A Trestleboard for A Mason's Journey
What is “A Mason’s Journey”? We all hear the phrase, seemingly from the moment we’re initiated, but we’re never really given a clear and precise definition explaining what a mason’s journey is. There is no definition found within the body of our work, but there are hints in our programs and masonic education, and there are thousands and thousands of books by brilliant and insightful masonic authors that tell us how they define the true masonic journey. After years of chasing these scholarly proclamations and devouring untold numbers of elusive hints and clues, it became clear to me that our journey is not defined for us. It turns out that our journey is something we construct as we progress through our lives; it is unique to each of us, and its ultimate purpose is to deliver those of us walking separate paths to the same, common destination, to that same undiscovered country.
I came to discover the path of my own journey through my various labors that included serving three terms in the east, service as a District Deputy Grand Master, presiding in several appendant bodies and masonic organizations, through my work on this website and the many articles and papers I’ve authored, and last but not least, through my work on six books comprising my “Noah” series. There was no “ah ha” moment; instead, the picture of my own journey emerged as I worked on my tale of Noah Lewis and his quest for light. By the time “Noah’s Legacy: Rituals and Sacred Memories” went to print, I fully understood and embraced my masonic journey and where it is taking me.
I have been writing papers and articles for several years, and books since 2021. An idea would come to me, then it became a paper, the paper became a blog post, the blog post became part of the storyline of my Noah books, and the lesson that Noah learned about the idea became a new milestone in his speculative journey. It was about the time I began work on the fourth book of the “Noah’s Quest” series (“Noah’s Quest: Masonic Mementos”) that I experienced that moment of ultimate clarity; I finally came to understand that Noah’s quest was revealing my own masonic journey.
No one taught me, no one mentored me, and ritual did not magically bestow some mystical knowledge of my journey, although all three provided hints and suggestions that would serve to guide me like waypoints along my path. And now my journey continues with my eyes wide open and my many labors within my personal quarry still in progress. This page, this website, this “Trestleboard for a Mason’s Journey” is my collection of clues and hints compiled into something of a treasure map that my brothers might find useful as they navigate masonry, each in search of meaning and a way to define their own journey to that undiscovered country!
There are several pages here on my website; some are public, and some are behind a member wall, but all are free to my fellow travelers. Come and take a tour of the site and see if you can find any hints or clues that might point you to your own masonic journey!
My Blog
Please feel free to read through my blog! I use the blog to capture my thoughts and, while I may appear to be explaining a matter of administrative nature, I frequently surprise the reader with a quick take on a symbol or some other masonic idea - you won't know until you read it. Click the pic and find out for yourself or click the link to the most recent Blog Post! Now Available - Downloadable Blog Posts!
Favorite Posts:
December 11, 2023
Published: "Mentoring on the Fly"
December 3, 2023
"Working Tools for a Worshipful Master"
November 24, 2023
"Who Could Love Reading the Minutes?"
Posted February 11, 2026:
"Noah's Legacy Volume 2: Rituals & Sacred Memories"
My Library
ANNOUNCEMENT: (4/01/2026) Check out the new section in my "Reference Library" - the page for historic references for "The Independent Order of Odd Fellows" (Website membership required)
(3/20/2026) I have created "The Noah Edward Lewis Education Center & Library" under the "Reference Index" in my Library. This page hosts documents dating back to the 1700's and that support the theories and ideas that I presented in "Noah's Legacy: Rituals & Sacred Memories". They illustrate the fact that the very questions Noah faced in that volume of "Noah's Legacy" have challenged masons for centuries! You can click this link to visit "The Noah Edward Lewis Education Center & Library" and I invite you to do so (you will be invited to become a member of this website, but there is no charge and no fee to do so)!
I store a lot of documents in my library in a downloadable format. I've also included a "Reference Library" with not only my source material, but some of the sources and historic documents used by masonic historians and authors. This reference library is a work in progress. Click the pic and take a peek!
HIGH INTEREST: "Freemasonry in a Changing Culture" - August 14, 2022*
*2026 Revision in progress
MOST RECENT: "Trend Analysis In and About the Lodge" - 2/26/2023
Headline News
Updates On "Stuff"
July 29, 2026
Now available! Downloadable Blog Posts! I've added a page in my Reference Index where you can download copies of many of my blog posts! If you have a favorite, you might find it in there in .pdf format! Click HERE to go to the Blog Post Download Page!
Are you curious about the books in my fictional "Noah" series? You can click here - FAQ - and read over the Frequently Asked Questions, and then click here - Bookshelf - to go to the page where you can read a brief synopsis of each of them (and purchase if you are so inclined!)
I've created a new section in my "Reference Library" - I've created a page to host historical references for "The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF)" (Note: you will need to become a member at no charge to access this page). I opted to include IOOF documents because of the nature of the historical relationship between Freemasonry and the IOOF. Check out the documents I've loaded and check back periodically because I have more documents still to add!
I have created "The Noah Edward Lewis Education Center & Library" and it resides right here on this website! You will find documents dating back to the 1700's supporting the questions and challenges that Noah Lewis faced in "Noah's Legacy: Rituals & Sacred Memories" and prove that the ideas and theories I proposed through that leg of Noah's adventure have actually challenged our predecessors for centuries - there is nothing new under the sun! Click this link to visit "The Noah Edward Lewis Education Center & Library"! (You will be invited to become a member of the website, but there is no charge and no fee to do so)
My latest book is one the street! "Noah's Legacy Volume 2: Rituals & Sacred Memories" released on February 10th and is available through this link (click here) on Amazon!
