John Charles Elkinton

Companion John Charles Elkinton was born on January 24, 1957, in Houston, Harris County, Texas. The son of Charles Harold Elkinton and Marie Frances (Trowbridge) Elkinton, he was educated in the Houston Independent School District and graduated from Charles H. Milby High School in 1975. He attended the University of Houston where he studied Architecture and Computer Science. He has been employed in the computer industry for the last 25 years as a programmer/analyst.

Masonic History

Companion Elkinton was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in Park Place Lodge No. 1172, A.F. & A.M., in Houston, Texas on May 11, 1978. He served in several offices in Park Place Lodge before serving as Worshipful Master in 1985-86. The members of Park Place Lodge honored him with both a Life and Endowed Membership in 1986. He has been serving as Secretary since 1996.

He served the Masters, Wardens, and Secretaries Association of the 30th Masonic Districts of Texas as Vice President and President-Elect before serving as President in 1985-86.

He is a Charter and Endowed member of J.W. Chandler Daylight Lodge No. 1452 in Houston. A member of the Texas Lodge of Research where he served as Senior Steward, 1992-93; Senior Deacon, 1993-94 and 2000-2001; and Chaplain, 1994-95.

He has served the Grand Lodge of Texas on the Special Assignments Committee in 1989 & 1990; the Fraternal Relations Committee in 1992 and as Chairman of the Committee on Returns of Lodges UD No. 1 in 1993, and several years as a member of the Warden’s Retreat Team. He served as District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 30-G in 1996 and is the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic near the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Companion Elkinton was exalted in Park Place Chapter No. 458, R.A.M., September 23, 1978. He was appointed Royal Arch Captain in 1979 and served as High Priest in 1984-85, he served as Treasurer for 11 years, and also Secretary.

He received the Order of High Priesthood in 1984 and is currently serving as Marshal of the Order of the High Priesthood of Texas. He has served the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas on the Credentials Committee for many years and was Chairman in 1994. He served as Grand Royal Arch Captain in 1990 and as District Deputy Grand High Priest in 1995. He is the Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Florida near the Grand Chapter of Texas. In December 2002 he was elected as Grand Scribe of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas. He progressed through the line and was installed as Grand High Priest on December 6, 2005.

Greeted in Park Place Council No. 373, R. & S.M., September 23, 1978, he is an Endowed Member. He was appointed Steward in 1979 and served as Thrice Illustrious Master in 1984-85, served as Treasurer for 11 years, and also as Recorder.

He received the Super Excellent Masters Degree, September 30, 1978. He served as President of the Super Excellent Masters Association of the Fifth Cryptic Districts of Texas.

Companion Elkinton received the Order of the Silver Trowel in 1984. He was appointed as Illustrious Grand Steward of the Order of the Silver Trowel of Texas in 1986 and served as Thrice Illustrious Master in 1990.

He has served the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master of Texas on the Credentials Committee for many years and was Chairman in 1994. He served as District Deputy Grand Master of District 5B in 1987. He is the Grand Representative of the Grand Council of the State of Washington near the Grand Council of Texas.

He was elected as Right Illustrious Grand Principal Conductor of the Work of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master of Texas in December 1996, and was installed as Most Illustrious Grand Master in December 1998.

Knighted in Park Place Commandery No. 106, K.T., October 14, 1978. He served through the line becoming Eminent Commander in December 1986. He served as Treasurer for 10 years and has served as Prelate for many years. He is a dual member of Ruthven Commandery No. 2, and Houston Commandery No. 95. He is a Life Sponsor and Associate Patron of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation.

He has been a member of the Park Place Commandery Drill Team since 1979 where he served as Vice-President in 1983-84, President in 1984-85, and Right Guide since 1983. He has also participated at different times on drill teams with Ruthven, Houston and Melrose Commanderies.

Companion Elkinton has served the Grand Commandery of Texas as a member of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Committee for District 3 in 1991-92. He has served on the Committee on Templar Instruction since 1990 and has been Chairman since April 1995.

