Daniel D. Hrinko
Worshipful Master 2009-2011

          Bro∴ Daniel D. Hrinko was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio. His father, Pete Hrinko, a member of Yellow Springs Lodge No. 421 (Xenia, Ohio) and a general contractor specializing in custom homes, was a true operative craftsman. Daniel is a Lewis, his father having been a Mason (as was his maternal grandfather). Dan's mother, daughter of Benjamin Harrison Wallace, was a special education teacher with the Springfield City Schools. As a youth, he learned the value of honesty in all dealings with others and the benefits of honest work. Much of this came from his experience with the operative trade of carpentry under his father’s watchful eye.

          Dan finished high school in three years and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1973. He first attended Muskingum University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (the pre-law track) and Psychology in 1976. He then went on to Ball State University, receiving a Master of Arts in Psychology in 1977 at the age of 21. After working for several social service agencies, he returned to school in 1989, receiving a Doctor of Professional Psychology in 1995 from the Wright State School of Professional Psychology.

          Bro∴ Hrinko has been in private practice since 1995, focusing on forensic psychology, in which he assesses criminal offenders and, at times, those involved in civil matters, so as to assist the courts in making good decisions which take into account mental health issues impacting the events.

          Dan lives in Springfield, Ohio with his wife Lisa. They were married in 1976 and have two children. Lisa, who holds a Master of Arts in Special Education, is retired from a 30-year career teaching multiple-handicap pre-school children. They live in the home build by Dan’s father, where Dan was raised and where Dan and Lisa in turn raised their own children. They both enjoy time with their grandchildren.

          Freemasonry has been an important life framework for Bro∴ Hrinko. As a youth, he would keep score for his father’s masonic bowling team. He saw there, and in his father’s work with customers, the importance of keeping one’s word and the value of a handshake among men of integrity. Learning and studying the symbolism and lessons attached to the working tools of the operative trades has been a guiding force for Daniel for many years.

          Bro∴ Hrinko was raised in Clark Lodge No. 101 (Springfield, Ohio) in 1977 and served as its Worshipful Master in 1983, and again in 2005. He also served as Worshipful Master of Arts & Sciences Lodge U.D. (Hilliard, Ohio) in 2010 (installed October 17, 2009), and as its Charter Master in 2011. He served on the Grand Lodge Committee on Education and Information from 2007 through 2014 as a District Education Officer in 2013 and 2014, and is currently [2015] a District Deputy Grand Master for the Ninth Masonic District.

          Dan penned a book reflecting on the process used during the formation of Arts & Sciences Lodge as it grew and transitioned from the Goose & Gridiron Social Club to become the thriving lodge it is today. Based on his experiences in our lodge and others, Dan’s work, The Craft Driven Lodge (Macoy Publishing, 2015), describes the process and provides examples about how Freemasonry can be practiced with a primary emphasis on “education through discussion” as men of integrity are trained in the Royal Art.

          Dan says his view of Freemasonry can best be summarized by the words of Most∴ Wor∴ Bro∴ Carl H. Claudy (1879-1957): “Freemasonry is ‘veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols’ because these are the surest way by which moral and ethical truths may be taught. It is not only with the brain and with the mind that the initiate must take Freemasonry but also with the heart.”