Blog Post - "Rebirth and Regeneration: End of Year and othe Odds & Ends" - Published June 12, 2026. A time for reflection.
Blog post - "Text me, or Text Me Not" - March 13, 2026. Are "text groups" helping or hurting our lodges?
Blog post - "Noah's Legacy Volume 2: Rituals & Sacred Memories" - February 11, 2026
Blog post - "Who Brought You Up?" - December 24, 2025
Blog post - "Echoes From a Mason's Journey"
Blog post - "A Letter to My Brother" - May 26, 2025
I reformatted my "Noah's Quest" page and I've converted it into a catalog of all of my books. The page is now called "Book Shelf" and you will see it on the menu above or click the link that follows. When you go to the "Book Shelf", you can click on each book to order directly through Amazon! Check it out - CLICK HERE (March 14, 2026)
I will be updating and re-releasing my Education Manual later this year. For now, you can download the old version from my library, it's called "Educating the Mason: An Education Manual for the Masonic Lodge"
It's going to be a busy year my brothers, so buckle up and follow along!
~BroBill
Left over from last year:
Please check out what I consider to be my opus magnum: "Freemasonry in a Changing Culture". It is in my Library at the top. This one has been long in the writing and deep in the research, but it is my hope brothers will read it and ponder our need to look at the bigger picture of the future of our craft and coming problems. We need to stop focusing on "membership" as THE problem and acknowledge it as the indicator of bigger problems! Here's the link to the paper or just click on "Library" at the top or the link below. ((NOTE: I will be updating this paper over the coming months. I've noticed changes in the culture that impact my conclusions in the first edition of my paper - coming in 2026!))
Click here: "Freemasonry in a Changing Culture"
Important Paper: "Trend Analysis In and About The Lodge" - posted on 2/26/2023 in my library. It proposes regular Trend Analysis of your lodge vitals and provides a simple methodology to do it!
Book Reviews
I've added a page for "Book Reviews" where I will post my thoughts and recommendations on masonic books and literature. If you would like to recommend or review a book, use the "Contact Me" page or button to let me know. Click the pic to go to the Book Review page!
UPDATE 1/17/2022: I posted my review of "Ancient Rites of Odd Fellowship" by Louie Blake Saile Sarmiento, J.D.. It's at the bottom of the page and anxiously awaits your perusal. Enjoy!
My Papers
I've captured my thoughts in several papers and writings and I store them here for those who may be interested. I've begun a series called "Living the Journey" and many of my papers are part of that series. But others are more random, more lighthearted, or very specialized. Click the pic and take a look-see! You never know if something may catch your eye!
Highlighted Post - November 4, 2021
"Masonic Chart - Valley-Hi Lodge"
Published on December 29, 2022
"Guard Well Our Craft"
A non-fiction collection of my articles on the future and state of the craft today
POSTED (2/26/2023):
"Trend Analysis In and About the Lodge"
I've finished and posted an article on how and why to conduct a trend analysis on the health of your lodge. It has a step-by-step process including gathering the data and then analyzing it using two fictitious lodges as exemplars.
You can find it in my Library
Book Recommendation:
"Introduction to
Freemasonry"
Title: "Introduction to Freemasonry"
By: Carl H. Claudy
This is a 3-volume collection that addresses the lessons of masonic initiation as expressed through the three blue lodge degrees. Each volume addresses one of the degrees (i.e. volume one is EA, volume two is FC, etc.) and specifically addresses the symbolism and lessons portrayed through the conferral. Each volume is short and can be read in a single sitting, making them ideal as supplemental "text books" for candidates receiving the degrees.
Claudy was a genius at explaining the lessons of the degrees (which can be quite complex) in clear and simple terms, helping a new mason understand both the terminology he is learning and the meaning of the various movements he experienced during the degree.
One of my lodges provides the candidates the volume appropriate to the degree he has received and asks the candidate to read the book prior to beginning his catechism lessons. He is then informed he will need to provide a verbal book report to the lodge before he is examined for his proficiency.
Used in this fashion, the candidates benefit from these books by prompting his memory of his experiences during the degree and explaining them in clear, easy to understand lessons. These readings prepare him for his catechisms and help provide the context for these verbal lessons.
I highly recommend these books for both the candidates (as I described above) and the lodge's instructors to aid them in explaining the degrees. You can click on the picture to go to my Reference Library and download the pdf versions of these books!
Special Note
"Educating the Mason"
February 22, 2026
Several years ago I set about drafting an education manual to use for developing educational programs. That document has now evolved into "Educating the Mason: An Education Manual for the Masonic Lodge". The current copy, the September 2021 edition is available here for download.
I am now working on a 2026 revision to this manual to update it to reflect changes in the GLoT law, policies, and procedures, and to include improved material on mentoring and on teaching brothers how to mentor new brothers.
This is a modularized manual and it will seem redundant in some areas because it is designed for lodges to select those sections that apply to their needs while bypassing others. In a nutshell, it is designed around the results of a "Lodge Needs Analysis" I performed that ultimately identified several common masonic milestones where educational needs increase or change. Those milestones and that analysis are provided in this document.
I have begun the full update and I hope to publish it through Perfect Ashlar Publishing in the late summer or early fall of 2026. In the meantime, feel free to take a look and see if any parts of it may help your lodge. If you click on the picture it will take you to the pdf file and the document can also be found in my "Library".
BroBill
