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 Christopher Brocious was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1973 and grew up in the Mahoning Valley where he resides with his wife, Heather. He joined Argus Lodge #545 in December of 1995 at the age of 22 and was raised Master Mason with the assistance of his mentor, coworker and friend Marvin Hamilton on January 19, 1996.
He is a 32° member of the Valley of Youngstown, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and also belongs to the York Rite bodies Youngstown Chapter #93 Royal Arch Masons, Buechner Council #107 Royal & Select Masons, and was created a Knight Templar in St. John’s Commandery #20 by Wilfred A. Stevenson, a Past Commander of Salem Commandery and Past Master of Argus Lodge.
In addition, he is also an associate member of the Ohio Lodge of Research, a Fellow of the Grand College of Rites of the U.S.A. and an honorary member of Zenobia Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S. of Toledo, Ohio.
Brother Brocious was active in the lodge and a member of the Fellow Craft team until being diagnosed with and treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 24. This, followed by assignment to a supervisory position on second shift forced him to remain absent from Masonic activities for several years. After taking on a new position as Information Technology Manager, he returned to the lodge in 2005 and immediately became an active member, in part by becoming the lodge’s webmaster and taking charge of lodge security and Argus Park Rangers. When he was approached by W.B. Terry D. Crosby, Jr., then Master of the lodge, about becoming an officer, he began filling in for open chairs and doing various degree work.
That summer he learned that one of his long time friends, W. Bro. Wilfred A. Stevenson was gravely ill. In honor of it’s namesake, he then began his endeavor to earn Argus Lodge’s “Wilfred A. Stevenson Award for Ritual”. He could not be an installed officer when the work was done for the award. Having agreed to be installed in December of that year left him little time to accomplish things. He met nearly all of the requirements by the end of September. The final requirement, giving a lecture, was scheduled for October. Sadly, W.B. Stevenson passed away before Brother Brocious gave the lecture and earned the award. He went on to receive the award in tribute to W. Bro. Stevenson, and was honored by being the first recipient in ten years.
In 2005 he was elected Senior Deacon and was furthered honored during his term by being selected as the 2006 “Best of the Best” Senior Deacon for the 24th Masonic District by R.W.B. Allen G. Bohr, Sr., District Deputy Grand Master.
Brother Brocious was elected Worshipful Master of Argus Lodge #545 on November 14, 2008 and was installed in the Oriental Chair on December 12, 2008. The title of “Master,” instead of “President,” reflects the Masonic tradition of using ceremonies and titles from the stonemasons of the Middle Ages. The Mason in charge of a building site was referred to as a “master of the work.” The honorific title “Worshipful” stems from the old English term “worchypful” meaning “worthy of great respect” and is given to current and past masters of Masonic Lodges.
Outside of lodge Christopher is an avid western, equine, country music and rodeo fan, an amateur photographer and holds an amateur radio license from the FCC. He has extensive experience in the emergency services field including numerous certifications in first response, CPR, first aid, disaster services, hazmat, industrial firefighting and others. He is currently a member of the Ohio Citizen Corps and is training for the CERT team and SKYWARN severe weather spotting. Among others, he is also an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOPA Lodge 37), Photographic Society of America, International Association of Fire Photographers, Amateur Radio Relay League and the National Rifle Association.
Files:
- Master Mason Certificate (PDF)
- My remarks from my Installation as Master of Argus 545. (PDF file, 79k)
- The Installation Program, 123rd Installation of Officers of Argus 545. (PDF file, 1.2m)
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Masonic Curriculum Vitae
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Argus Lodge #545 F&AM
Canfield, Ohio
Initiated: December 15, 1995
Passed: January 5, 1996
Raised: January 19, 1996
Installed Master: December 12, 2008
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Ohio Lodge of Research
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Associate Member
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Youngstown Chapter #93 Royal Arch Masons
Youngstown, Ohio
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Mark Master
Past Master
Most Excellent Master
Royal Arch Mason
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Buechner Council #107, Royal and Select Masons
Youngstown, Ohio
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Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
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Lakewood Council #125, Royal and Select Masons
Lakewood, Ohio
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Super Excellent Master
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St. John’s Commandery #20, Knights Templar
Youngstown, Ohio
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Order of the Red Cross
Order of Malta
Order of the Temple
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Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, N.M.J.
Valley of Youngstown
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32° S.P.R.S. (All SR Degrees & Dates Here)
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Zenobia Shrine Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.
Toledo, Ohio
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Honorary Member
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Grand College of Rites of the U.S.A.
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Fellow
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