york563.org

What is York Lodge No. 563?

York Lodge No. 563 is a local Masonic lodge in Columbus, Ohio, part of the worldwide Freemasonry fraternity. Its site describes it as meeting monthly on the third Monday at the Northwest Masonic Temple on Dublin Granville Road, with dinner typically at 6:00 PM and the lodge opening at 7:00 PM. It is usually dark in July and August, and Masonic visitors are welcome.

The page also points to a fuller picture of lodge life: history, officers, a trestleboard, a petition, upcoming events, a scholarship fund, and online dues payment. That mix suggests a membership organization that both handles its own administration and runs social and charitable activities.

If you are a Freemason considering a visit, the practical next step is to contact the lodge secretary before the meeting so you can be told the evening's agenda and any dress or dining arrangements. If you are not a Mason but are curious about joining, the site's "How To Join" and "Qualifications" pages are the right starting points; York Lodge No. 563 is the lodge's own site. For broader context on the fraternity, the Grand Lodge of Ohio and the United Grand Lodge of England are the recognized bodies to consult.

How can I join York Lodge No. 563?

To join York Lodge No. 563, start by contacting the lodge directly through the details on its site, then expect a petition and interview process rather than an online sign-up. The lodge's own pages include a "How To Join" section and a "York Lodge Petition" link, which indicates the practical route is to request and complete a petition. It meets monthly on the third Monday at the Northwest Masonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio, with dinner typically at 6:00 PM and the lodge opening at 7:00 PM, and it is usually dark in July and August.

What the lodge's pages show

• The menu includes About Freemasonry, Qualifications, The Ceremony, How To Join, and a York Lodge Petition.
• Masonic visitors are welcome, but visitors are asked to contact the lodge secretary in advance so the evening's agenda can be shared.
• The site lists a "Pay Your Dues Online" link for existing members, which is separate from joining.

Practical next step

Use the "How To Join" page to check the qualifications and ceremony expectations, then use the contact page to ask the secretary how to obtain a petition. If you are already a Freemason and want to visit before deciding anything, ask the secretary about attending a stated meeting as a visitor.

Who this suits

This path suits someone in or near Columbus, Ohio, who can attend a Monday evening meeting and is comfortable with a fraternal application process that involves a petition and a degree ceremony. It is not an instant online membership; the website is mainly an information and member-services page.

For broader background on the fraternity, the lodge links to outside resources, but its own site is the authoritative starting point for this lodge. You can also compare with the Grand Lodge of Ohio at Grand Lodge of Ohio if you want statewide contact and qualification information.

When and where does York Lodge No. 563 meet?

York Lodge No. 563 meets monthly on the third Monday at the Northwest Masonic Temple, 2436 Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, Ohio. Dinner is typically served at 6:00 PM, and the Lodge opens promptly at 7:00 PM. The Lodge is typically dark in July and August, so no stated meetings are held in those months.

For a first visit, aim to arrive before 6:00 PM if you plan to join the dinner. Masonic visitors are welcome; the page asks visitors to contact the Lodge in advance so the evening's agenda can be shared. If you are not a Mason, the Lodge's "How To Join" page is the better starting point.

Useful page details:

• Meeting night: third Monday of the month
• Location: Northwest Masonic Temple, 2436 Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, Ohio
• Dinner: typically 6:00 PM
• Lodge opens: promptly at 7:00 PM
• Dark months: typically July and August

You can confirm upcoming dates and any changes on the Lodge's home page: York Lodge No. 563.

How do I pay my dues online for York Lodge No. 563?

The site provides a direct route: use the "Pay Your Dues Online" link in the main menu or the same link near the bottom of the homepage.

What to expect

Paying online is aimed at existing members who already appear in the lodge's records. Have your lodge identification and payment details ready, and expect the process to confirm your membership before accepting payment.

If the link does not work or you cannot find your record, contact the lodge directly rather than creating a duplicate payment. The homepage lists a contact email for lodge inquiries, and the stated meeting — third Monday, dinner at 6 PM, lodge opens at 7 PM — is another practical moment to ask the secretary or treasurer about your balance.

A practical check before you pay

• Confirm the amount with the lodge if you are unsure; online portals usually show a balance but may not reflect recent cash or check payments.
• Keep the confirmation email or receipt for your records.
• If you are paying for multiple years or another member, ask the lodge first — self-service portals are often built for one member's current dues.

For context on the wider organization, the York Lodge No. 563 homepage describes its Ohio and international membership. If you are not yet a member and are researching Freemasonry generally, the United Grand Lodge of England explains the fraternity's history and structure, though it will not process dues for an Ohio lodge.

What events does York Lodge No. 563 host throughout the year?

York Lodge No. 563 hosts a mix of recurring lodge meetings, degree ceremonies, and casual social gatherings. Its listed calendar is not a full annual programme, but it shows the main types of events a local Masonic lodge runs.

Recurring meetings

• Stated Meeting on the third Monday of each month at the Northwest Masonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio. Dinner is typically at 6:00 PM and the lodge opens at 7:00 PM.
• The lodge is typically dark in July and August, so no regular stated meetings are held in those months.

Ceremonial events

• Degree work, such as the Entered Apprentice Degree listed for a Sunday in June. These are the formal ceremonies that mark a member's progress through Freemasonry.

Social and family events

• A corn roast at Blendon Woods Metro Park in August.
• A fellowship event in September, listed as a Columbus Clippers outing.
• An annual inspection, a formal lodge meeting attended by visiting officers and members.

Who these events suit Stated meetings and degree ceremonies are aimed at members and visiting Freemasons, while the corn roast and baseball outing are more casual and often suit families and guests. If you are a Mason considering a visit, the stated meeting is the most reliable starting point; contact the lodge secretary in advance so he can share the evening's agenda. If you are not a Mason but are curious, the social events are the easier introduction, while the "How To Join" and "Qualifications" pages explain the formal route.

A practical next step: check the lodge's upcoming events listing before travelling, since dates such as the June degree and August corn roast are specific to that year rather than fixed annual fixtures.

How can I donate to the WB Chad Simpson Memorial Scholarship Fund?

The site points to a single donation route: a "Donate to: The WB Chad Simpson Memorial Scholarship Fund" item on the home page with a "CLICK HERE" link. That is the page's own call to action, so use it as your starting point rather than mailing a check to the lodge address on spec.

York Lodge No. 563

A practical next step: open the home page, follow the scholarship donation link, and check what it asks for before you commit — whether it takes a card online, whether it wants a note saying the gift is for the fund, and whether you get a receipt. If the link only leads to a general lodge contact, write to the lodge secretary first and state plainly that your gift is for the WB Chad Simpson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Two things worth deciding before you give:

• Designation. Say the fund name explicitly in any memo or message. General lodge donations and scholarship gifts are not the same thing, and an undesignated check is easy to misapply.
• Recognition. If you are giving in memory of someone, or want the family notified, ask how the lodge handles that. Many lodges are glad to do it but only if you say so.

For context on who runs it: York Lodge No. 563 meets on the third Monday of the month at the Northwest Masonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio, opens at 7:00 PM, usually dines at 6:00 PM, and is typically dark in July and August. If you need a person rather than a web form, that monthly meeting rhythm tells you when officers are most reachable.