BILLY J. HAMILTON, JR.
Masonic Author and Podcast Host
Publications
Knight Templar Magazine “Managing Expectations with the Masonic Quadrant” - January 2018 issue, pg 27-29
Knight Templar Magazine “Laying Down the Sword”- May 2019 issue, pg 21-24
Transactions of the Texas Lodge of Research “Samuel May Williams: Texas Pioneer and Mason” - 2019
Journal of the Masonic Society “Major John Melville Allen - Soldier, Politician, and Mason” - Issue 47, Winter 2020
Podcast
Co-host of Fort Worth #148 Masonic Podcast
Texas MasoniCon
Director of Technology and Planning Team Member - 2018 to current
Active Membership
Fort Worth Lodge #148, Phoenix Lodge #275, Ocean Lodge #230 (charter member), Union Lodge #82 (charter member) - Grand Lodge of Texas
Entered Apprentice - November 26, 1996, Triangle #548, Lawton, OK
Fellowcraft - November 17, 1998, Chandler #34, Chandler, AZ
Master Mason - December 15, 1998, Chandler #34, Chandler, AZ
Endowed Member (Fort Worth Lodge) - 2018
Texas Lodge of Research
Associate Member - September 16, 2017
Full Member - June 15, 2019 (For Presentation of "Samuel May Williams: Texas Pioneer and Mason")
Tranquility Lodge #2000
Member - October 21, 2017
Colorado Lodge of Research - Grand Lodge of Colorado
Member - July 31, 2020
Fort Worth Valley - Orient of Texas, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Secret Master (4th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Perfect Master (5th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Intimate Secretary (6th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Provost and Judge (7th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Intendant of the Building (8th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Elu of the Nine (9th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Elu of the Fifteen (10th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Elu of the a Twelve or Prince Ameth (11th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Master Architect (12th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Royal Arch of a Solomon (13th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Perfect Elu (14th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Knight of the East, or the Sword, or the Eagle (15th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Prince of Jerusalem (16th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Knight of the East and West (17th Degree) - March 4, 2017
Knight Rose Croix (18th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Grand Pontiff (19th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Master of the Symbolic Lodge (20th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Noachite, or Prussian Knight (21st Degree) - March 11, 2017
Knight of the Royal Axe, Prince of Libanus (22nd Degree) - March 11, 2017
Chief of the Tabernacle (23rd Degree) - March 11, 2017
Prince of the Tabernacle (24th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Knight of the Brazen Serpent (25th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Prince of Mercy (26th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Knight of the Sun, or Prince Adept (27th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Knight Commander of the Temple (28th Degree) - March 11, 2017
Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew (29th Degree) - March 18, 2017
Knight Kadosh, or Knight of the White and Black (30th Degree) - March 18, 2017
Inspector Inquisitor (31st Degree) - March 18, 2017
Master of the Royal Secret (32nd Degree) - March 18, 2017
Order of the Thistle of the Knights of Saint Andrew - Fort Worth Valley, Orient of Texas, A.A.S.R.
Knight - May 31, 2017
Texas Chapter #362 - Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Texas
Mark Master - May 22, 2017
Past Master (Virtual) - May 23, 2017
Most Excellent Master - May 23, 2017
Royal Arch Mason - June 19, 2017
Endowed Member - 2020
Texas Council #321 and Robert Morriss Elgin Council #415 (charter member) - Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas
Royal Master - July 5, 2017
Select Master - July 5, 2017
Super Excellent Master - June 22, 2019
Endowed Member (Texas Council) - 2020
Worth Commandery #19 - Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas
Illustrious Order of the Red Cross - July 8, 2017
Passing Order of Saint Paul, or the Mediterranean Pass - July 8, 2018
Order of the Knights of Malta - July 8, 2017
Order of the Temple - July 8, 2017
Grapevine Chapter #326 - Grand Chapter of Texas Order of the Eastern Star
Initiated - May 15, 2017
Moslah Shrine - Shriners International (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine)
Initiated - September 23, 2017
El Texa Grotto - Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm
Initiated - February 24, 2018
Invitational Bodies
Trinity College #154 - York Rite Sovereign College of North America
Knight of York - May 12, 2018
Worth's Shamrock Council #54 - Grand Council Knight Masons, USA
Initiated - February 19, 2019
Knight of the Sword - February 19, 2019
Knight of the East - February 19, 2019
Knight of the East and West - February 19, 2019
Worth's Hiram Abiff Council #342 - Texas Allied Masonic Degrees Association
Obligated - June 1, 2019
Excellent Master - June 1, 2019
Knight of Constantinople - June 1, 2019
Grand Architect - June 1, 2019
Order of the Secret Monitor - June 1, 2019
Saint Lawrence the Martyr - June 1, 2019
Masters of Tyre - June 12, 2021
Superintendent - June 12, 2021
Grand Tilers of Solomon - June 12, 2021
Royal Ark Mariner - June 19, 2021
Masonic Order of the Bath in the United States of America
Initiated - June 1, 2019
Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks
Initiated - June 11, 2021
The Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord
