DGN RICH COLE PRESENTED WITH “JEWEL” FROM OYSTER LODGE

DGN RICH COLE PRESENTED WITH “JEWEL” FROM OYSTER LODGE

DGN Rich Cole, along with all his Rotary, civic and the myriad of other duties filling his busy schedule, is also a very active Freemason.  On Monday, March 9, Rich visited William H. Hoover Masonic Lodge in North Canton for their annual "Oyster Lodge."

The Oyster Lodge is a fun night that starts with a dinner of oyster stew, fish, cornbread, slaw and North Canton's famous rice pudding.  Following the meal, everyone adjourns to the Lodge room for the "Oyster Lodge Degree" which spoofs Masonic ceremonies.  

Each year, the organizers of the Oyster Lodge secretly select a random attendee to be the evening's candidate.  The candidate is "blindfolded" and led into the lodge room where he goes through the ceremony and, if he is successful, is admitted to the Order of the Oyster and sworn in by the Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, who traditionally presides over the Oyster Lodge.  

This year's candidate was DGN Rich.  After successfully completing the Degree, Rich was presented with the official "jewel" of the order - a hand-painted sand dollar commemorating his accomplishment.

Rich claims he really enjoyed himself and everyone in attendance had a great time!

Photo L-R:  Past Master of Hoover Lodge and Rotary E-ClubNEO President, Steve Warren with DGN Rich Cole proudly wearing his “Jewel”.

Photo below of Rich being led into lodge “blindfolded”.