On Saturday 21 March 2026 the R E Deputy Great Chief and R E Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent for Mid Ulster, acting as DOC, had the pleasure of installing the R E Provincial Grand Superintendent and three new R E Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendents for the Province of Ohio, in the city of Portsmouth, USA.
It was also a pleasure to honour the oldest member of Charles Asa Brown Council of Knight Masons’s #81, Donald Adams, who is 95 years young and still active.
At the same meeting, E Sir Knight Tim Fleck of Shannon Council #28 was awarded his jewel for 25 years faithful membership and service.
The hospitality and fellowship of our American cousins was second to none with the sharing of ideas and knowledge, for the benefit of Freemasonry both now and into the future, having strengthened our bond immeasurably.
March. 21st, 2026 Stated Meeting for Charles Asa Brown Council #81
At Portsmouth Masonic Temple @ 9 am 11 Members and Cousins present.
Senior Knight Sheeley ordered the officers to take their stations at 9:05 am. After ESK Rumer
extended the Signet to Senior Knight Sheeley and He then opened a Council of Knight Masons
for the benefit of the stated meeting. After ESK Shulz gave the opening prayer, EC Sheeley lead
the Pledge of Allegiance to our Great Country of Freedom. EC Sheeley asked for the reading of
the minutes and a Treasurer’s report, Scribe Malone read the minutes and gave the balance of
$2,243.98. EC Sheeley asked if there were any additions, or corrections, hearing non, EC
Sheeley approved the minutes and Treasurer’s report as read. Scribe Malone then read a bill for
donuts and coffee that RESK O’Neal had picked up at 6am this morning to go with the day’s
activities for $177.46, Check #124, EC Sheeley called a vote and it was unanimously passed to
pay our bills.
The petitions for Clarence Sheets, and Kenneth Horsley for membership was read and approved.
We will set a date for this degree work on April 25th, and June 20th, meetings will be at
Portsmouth Masonic Temple at 9 am with the first two degrees on the April 25th meeting and the
Third degree on the June 30th meeting if our candidates can attend. And the August 29th meeting
time and location to be announced by the Excellent Chief. We still may have some special
meetings if the EC thinks we need them.
RE Malone asked RE Martin to stand in the balcony and be recognized for designing and
manning the Projection Program made especially for this meeting and for today’s events.
RE Malone made a motion and it was Seconded by RE O’Neal to make R.E. SK Victor
McNeill, Deputy Great Chief, and R.E. SK Desmond McCormick, Provincial Deputy
Grand Superintendent for Mid Ulster, Honorary Members of Charles Asa Brown Council
and it was unanimously passed by the Sir Knights of Council #81.
We still need the three Signers to meet to be updated on our bank account at LCNB National
Bank, to be William R. Malone, Jeffrey J. McLaughlin, and Tyler Sheeley. Then we will make 5
copies of the Bank’s approval and place them in 5 sealed envelopes and give 1 to each of the
signers, one to be placed with the Councils Charter in the safe at Portsmouth Masonic Temple
and one to be given to VESK Raymond Bishop Provincial Grand Scribe of Ohio to be put in the
safe depository, in case something happens to the other four, to be returned to the Brown Council
#81, still sealed.
Scribe Malone informed the SK’s that our Council #81 will be 25 years young on August 4,
2026. We must do a special celebration for our 25th Anniversary. Please suggest ideas!
EC Sheeley informed the SK’s that our visiting Delegates from the Grand Council of Knight
Masons of Ireland would be practicing the installation with us for the upcoming installation of
Officers of the Provincial Grand Council of Ohio immediately after lunch on the 7th floor.
There being nothing more to come before Charles Asa Brown Council #81 EC Sheeley duly
closed the Council #81 at 11:05 a.m., for a wonderful lunch prepared by Brother Butch Buckle
and his 2 helpers, one of with was my wife Beverly, on the 7th Floor
After a wonderful lunch we returned to Knight Mason’s room for the 12:30
Installation.
RE Malone opened the meeting in full form and after the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our
Free Country he then announced the purpose for the meeting was the Installation of Officers for
the Provincial Grand Council of the Providence of Ohio, USA. At this time RE Malone the
signet of Authority to R.E. SK Victor McNeill, as Director of Ceremonies for the Installation.
Installing Officers:
R.E. SK Victor McNeill, Deputy Great Chief
R.E. SK Desmond McCormick, Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent for Mid Ulster
V. E. SK Raymond F. Bishop – Senior Knight
SK Benjamin E. Grooms – Junior Knight
SK Jeffrey L. Ellis, Jr. – Standard Bearer
E. SK Robert H. Schulz – Roll of the Law
E.SK George W. Pursley -Laws & Constitution
Officers being installed
RE. Wy, SK., William R. Malone
as Provincial Grand Superintendent
of the Province of Ohio, USA
E. SK Del Book
as his Chain Bearer
E. SK James Stephens and E. SK Matthew Rumer
as his Sponsors
______________________________________________________________________________
RE SK George L. O’Neal
as Provincial Grand Deputy Superintendent
of the Province of Ohio, USA
E. SK Tyler Sheeley
as his Chain Bearer
SK Benjamin E. Grooms and E. SK William A. Denton
as his Sponsors
______________________________
E SK Charles Smith
as Provincial Grand Deputy Superintendent
of the Province of Ohio, USA
E. SK Rodney Q. Blount
As his Chain Bearer,
V.E. SK C. Fritz Froehlich and E. SK Michael L. Pool
as his Sponsors
__________________
RE SK Ronald Hart, Sr.,
as Provincial Grand Deputy Superintendent
of the Province of Ohio, USA
E. SK Patrick Jon Houstin
as his Chain Bearer
RE SK Samuel Jefferson Slattery, II, and E. SK James T. Couch, Jr.
as his Sponsors
Officers Proclaimed
V. E. SK C. Fritz Froehlich
As Provincial Grand Treasurer
Of the Province of Ohio, USA
V. E. SK Raymond F. Bishop
As Provincial Grand Scribe
Of the Province of Ohio, USA
Right Excellent Sir Knight William R. Malone: R.E. Provincial Grand Superintendent of Ohio & Right Excellent Sir Knight George O’Neal: R.E. Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Ohio;
Right Excellent Sir Knight Charles Smith: R.E. Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Ohio & R.E. Sir Knight Ronald Hart: R.E. Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Ohio.
R.E. Sir Knight D. Victor McNeill, R.E. Deputy Great Chief (4th from right) along with R.E. Sir Knight Desmond McCormick, R.E. Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent for Province of Mid-Ulster (2nd from right) attended a meeting of Charles Asa Brown Council 81.
