Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest (2007 – 2008)
Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest Bruce W. Rhinehart, was born in 1944 at Lawrence County. He was educated by the schools in Bridgeport, followed by formal education at Nashville Auto-Diesel College, Olney Central College, the University of Illinois and Pennsylvania State University. He began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture while in school, and followed that with a career in banking and lending. He was employed by the Wabash Production Credit Association in 1967, spending 30 plus years working in the Farm Credit System at various positions. After retiring from the Farm Credit System, he began working in the banking industry. Bruce is now retired, aside from his work as a consultant. He and his wife, Janet, have four children from previous marriages. They have four grandchildren.
Our Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest began his Masonic journey as a member of the Wabash Chapter of DeMolay in Mount Carmel. On 16 August 2007, he was honored with investiture in the Legion of Honor by the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, having been nominated by the Jurisdiction of Illinois.
Brother Rhinehart was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Bridgeport Lodge No. 386, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, in Bridgeport on 1 October 1999, and served as Worshipful Master in 2003. He was appointed and installed as Worshipful Grand Standard Bearer for the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F.&A.M. of the Sate of Illinois for the years 2003 and 2004, and has served as Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master of the 9th Southern District since October 2005. Bruce is a charter member in the Order of King Solomon.
Bruce was advanced to the degree of Mark Master on 2 February 2000 and exalted to the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason on 5 February 2000, both in Henry Godeke Chapter No. 38 in Olney (now in Bridgeport), where he has thrice served as Excellent High Priest and is currently Secretary. He is a charter member of Equality Chapter No. 6. He was first appointed to the grand line as Assistant Excellent Grand Seward for the term of 2001-2002, and subsequently presided over the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois as Most Excellent Grand High Priest from 27 July 2007 until 1 August 2008. Since then, he has served as the Grand Treasurer, and was Area Coordinator for Area 7. He serves on a variety of committees of the Grand Chapter and as Grand Representative to the Grand Chapter of Idaho. He has been admitted into the Order of High Priesthood and holds honorary memberships in various chapters throughout the State of Illinois. At the Triennial Convocation of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International, on 31 August 2011, Bruce was appointed and installed to the bottom of the line as General Grand Sentinel and, concurrently, Deputy General Grand High Priest for the East Central Region.
Our Right Excellent Grand Treasurer was greeted as a Select Master in W. R. Lashbrook Council No. 55 on 5 February 2000 in Olney (now in Bridgeport), where he served as Thrice Illustrious Master for three years, and currently serves as Secretary. He received the degree of Super Excellent Master on 20 March 2004 in Peoria Council No. 11. Bruce has received the chair degree of Thrice Illustrious Master (alternatively known as the Order of the Silver Trowel) and is a life member of the Illinois Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters. He has served on different committees for the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Illinois. Bruce holds a Bachelor Degree of Charity in the Cryptic Masons University in recognition of his financial commitment to the Illinois Grand Council Nursing Scholarship Fund. He was awarded membership in the Council of Knights of Ish Sodi (“Man of My Choice”) on 26 July 2007 by Most Illustrious Grand Master Richard T. Carnall.
Bruce was dubbed a Knight of the Order of the Temple in Gorin Commandery No. 14, Knights Templar of the State of Illinois, in Olney (now in Bridgeport), on 5 February 2000, and has thrice served as Eminent Commander, and currently holds the office of Recorder. He is a member of the Illinois Knights Templar Past Commanders Association. Most recently, Bruce was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Knights Templar Home located in Paxton. Bruce is also a member in the Grand Commander’s Club, for his financial support of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. In recognition of his sponsorship of new fraters, he has been awarded the Grand Commandery’s basic Membership Jewel and three appurtenance, his most recent being the first garnet on 1 August 2009.
In recognition of his having presided as a Worshipful Master, Excellent High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master, and Eminent Commander, Sir Knight Rhinehart was received into Illinois Priory No. 11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honor on 30 August 2003. He now holds the jewel of a Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honor with one (red) quadrant, in recognition of his installation as Grand High Priest.
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Bruce was initiated into Little Egypt Council No. 400, Allied Masonic Degrees on 31 August 2004, and is dual member of Cahokia Mounds Council No. 225, and Wabash Valley Council No. 454 over whom he presides as Sovereign Master. He was received into Ye Ancient Order of Corks on 11 February 2006 in Washington, D.C. Bruce was exemplified as an Honorary Medical Mason upon receiving the Mortar and Pestle Degree from members of Lux Ex Oriente Council No. 379 of Chicago, at Washington, D.C., on the following day. He is nominated to receive the Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri (Esquire).
He was installed into the degree of Knight of the East and West in Shamrock Council No. 43, Knight Masons U.S.A. on 21 December 2002. He was created a Knight of York on 1 February 2003 in Southern Illinois York Rite College No. 33, of which he is currently Preceptor.
Our most excellent companion was elected and received the degree of Knight of the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and Saint John the Evangelist in Saxa Rubra Conclave on 1 May 2004. Bruce was elected and initiated as a frater of the Illinois College, Masonic Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (Rosicrucian Society of the U.S.) on 3 December 2003. He was ordained into Pathros Tabernacle No. LVIII, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests on 7 June 2003. He was greeted into the Mount Vernon Preceptory No. X of Yeoman of York on 9 November 2003. He became a member of the Royal Society of Knights Occidental on 10 February 2006. Bruce became a member of the Grand College of Rites in February 2006.
Bruce was created a 32° Scottish Rite Freemason and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in the Valley of Danville on 30 October 1999; served as Sovereign Prince of Walter A. Stevens Council Princes of Jerusalem of the Valley of Danville for the years 2005-2006, and is currently the office of Treasurer for the Valley of Danville’s four coordinate bodies. He formerly served as chairman of the valley’s Family Life Program and as a member of the Audit Committee of the Illinois Council of Deliberation. In recognition of his service to Scottish Rite Freemasonry, he was coroneted a 33° Freemason and Inspector General Honorary at the annual assembly of the Supreme Council, Sovereign Inspectors General, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America on 29 August 2006 at Chicago. Illustrious Brother Rhinehart also holds a membership in the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago. Bruce was honored to be elected and initiated a member of the Royal Order of Scotland on 30 August 2006.
He became a member of the Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill in Betsy Ross Order No. 30 on 12 October 2002. Bruce was inducted into Jesse B. Thomas Chapter No. 547 of National Sojourners in Mount Vernon on 24 April 2006.
Bruce was an active member in the Lions Club of Bridgeport, the Kiwanis Clubs of Robinson and Mount Carmel, and is a member of 41 years in the Lawrenceville Elks Lodge No. 1208. He served as a coach and Treasurer for the Bridgeport Little League and as coach for the Little League Football of Bridgeport for many years. He and his wife, Janet, belong to the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville.