The evening of October 29th, 2019 is burned into me in a way I still can’t quite explain. Being raised to the degree of a Master Mason wasn’t just a ceremony, it hit me somewhere deep. I remember going home afterward, staying up all night and trying to take it all in, feeling proud, humbled and honestly a little overwhelmed.
I was almost 50 years old and thought I was too old to be considered for the officer line so when Worshipful Brother Don Sheffer came to me shortly after I was raised and asked if I would serve as Junior Steward it completely caught me off guard. Part of me wondered if they had forgotten how old I was because I still look young but another part of me realized that maybe I was the only one holding onto that insecurity. Maybe They saw something in me that I didn’t.
And to be honest self doubt controlled me at that time. I didn’t have confidence in my memory work at all. Each time I opened those serial books I worried if i’d ever be able to remember them well enough to move to the next degree. At the time I never imagined I’d be doing ritual in front of men I respected so deeply. But slowly, I started to realize I could do more than I thought. It didn’t happen overnight moment. It was one line learned, one correction made, one piece of encouragement at just the right time that allowed me to move forward.
The truth is, I wouldn’t have made it without the mentors who came into my life. These were men who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. They challenged and pushed me. They didn’t just teach me the words, they taught me what it meant to care about the Craft. They helped me see the lessons in the degrees, not just the memorization. They taught me how to support others the way they supported me.
And somewhere in all of that growing, I found my own rhythm. I took what I’d learned both in lodge and from running a business for years and applied them as an officer. I also paid attention to what I saw in other Masonic bodies, picking up ideas and approaches that resonated with me and thinking that these are things that should be used in Craft Lodge. Little by little, without even realizing it, I was becoming a different version of myself.
On December 3rd, 2024, the lodge elected me to serve as Worshipful Master. I remember feeling a mixture of shock, gratitude, pride, fear, and something close to disbelief. Knowing that these men, these brothers who had become family, believed I was worthy of leading them. It humbled me more than I can say. There’s something about being entrusted with the East that’s impossible to fully put into words. Anyone who has sat in that chair or taken the Past Master degree knows exactly what I mean. It’s an honor, yes, but it’s also a weight. A beautiful and heavy responsibility.
Now that my year has ended, I’ve been reflecting a lot. Honestly, I’m deeply grateful. I’m grateful for the brothers who stood by me, who helped carry the load, who embraced the ideas and changes and supported the vision I had for our lodge. I’m grateful for the mistakes that taught me lessons, the successes that gave me hope, and the moments where everything just clicked and reminded me why I love this Craft so much.
I’ve been asked many times whether I’m satisfied with how the year went, whether I accomplished everything I had hoped to. And the truth? I’m proud of what we did but of course there are things I wish I could’ve done better and more of. I don’t think any Worshipful Master ends their year feeling like everything was checked off their list. Plans evolve, issues pop up that you never saw coming and your priorities shift as the months go by. All you can do is your absolute best and I truly feel like I did.
More than anything, I hope I made some kind of difference. I hope I helped someone the way others helped me. I hope, even in some small way, that I contributed something that will last beyond my year. Something that will keep helping our lodge continue to grow and evolve.
Serving as Worshipful Master was one of the greatest honors of my life. I mean that with my whole heart. I appreciate every bit of the support, every handshake, every conversation, every dinner, Masonic education and every piece of advice from brothers who cared enough to offer it.
I’m proud to have watched members of our lodge grow, to see them step out of their comfort zones, to accomplish things maybe they wouldn’t have tried and to witness the fellowship of our lodge grow.
As to the future, I genuinely believe our lodge is in good hands. The brothers coming up behind me are strong leaders, dedicated Masons, and good men. I trust them completely.
So to conclude I’ll simply say this:
Thank you.
Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for supporting me.
Thank you for letting me serve.
It was truly my honor.
Robert Easton, PM (2025)
