teaches about the value of people and the meaning of relativism over personal individualism. The real nature of Freemasonry is a spiritual force behind each member, improving himself morally by associating with other like-minded individuals. Also, Freemasonry acts as a social organization, promoting the interaction between like-minded men within the lodge to build bonds between them. By fostering this brotherhood relationships are made that remain even outside the comforts of the lodge the bonds remain and genuine affection prevails. Wherever traveling, masons meet and greet other masons as brothers as a result of these bonds.
Freemasonry opens mens eyes to the knowledge that the road to happiness is found in the journey to the perfection of the spirit, intellect & soul, to strive to his fullest potential. Differing from religious institutions, Freemasonry sees all men as equal, not drawing division to beliefs. Fellow Freemasons are regarded as brothers because of the rituals of Freemasonry, which have remained virtually unchanged for many hundred years. By accepting men of all faiths, together in Freemasonry, they learn and teach the truths of morality, justice, patriotism and brotherly love. All expressed through reverence to the divine Great Architect of the Universe.
150 S. Main Street
Florence, AZ 85132
Florence Gila Valley Lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, is over 120 years old and is the oldest Masonic body in Pinal County.
Instituted in 1890 by 23 Charter Members, Gila Valley Lodge predates Arizona's Statehood, making it one of the original 13 Arizona Territory Lodges. As such it is privileged to maintain the "A.T." [Arizona Territory] designation along side of its name. The Lodge was formally constituted November 12th 1890 under the jurisdiction of the then MW:. Grand Master G.W. Cheney.
In addition to being one of the original Arizona Territory Lodges left in the state, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 (F&AM) also remains the only Lunar Lodge in Arizona.
In times predating the availability of automobiles and electric lighting, Lunar Lodges would meet by the aid of the full moon. This not only provided an easy-to-remember schedule for the members, it also provided light for the ceremonies without fear of eavesdroppers.
It was not uncommon for some members to have traveled by horseback from as far away as Aravaipa on the San Pedro. They could be sure of arriving at meeting time because of the schedule based on the moon, which also provided light for their safe travel. Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 is one of approximately 100 Lunar Lodges nationwide, and remains the only Lunar Lodge west of the Mississippi.
Gila Valley Lodge No.( (F&AM)'s first official board was:
George Brown W:. Master
William E. Guild Senior Warden
F.W. Stillman Junior Warden
Rev. I.T. Whittemore Secretary
O.H. Carpenter Treasurer
A.J. Doran Senior Deacon
A.H. Adaller Junior Deacon
J.H. Laudike Senior Steward
Jerry Fryer Marshal
F.B. Maldonado Chaplain
F.A. Adams Tyler
One of the 23 Charter Members of Gila Valley Lodge No.9 (F&AM) was Joseph Henry (J.H.) Kibbey. J.H. Kibbey would later go on to be appointed as the 16th Arizona Territorial Governor by the then President, Theodore Roosevelt. J.H. Kibbey served as the 1st Arizona Territory Governor from 1905-1909.
Gila Valley Ldoge No. 9 has met in the City of Florence dating back to their Charter Date in 1890. Meetings and ceremonies of the new lodge were held in the new Masonic Hall, built special for its home when the Lodge was organized.
The Hall, reputed to be one of the finest Masonic Halls in Arizona, was constructed at the upper story of the new store building belonging to prominent Merchant and Charter Member F.B. Maldonado.
This remained the meeting place for Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 (F&AM) until a fire gutted the upstairs of the building. The ground floor of which still remains, and for a period of time, was used as the Florence Market. As a result of the fire, much of the historical records where destroyed.
The lodge would later acquire its current building during the 1950's which was originally built as a World War II military barracks. The building was relocated from its original location on the military base to its current location at 150 S. Main Street and has remained there ever since. It continues to serve as the meeting place for Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 to this day.
"The mission of Freemasonry is to promote a way of life that binds like minded men in a worldwide brotherhood that transcends all religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational differences; by teaching the great principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth: and, by the outward expression of these, through its fellowship, its compassion and its concern, to find ways in which to serve God, family, country, neighbors and self."
A Trestle Board is a board used by architects or draftsmen on which to place their drawings or plans. The name is derived from the fact that the board is supported on trestles. A more common & modern definition is a newsletter from a Masonic Lodge.
Freemasonry adopted the name from the Books of Kings and the discussion of the building of King Solomons Temple.
In Gila Valley Lodge, the Trestle Board is a newsletter which provides regular communication from the Lodge Officers to the members.
The Gila Valley Lodge Officers and Brethren have authorized the online publishing of these Trestle Board issues.
If you would like to receive the Trestle Board via email please join our mailing list by following the link at the bottom of our page.
There are a variety of reasons why men join Freemasonry:
What ever the reason may be for a man to join Freemasonry, you can be certain that the members of the fraternity, our brethren, will tell you that their decision to join Freemasonry was one of the best and most rewarding decisions they have made.
Men from all walks of life, in all ages, and of different beliefs and religions come together as brethren of the fraternity.
