"[T]he friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly..." - John 3:29
If you've been a Freemason in the U.S. over the last fifteen years or so, it's entirely probable that you've met, or at least heard of, John Bridegroom. He's one of the most active, well-traveled, and widely known Masons in the country. John's an extremely talented graphic artist and the proprietor of The Master's Craft. If you haven't encountered him in one of the many, many appendant bodies he's either led or been associated with, you might at least have seen a medal, pin, challenge coin, logo, magazine, event program or other such item that he has designed over the years. (Many years ago, he even took on the role as art director of the Journal of the Masonic Society after I got sick and was overwhelmed by doing everything myself.)
Naturally, he designed his own pin for this year:
With a couple of exceptions over the last quarter century, we've been pretty lucky in the Grand Lodge of Indiana to have been blessed with good leadership. Occasionally, it's been truly superlative. Our immediate Past Grand Master, Randy Seipel, said earlier this week that he'd visited 316 of the 346 lodges in our state over the last two years, and he held a live Facebook video update every single week during his term. He seemed to be literally everywhere this past year and set a standard that will be a tough act to follow.
With a couple of exceptions over the last quarter century, we've been pretty lucky in the Grand Lodge of Indiana to have been blessed with good leadership. Occasionally, it's been truly superlative. Our immediate Past Grand Master, Randy Seipel, said earlier this week that he'd visited 316 of the 346 lodges in our state over the last two years, and he held a live Facebook video update every single week during his term. He seemed to be literally everywhere this past year and set a standard that will be a tough act to follow.
GM Bridegroom's been organizing a big event for this summer: on Saturday, June 23rd, the Grand Lodge will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with with an open-air colonial festival at Compass Park on the campus of the Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin. This special Father's Day weekend event welcomes Masons, families, and friends for a day filled with history, heritage, and hands-on fun. In partnership with the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution, guests will enjoy kid-friendly activities, period demonstrations, and lively interactions with famous colonial characters who bring America's founding era to life.
Come celebrate the historic past, while embracing family, fellowship, and looking forward. The celebration will also reveal the Grand Master's 2026 Project, marking an exciting milestone for our fraternity and our future. Come celebrate a defining moment in American history with food, fun, and festivities for all ages as we honor the past, enjoy the present, and build toward what's next!
Come celebrate the historic past, while embracing family, fellowship, and looking forward. The celebration will also reveal the Grand Master's 2026 Project, marking an exciting milestone for our fraternity and our future. Come celebrate a defining moment in American history with food, fun, and festivities for all ages as we honor the past, enjoy the present, and build toward what's next!
Many thanks to PGM Seipel for all he's done for the fraternity over the year, and the very best wishes to GM Bridegroom on his new adventure.
The Grand Lodge is dead! Long live Grand Lodge!
Axios! I am so proud to not only call MWB John my brother, but my friend. Indiana is in excellent hands.
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