John A. Bridegroom

John A. Bridegroom R.W. John A. Bridegroom – Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Indiana

Biography

   • Past Most Illustrious Grand Master – Grand Council Cryptic Masons of Indiana
   • Right Puissant General Grand Marshal of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International
   • Past Right Puissant General Grand Sentinel of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International
   • Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the USA
   • Grand Marshal of the Grand Masters Council of St Thomas of Acon
   • Past Provincial Grand Secretary - Masonic Order of Athelstan, Provincial Grand Court of the United States of America
   • 

John was born on July 21, 1974 to Michael and Patricia Bridegroom in Gary, Indiana. He has an older brother, Adam.

He graduated from Portage High School in 1992, and received his Associates Degree in Commercial Arts and Illustration from the American Academy of Art in Chicago Illinois. In 1996, he married Tammy C. Griffey. They are very proud of their two girls, Diva and Phoenix. During his career, John has worked for Frankel & Co. Advertising in Chicago, as Assistant Art Director for FASA Corporation, and several other companies before creating his own Design Company, VM Graphics, which he currently owns/operates. 

John also owns The Masters Craft, a Masonic Jewel and Pin manufacturing company.

John received his Masonic degrees in Porter Lodge #137, Valparaiso, IN during 2003-04, served as Worshipful Master in 2008, Secretary in 2013 and is currently serving as a Trustee. He joined the York Rite bodies in 2005 and in Hammond York Rite and is a Past High Priest in Chapter #117, Past Commander of Commandery #41 and is a Past Illustrious Master of Council #90. He is served as Director of Work of the Hammond York Rite 2009-2015. He served the Grand Commandery of Indiana as a Deputy Battalion Commander 2014-16 and serves the Grand Encampment of the USA on the Bicentennial Committee. He served at the state level with the Grand Council as Arch Officer for Arch 1 from 2009-2012 and in 2018 served as the Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons for the State of Indiana. 

At the National level, He served as the first Grand Superintendent of Indiana for and is currently the Grand Chaplain of the the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the USA, and is a Past Provincial Grand Secretary for the Provincial Grand Court of the USA, of the Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and Provinces Overseas. He served as the Right Puissant General Grand Sentinel from 2017-2020, and Right Puissant General Grand Marshal of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International from 2023-2026, the Grand Marshal of the Grand Council of St Thomas of Acon in 2024, and as the Public Relations and Marketing Chairman of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International from 2017-2020.

John is a member of the following Masonic Affiliated organizations:

   • Porter Lodge 137, Past Master 2008, Secretary (2013)
   • Crowned Martyrs Lodge No. 771, Charter Member, Secretary
   • Alexandria-Washington Lodge No.22, (2023)
   • Hammond York Rite Bodies (merged into Valparaiso): Past High Priest (2012), Past Illustrious Master(2010), Past Commander (2012)
   • Knight York Cross of Honor, J. Herbert Nichols Priory 76- 2013, Past Prior (2018)
   • Orak Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Past Potentate - (2012)

Royal Order of Jesters - April (2014)

   • The Order of Quetzalcoatl, Teocalli 500 - (2010)
   • St. Basil Conclave Red Cross of Constantine, Past Sovereign (2018)
   • Northwest Indiana York Rite College No. 73, Past Governor (2013-14), 

Award of Gold – (2010), Order of the Purple Cross (2014)

   • Thespian Council #464 Allied Masonic Degrees, Past Sovereign Master, Charter Member, Knight Grand Cross- Red Branch of Eri - (2015)
Dual member St. Johns Council No. 541 - Honorary Member, 

Valparaiso Council No. 470 - Member

   • Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, Geneserate Tabernacle - (2014) – Past Preceptor (2023)
   • Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, South Bend Valley – Past Most Wise Master (2023)

Elected to receive the 33rd Degree (2024)

   • The August Order of Light - Garuda Temple No. 1, Halifax - (2013)

Garuda Temple No. 5, Allentown PA - Past Guardian of Light (2018)

   • Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis VIII°- Indiana College (2014) - Suffragen

Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia II° - Woodman College No. 6 (2014) Stella Sola College - Honorary Member (2017)

   • Order of Spiritual Knights - Member
   • Knight Masons Indiana Council No. 15, Past Excellent Chief, 

Knight Commander of Zerrubabel - (2012) Knight Masons F’irinne Council No. 115 Charter Member - Past Excellent Chief

   • Masonic Order of Athelstan Regius Cordis Court No. 110, Past Master (2016)

Past Provincial Grand Secretary Past Grand Banner Bearer (2019)

   • Royal Order of Scotland
   • St. Thomas of Acon: INRI Chapel - (2013)

Past Worthy Master: Canterbury Chapel (2023) Past Grand Cellerar (2019) Grand Marshal-Grand Masters Council-(2024)

   • Indiana Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters
   • Indiana Annointed High Priest
   • Indiana Past Commanders Association
   • Yeomen of York Preceptory No.1
   • The Grand College of Rites of the USA
   • Quatuor Coronati (Correspondence Circle)

Local Secretary (2019)

   • Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research – Past Master
   • Missouri Lodge of Research - Member
   • Texas Lodge of Research - Associate Member
   • Tall Cedars of Lebanon – Adoniram Forest #49 – Charter Member
   • Sahara Grotto - (2013)
   • Knights of St Andrew – Valley of South Bend – Charter Member

Honors John has received the following honors:

   • Order of Service to Masonry, Grand Lodge of Indiana - (2019)
   • Order of the Secret Vault, General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons Intl - (2018)
   • Columbian Award, General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons Intl - (2023)
   • The Order of the Purple Cross, York Rite Sovereign College - (2014)
   • Knight Commander of the Temple, Grand Encampment – (2012)
   • Knight Commander of Zerrubabel - Grand Council of Knight Masons - (2012)
   • Knight York Cross of Honor, J. Herbert Nichols Priory 76- (2013) - Knight York Grand Cross of Honor (2018)
   • Demolay Honorary Legion of Honor - Nov. (2014)
   • General Grand Chapter Ritualist Award - (2012)
   • Distinguished Companion Award – Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Indiana (2012)
   • Cryptic Mason of the Year – (2011)
   • Grand Council Leadership Award – (2011)
   • Grand Masters Award with High Distinction - (2008)
   • Grand Commandery Distinguished Service Award - (2010)
   • Appointed Honorary Representative - New York, Livingston District. (2010)
   • Certificate of Appreciation of Service – Grand York Rite Bodies of Missouri – (2009)
   • Companion of the Order of the Fluer de Lys, Johnston Company - (2013) - Demitted
   • Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash - (2016)
   • Member of the Tennessee Squires
   • Member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels

Additional dregrees John has received the additional degrees:

   • Thrice Illustrious Master Degree
   • Annointed High Priest Degree
   • Past Commanders Association
   • Allied Masonic Degrees, Lafayette (2007) (Royal Arch Mariner, Arch and Dove, Secret Monitor 1° and 2°, St. Lawrence the Martyr, Knight of Constantinople, Excellent Master, Master of Tyre, Architect, Grand Architect, Superintendent, Grand Tilers of Solomon)
   • Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord – 6th Grade
   • Super Excellent Master Degree
   • Ye Antiente Order of Corks, Washington, DC (2009)
   • Masonic Order of the Bath, Washington, DC (2009)
   • Royal Order of Zanzibar, (2008)
   • Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot, Indiana Synod No. 1, (2007)
   • Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot, Alexandria Synod No. 2 – Charter Member
   • The Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, (2008)
   • Beneficent Order of Crabs, Claw 9 - (2010)