Friday, January 18, 2008

Leicester man named District Masonic Officer

BOSTON — Wayne E. Anderson of Leicester was installed a District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, and will preside over nine lodges in the 24th Masonic District for the next two years. The 235 lodges and 40,000 Freemasons in the Commonwealth are divided into 31 districts, and led by a District Deputy Grand Master.

The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts was chartered in 1733, following the establishment of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717, and Ireland in 1725, making it the third oldest in the world, and the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. In 2008, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts will be marking its 275th anniversary. The culmination will take place during the weekend of May 2-5, when public dignitaries and Masons from across the country and around the world will visit Boston for its celebration.

As a District Deputy Grand Master, Anderson serves as the Grand Master’s personal representative to the lodges in his District. Roger W. Pageau of Northborough was installed as the 86th Grand Maser of Masons in Massachusetts, and will be the head of the Fraternity for the next three years. The 24th Masonic District is comprised of the following lodges: Guiding Lights Lodge and Joel H. Prouty Lodge in Auburn, Rose of Sharon Lodge in Charlton, Mumford River Lodge in Douglas, Olive Branch Lodge in Millbury, Oxford Lodge in Oxford, Quinebaug Lodge in Southbridge, Solomon’s Temple Lodge in Uxbridge and Webster Lodge in Webster.

 Raised in Natick, Anderson graduated from Blackstone Valley Technical High School, Quinsigamond Community College and is currently attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is the owner of Anderson Sign & Graphics in Leicester.

 Anderson is a member of St. Pius Church, a district director of the Goldwing Riders Association and a task force leader for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride for Kids. He is also a member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Emergency Communications Team.

 In 1998, he began his Masonic career by joining Olive Branch Lodge in Millbury. He served as the Worshipful Master, or presiding officer, from 2003-05. Masons use the original definition of “worshipful,” meaning “honorable”; English mayors and judges are still addressed as “Worshipful.” As District Deputy Grand Master, Anderson will be called “Right Worshipful.” Anderson is currently the Senior Warden of Olive Branch Lodge, Senior Deacon of Guiding Lights Lodge in Worcester and a member of Joel H. Prouty Lodge in Auburn.

 Anderson is a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite — Valley of Worcester. He is also a Lead Advisor for the Masonic Leadership Institute.

 Anderson and his wife, Shirley Dempsey-Anderson, have five children, Alexander Dempsey, Dawn Anderson, Kathleen Dempsey, Calif Anderson and Thomas Dempsey.

 Freemasons belong to the world’s oldest and largest fraternity. Comprised of men from every race, religion, nationality and opinion, it aims to promote friendship, morality and brotherly love among its members. Dedicated to the principle of making good men better, Freemasonry develops and strengthens the character of its members by providing meaningful opportunities for fellowship, charity, leadership and education. By contributing to the improvement of the individual man, through him the institution helps make his family, workplace, and community better. North American Masonic philanthropies contribute more than $3 million every day, 70 percent of which goes directly to the general public. The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts represents 40,000 members and 235 Lodges throughout the Commonwealth.

 For more information, please call (800) 882-1080 or visit MassFreemasonry.org.