In Freemasonry there is no distinction between ones external worth and their position within the community, we are all brothers who meet on the level.
In Freemasonry you are surrounded by people you can trust, and you will be able to develop lifelong friendships with men whom you may have never known outside of a Masonic Lodge.
If you would like more information regarding how you can become part of the Masonic Fraternity, submit your request by following the link at the bottom of this page.
"There is no degree in Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason, the Third Degree. There are, however, a number of organizations that require being a Master Mason as a prerequisite for membership. These bodies have no authority over the Craft. These orders or degrees may be described as additional or appendant, and often provide a further perspective on some of the allegorical, moral and philosophical content of Freemasonry.
Appendant bodies are administered separately from Craft Grand Lodges but are styled Masonic since every member must be a Mason. However, Craft Masonic jurisdictions vary in their relationships with such bodies, if a relationship exists at all. The Articles of Union of the "Modern" and "Antient" craft Grand Lodges (into UGLE in 1813) limited recognition to certain degrees, such as the Royal Arch and the "chivalric degrees", but there were and are many other degrees that have been worked since before the Union. Some bodies are not universally considered to be appendant bodies, but rather separate organizations that happen to require prior Masonic affiliation for membership. Some of these organizations have additional requirements, such as religious adherence (e.g., requiring members to profess Trinitarian Christian beliefs) or membership of other bodies.
Quite apart from these, there are organizations that are often thought of as being related to Freemasonry, but which have no formal or informal connections with Freemasonry. These include such organizations as the Orange Order, which originated in Ireland, the Knights of Pythias, or the Independent Order of Odd Fellows."
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What is a Masonic Lodge?
A Masonic Lodge is a local chapter of the fraternity of Freemasons. Like the word school, the word lodge can refer to both the group of members and to the physical building. Other Masonic organizations use the words chapter, council, commandery, consistory, priory, court, and so on to refer to specific local organizations.
Is Freemasonry an international order?
Only in the sense that Freemasonry exists throughout the free world. Each Grand Lodge is sovereign and independent, and while following the same basic principles, may have differing ways of passing them on. There is no international governing body of Freemasonry.
Is Freemasonry a Secret Society?
Freemasonry is not a secret society, it is a fraternity with certain information that is kept internal and private from those who are not members. In addition, Lodge meetings, like several other private clubs and groups, are kept private and open only to its members. With that said, the rules and aims of Freemasonry are available to the public. Meeting places (Lodges) are known, and in many areas they are used by the local community for activities other than Freemasonry. Members also speak openly about the fraternity, a far cry from what a secret society should be doing.
Does Freemasonry recruit new members?
No, members of the fraternity are not allowed to recruit people into Freemasonry. A person must want to join Freemasonry of his own free will and accord
Why do Freemasons take oaths?
New members make solemn promises concerning their conduct in Lodge and in society. Each member also promises to keep confidential the traditional methods of proving that he is a Freemason which he would use when visiting a lodge where he is not known. Freemasons do not swear allegiance to each other or to Freemasonry. Freemasons promise to support others in time of need, but only if that support does not conflict with thier duties to God, the law, their family or with their responsibilities as a Citizen.
Is Freemasonry a religion?
No, Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a religion. In fact, Freemasonry strongly encourages each of its members to be steadfast in the faith of his own acceptance. If a member or candidate of Freemasonry does not have a religious affiliation, thats ok. But he must profess a belief in a Supreme Being to be a Freemason. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that encourages morality and charity. It has no clergy, no sacraments, and does not promise salvation to its members.
Is Freemasonry a Cult?
That depends on what is meant by Cult. By some definitions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are Cults. By another definition, golfing, bowling, and surfing the Internet are Cults. But in the usual use of the term, referring to a group that separates itself from society and its members from their non-member friends, demands slavish obedience from its adherents, engages in brainwashing techniques, confiscates their resources, and sees itself in opposition to established society, then the answer is absolutely not!
Quite the opposite, in fact: Freemasonry does not recruit members, does not compel attendance at any of its meetings, charges modest dues and fees, encourages community service and participation in civic and religious organizations, and allows any of its members to quit at any time.
Who can join Freemasonry?
Each Grand Lodge has its own established membership requirements, but ultimately membership into the Freemasonry is open to men of all faiths who are law-abiding, of good moral character and who acknowledge a belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasonry is a multi-racial and multi-cultural organization. It has attracted men of goodwill from all walks of life into its fraternal membership.
What is expected of new members in Freemasonry?
Ideally, once a person becomes a Freemason it is hoped that the new member will desire to attend the regular meetings and contribute to the organization as their time permits.
How many degrees are in Freemasonry?
Basic Freemasonry consists of the three Craft degrees:
1st Degree Entered Apprentice (EA)
2nd Degree Fellow Craft (FC)
3rd Degree - Master Mason (MM)
Is there any degrees higher than Master Mason?
There are several appendant bodies associated with Freemasonry that have additional Masonic degrees specific to themselves. These additional degrees are not considered higher than the Master Mason 3rd degree, and members of the Fraternity must complete the EA, FC, and MM degrees before joining an appendant body of Freemasonry.