He was appointed as Aide d’Camp to Sir Knight Kenneth B. Fischer, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America for the 2003-2006 triennium.

York Rite College

He received the Knight of York in Texas York Rite College No. 14. He became a Charter member of Gulf Coast York Rite College No. 106 in Houston and served as the Charter Marshal in 1985-86. He served as the fifth Governor of 1989-90 and received the Order of the Purple Cross in 1996.

Knights of the York Cross of Honour

He was Knighted in Texas Priory No. 23, Knights of the York Cross of Honour. He became a Charter member of Thomas H. Ridout Priory No. 75 and served as Registrar in 1991 & 1992. He was elected Herald in 1993, served as Prior in 1998, and is again serving as Registrar.

Other Masonic Affiliations

Initiated in Chinar Grotto on September 28, 1979 where he has served as Secretary and Stage Director and was a Charter member of Allah Grotto in Dallas.

He received the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Valley of Houston in March 1979. He was elected to the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1981 and was Coronetted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1991. He has served on the Wardrobe Committee, Secretary’s Staff Committee, Lighting Booth Committee where he served as Chairman, as Assistant Stage Director and served for eight years as Stage Director. He has been a member of the 28° & 32° teams and served a number of years as a member of the Inspector General’s Advisory Conference for the Valley of Houston. During his time as Stage Director he also served as the Grand Flight Leader of Canvas Back Flight No. 3 of the Royal Order of the Ducks. He is a Life member of the Royal Order of Scotland which he received on September 10, 1983.

He was initiated in San Jacinto Conclave of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine on April 22, 2000. He has served as Sentinel, Herald, Standard Bearer and is currently serving as Prelate.

After being initiated in Arabia Shrine Temple, March 24, 1979, he served as Ambassador to the Southeast Shrine Club in 1988 and as Assistant Stage Director in 1989 & 1990.

He was a Charter member of E.B. Nichols Council No. 269, Allied Masonic Degrees in Baytown, Texas. He served as the Charter Sovereign Master of Sam Houston Council No. 275, Allied Masonic Degrees in Houston, Texas, in 1992 and served as Secretary from 1993 to the present. He received the Red Branch of Eri, Ye Antient Order of Corks, the Masonic Order of the Bath, the Order of St. Patrick and the Order of the Garter and is also a member of the Grand College of Rites.

He was a Charter member of Nat Pace Council No. 46, Knight Masons in Baytown, Texas. He was the Charter Senior Knight of Anson Jones Council No. 47, Knight Masons in Houston where he served as Excellent Chief in 1994. He has served as Scribe from 1995 to the present.

He became a Founding Member of Lone Star Chapel No. 45, of the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon when it was consecrated in Austin, Texas, on September 11, 2005.

Companion Elkinton was initiated in South Houston Chapter No. 913, Order of the Eastern Star on July 2, 1981. He affiliated with Pearland Chapter No. 1065 as a dual member where he served as Worthy Patron in 1992-93, 1993-94, 1999-2000, 2002-2003 and 2005-2006. He also served South Houston Chapter as Worthy Patron in 1996-97 and 2001-2002.

He was initiated into the Order of the Amaranth in Lake Charles Court. He was a charter member of Houston Court No.2, Order of the Amaranth where he served as the charter Royal Patron in 1993-94. He has served the Supreme Council many years as a Deputy Supreme Royal Patron.

He was initiated into the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem in Tulsa Shrine No. 6, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a charter member of the Cross of Texas Shrine No. 1, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem where he served as the charter Associate Watchmen of Shepherds in 1995-96. He served as Watchman of Shepherds in 1996-97, 2000-2001 and 2005-2006. He served the Supreme Shrine of the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem as United States Flag Bearer in 1998-99, Supreme Instructor in 1999-2000 and 2002-2003. In 2003 he was elected as Supreme Associate Watchman of Shepherds and served as Supreme Watchman of Shepherds in 2004-2005.