Wm. McKinley Lodge No. 431 is proud of its illustrious past; its many contributions to the improvement of mankind by the living examples as well as the activities of its gifted and talented brethren, both those now living and those who have passed on; of its constant presentation to all of the great character of our late Brother William McKinley by the adoption of his name as a continuing reminder of the reverence in which he is held.

    Our fraternity and in particular our Lodge is one of the comparatively few still remaining intact and continuing to advance the identical objectives for which it was constituted.

    A dispensation to constitute Eagle Lodge No. 431 was granted on June 2, 1869. At the annual session of the Grand Lodge of Ohio on October 20, 1869 a charter was granted.

    Herman Meyer, tailor, was the first Worshipful Master, and A.M. Shane was the first Secretary.

    One of the charter members of the new Lodge was a young attorney, Wm. McKinley who transferred or "demitted" his membership from Canton Lodge No. 60 of which he had been a member since 1867. He was made a Mason originally in Hiram Lodge No. 21, Winchester, Virginia, the ceremonies having taken place on May 1, 2, and 3, 1865 at the close of the Civil War in which he served as a Major in the Federal forces.

    Dr. Lester Lamborn was a florist in Alliance, Ohio and a Democrat who opposed William McKinley, a Republican, for election to Congress. Although the two men were opponents in politics, they were extremely good friends. During the campaign, Dr. Lamborn sent a gift of red carnations to McKinley, that being his favorite flower. When the Republican headquarters opened in Canton, Ohio with McKinley as the presidential candidate, red carnations were distributed as campaign emblems.

    In the year 1904, Ohio, being without a floral emblem, adopted the red carnation as its official flower and a resolution as a token for the memory of William McKinley. McKinley Lodge continues the tradition of making extensive use the carnation.

    Upon the death of President McKinley on September 14, 1901, a resolution was adopted by our Lodge petitioning the Grand Lodge of Ohio for a change of name from Eagle Lodge to Wm. McKinley Lodge. The resolution, in part read, "…. That his memory and name should be handed down through all the ages to come and there is no better way of doing so than by transmitting it from generation to generation through the membership of this Lodge."

    The Lodge continues to carry forward the high standards of its founders by exacting performance of its ritual work, and the high character of its members in their personal lives as well as their many services to the community.