INAUGURAL MISSOURI AMD INGATHERINGRIGHT VENERABLE BROTHER JOHN A. BRIDEGROOM

GRAND SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIANA, ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES OF THE USA

GRAND PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR OF THE WORKGRAND COUNCIL CRYPTIC MASONS OF INDIANA

PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY - MASONIC ORDER OF ATHELSTANPROVINCIAL GRAND COURT OF THE UNITED SATES 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 Associ-ates Degree in Commercial Arts and Illustration from the AmericanAcademy 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 companiesbefore creating his own Design Company, VM Graphics, which he currently owns/operates.

John received his Masonic degrees in Porter Lodge #137, Valparaiso, IN during 2003-04, served as Worshipful Master in 2008, Secretary on 2013 and is currently serving as Secretary and Trustee. He joined the York Rite bodies in 2005 and in Hammond York Rite currently serves as High Priest in Chapter #117, 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 En-campment 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 is currenty the Grand Principle Conductor of the Work of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons for the State of Indiana. From 2014-2016 he also served the Grand Lodge of Indiana as the Public Relations and Marketing Director, and currently on several committees, including Chairman of the Indiana Freemason Publication, Co-Chairman of Technology, Leadership, Child Identification, Masonic Education, Founders Day and the 200th Anniversary Committee. At the National level, He currently serves as the Grand Superintendent of Indiana for the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees, and in 2016 will begin serving as the Pro-vincial Grand Secretary for the Provincial Grand Court ofthe Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and Provinces Overseas.

John is a member of the following Masonic Affiliated organizations:

• Porter Lodge 137, Past Master 2008, Secretary 2013• Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research – Past Master 2015-16• Hammond York Rite Bodies: Past High Priest (2012), Past Illustrious Master(2010), Past Commander (2012)• Knight York Cross of Honor, J. Herbert Nichols Priory 76- 2013• Orak Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Past Potentate - 2012Royal Order of Jesters - April 2014The Order of Quetzalcoatl, Teocalli 500 - 2010

• St. Basil Conclave Red Cross of Constantine, Prelate 11/2011• Northwest Indiana York Rite College No. 73, Past Governor 2013-14Award of Gold – 11/6/10, OPC 2014• Thespian Council #464 Allied Masonic Degrees, Past Sover-eign Master, Charter MemberKnight Grand Cross- Red Branch of Eri - 2015• Imhotep Council No. 434 Allied Masonic Degrees, Dual mem-ber• St. Johns Council No. 541 - Honorary Member, Valparaiso Council No. 470 - Honorary Member• Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, Geneserate Taber-nacle - 2014 - Inner Guard• Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, South Bend Valley• Scottish Rectified Rite – August 2012 (Disbanded)Willermoz Lodge No. 1Lodge of St. Andrew• The August Order of Light - Garuda Temple No. 1, Halifax - 2013Garuda Temple No. 5, Allentown PA• Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis VII°- Indiana College 2014 - 1st Ancient• Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia 2°-Woodman College No. 6 2014• Knight Masons Indiana Council No. 15, KCZ - 2012Knight Masons F’irinne Council No. 115 Charter Member - 2014 - Excellent Chief• Masonic Order of Athelstan Regius Cordis Court No. 110, Past Master 2016 - Provincial Grand Secretary• Royal Order of Scotland• St. Thomas of Acon: INRI Chapter - 2013• Indiana Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters• Indiana Annointed High Priest• Indiana Past Commanders Association• Yeomen of York Preceptory No.1• Royal Order of Amaranth• The Masonic Society, Founding Member & Fellow - 2009• The Grand College of Rites of the USA• Levant Preceptory• Quatuor Coronati (Correspondence Circle)• Collegium Alchemicum Council of Research No.0• Tall Cedars of Lebanon – Adoniram Forest #49 – Charter Member• Sahara Grotto - 2013• Knights of St Andrew – Valley of South Bend – Charter Member

JOHN HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING HONORS:

• 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• Demolay 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• Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash - 2016• Member of the Tennessee Squires• Member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels

JOHN HAS RECEIVED THE ADDITIONAL DEGREES:

• Thrice Illustrious Master Degree• Annointed High Priest Degree• Past Commanders Association• Scottish Master of St. Andrew – Scottish Rectified Rite• Perfect Master of St. Andrew – Scottish Rectified Rite• Allied Masonic Degrees, Lafayette 2007• Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord – 4th 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