I want to become a Freemason, where do I start?
If you know a Mason, ask him about membership. He will be glad to tell you all about the Craft and the local lodge, and give you a petition if you wish to join. If you do not know a Mason, you can: drop a letter to the local lodge, and one of the officers will contact you; email, call or visit a Masonic lodge (if you plan to visit a lodge call ahead of time to ensure someone will be there), or simply follow our 2B1 Ask1 link on the right of the page.
Brethren, Family, Friends and Visitors:
On behalf of the officers and members of Gila Valley Lodge 9 (F. & A.M) of Arizona, we welcome you to our Web-Lodge. This website is dedicated to all of those in search of light. We encourage you to read our posts, ask questions and get to know about our beloved fraternity.
Freemasonry is an organization of men of honor and integrity who believe that things like honesty, compassion, love, trust and knowledge are important elements to a happy life. The members of our fraternity uphold the highest standards of kindness in the home, honesty in business, courtesy in society, fairness in work, concern for the unfortunate, resistance toward evil, help for the weak, forgiveness for the penitent, love for one another and God.
If you are in search of a brotherhood dedicated to growth and self-improvement, we would encourage you to learn all you can about Gila Valley Lodge #9 and Freemasonry as a whole. If you would like to be involved in Freemasonry or are interested in becoming a Mason, please contact us so we can discuss the fraternity with you.
As Always, may brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue cement us.
Fraternally,
Daniel M. Genchi
W:. Master, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 (F&AM)
Brethren,
I want to welcome you to the Gila Valley Lodge website. I am pleased to share with you some of the success our lodge has shared as well as to update you on our future progress.
As Senior Warden I am also the Chairman for the Lodge Membership Development Committee. Part of which is ensuring that members are receiving the proper mentoring and coaching as well as to provide the lodge with ongoing Masonic Education. If you would like to volunteer as a mentor or coach please contact me.
This year is looking to be a very productive year. We are currently experiencing a shift if new membership and we expect to see this trend continue.
This year's Masonic Education will be one of the highlights of our Masonic Year as we explore Freemasonry through the ages.
We will be delivering 3 seperate 3 part series talks on the history of Freemasonry and its evolution and effect on modern society.
Each 3 part series will be delivered in open lodge and we encourage you to particpate. Keep an eye on our Trestle Board for more details.
Also, as we progress into the new Masonic Year, let us make a point to get to know our brethren while in Lodge.
When in Lodge siting next to a brother that you do not know make it a point to extend your acquaintance. You will never know many of your own brethren unless you make the attempt.
It is better for Masonry to hunt out the men whose humble opinion of his importance causes him to hang back rather than to rush forward and shake hands with the prominent man who has plenty of friends. If you do not know him, shake his hand and introduce yourself.
I look forward to meeting you in the near future.
Ryan Kann
Senior Warden Gila Valley Lodge (F&AM)
Congratulations to the new officer corps that was elected for 2012. We look forward to the installation on December 5th.
2011 was a very busy year for Gila Valley Lodge, and it appears that 2012 will be just as busy of a year for our Lodge. I am confident that with our newly appointed Stewards our new officer corps is up to the many tasks ahead.
I again wish to thank the brethren for electing me to serve as the Junior Warden for the ensuing Masonic year. I look forward to performing the duties assigned to that station and assisting the Master and Senior Warden.
Keep an eye on our Calendar of Events and please make every effort to support the Lodge by attending our Stated Meeting Dinners our Degrees, and Social Events.
Ken Stewart
Junior Warden, Gila Valley Lodge 9 (F&AM)
Whether you're looking for more information, or if you'd like to let us know how we did, you'll find easy ways to contact us right here.
Take some time and look around. We may already have what youre looking for, right here on our site. We suggest you start by checking in our "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ's) page.
If you can't find what you are looking for, or if you'd like more information regarding our; lodge, our meeting times, and Membership or Affiliation information; We'd like to hear from you. Please, fill out a contact card through the link provided and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you & we look forward to your correspondence.
-Gila Valley Lodge No. 9.
Masonry is a noble science that is designed to teach self-knowledge. It is our intent that from within these pages the greatest satisfaction can be derived.
Education in Freemasonry is meant to be a life long process, furthering our understanding of the fraternity and its relevance to today's world. This web page has been created to promote a deeper understanging of Masonry and provide explanations that are constantly called for.
This website includes a number of external links as well as resources for members and lodges to read over. The reader is encouraged to ponder and utilize the information contained within these pages as a guide in their own quest for light and understanding in regards to the true meaning of Freemasonry.
The viewer is urged to see in Freemasonry something more than a "secret society" performing seemingly outdated rites. It is hoped rather that you will more appropriatley find Freemasonry to be a society of men and brothers dedicated to improvement of self and society through the dedicated implementation of of a virtuous educaiton and the blessings of God.
Please take some time to visit our site, and review the provided links. Remeber: "There is no knowledge without Education."
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