Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest (2015 – 2016)
Sean P. McBride was born on October 3, 1982 in Danville, Illinois, the son of John W. McBride and Carole E. McBride (Hegg).
He was raised a Master Mason in Catlin Lodge #285 in Catlin, Illinois on June 16, 2003 and served the Lodge as Worshipful Master from June 2006 to June 2007, as Secretary from June 2007 to June 2014 and as Treasurer from June 2014 to present. He affiliated with Olive Branch Lodge #38 in Danville, Illinois in 2007 and served as Worshipful Master of that Lodge from June 2008 to June 2009, and is an Honorary Member of several other Lodges. He has served our Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois as a member of the Arrangements Committee since October 2009 and is a past member of the Membership Committee and served as an Assistant Area Coordinator for the Illinois Child ID Program (IL CHIP) from 2007 to 2012. He served as President of the 8th Eastern District Worker’s Club from January 2005 to January 2009 and as the Club’s Secretary from January 2009 to January 2014 when he was again elected as the Club President.
He was advanced to the Degree of Mark Master in Champaign Chapter #50 on February 26, 2005 and Exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Champaign Chapter #50 on May 7, 2005. He served the Chapter as Excellent High Priest from July 2007 to July 2008. He received the Holy Order of High Priesthood on July 27, 2007, is an Honorary Member of Henry Goedke Chapter #38 In Bridgeport, Illinois and is a Perpetual Life Member of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International. He holds the 1st Level Certification in Capitular Ritual Proficiency. Sean was appointed District Deputy Grand High Priest of the 5th District East in July 2008 and served the Grand Chapter in that capacity until January 2010, at which time Companion Sean was appointed to finish the term of Excellent Grand Royal Arch Captain, when the current Grand Officers advanced one station following the untimely death of Right Excellent Deputy Grand High Priest, Companion Ronald K. Blue. He then stood for open election, and was subsequently elected as Excellent Grand Principal Sojourner on July 23, 2010, thus beginning his elected progression through the Grand line. Companion Sean was elected and Installed as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Illinois at the One-Hundred Sixty-Sixth Annual Convocation on July 17, 2015 in Normal, Illinois.
He was Greeted as a Select Master in Urbana Council #19, Cryptic Masons on January 28, 2006 and received the Super Excellent Master Degree on the same day. He served the Council as Thrice Illustrious Master from July 2008 to July 2009 and received the Past TIM Degree on July 24, 2008, was awarded the Grand Master’s Leadership Award by the Grand Council in 2009 and served the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of the State of Illinois as District Inspector for District #9 from July 2009 to July 2011 and as District Inspector At-Large from July 2011 to July 2012.
He was Dubbed and Created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in Urbana Commandery #16, Knights Templar on May 27, 2005 and served as Eminent Commander from July 2009 to July 2015.. He became a member of the Illinois Past Commander’s Association on July 25, 2009. He was elected a member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Knights Templar Home in Paxton, Illinois on July 18, 2015.
He was Created a Knight of York in East Central College #81, York Rite Sovereign College of North America on November 21, 2009 in Paris, Illinois and was installed as Pre-Eminent Governor on June 19, 2013 and served that position until May 17, 2014.
He 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 St. John the Evangelist on May 7, 2011 in Saxa Rubra Conclave in Champaign, Illinois. He was elected and installed as Sentinel of the Conclave on November 21, 2014.
He was initiated a member of Eastern Illinois Council #356, Allied Masonic Degrees on December 18, 2010 in Paxton, Illinois and was installed as Sovereign Master on December 1, 2013 and served in that capacity until December 17, 2014.
He was elected and initiated as a Frater of Illinois College, Masonic Societas Rosicruciana Civitaibus (Rosicrucian Society of the U.S.) in Chicago, Illinois on December 3, 2010.
He was ordained as a Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest in Pathros Tabernacle #LVIII in Mount Vernon, Illinois on June 2, 2012.
He was received as a Knight Yeoman of York in Mt. Vernon Preceptory No. X on June 20, 2015.
As a Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Thrice Illustrious Master and Past Eminent Commander, he was received into Illinois Priory #11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honor on July 18, 2015.
He was initiated into the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm in the Gao Grotto in Danville, Illinois in 2007 and is a member of the Ceremonial cast, Reveler’s, and Low-12.
He became a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Danville, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite on October 23, 2004 as a member of the Illustrious Walter E. Webber, 33rd Degree Sovereign Grand Commander’s Class and served the Valley as Thrice Potent Master of the Danville Lodge of Perfection from May 2010 to May 2011, is a past Vice- Chairman of the Board Directors and past member and Chairman of the Strategic Development Committee. He served the Valley as an At-Large member of the Board of Director’s from May 2011 to May 2014 and as Membership Chairman from August 2008 to August 2014. He presently serves the Valley as Chancellor of the Danville Consistory and as a member of the Building Committee.
He also holds memberships in the Sword of Bunker Hill, United Council of Craftsmen Engineer’s, the Illini High Twelve Club #768 and the Illinois Lodge of Research.
Companion Sean resides in rural Danville, Illinois and is employed in the family business, ERH Enterprises, Inc. in Westville, Illinois, which is a contract operator of several municipal, industrial and commercial Wastewater and Potable Water Treatment Systems in east central Illinois. Sean holds certifications in Wastewater and Potable Water treatment and serves as Assistant Director of Operations for ERH. Sean is an At-Large member of the Board of Directors for Vermilion Advantage, an organization that supports economic growth in Vermilion County, Illinois.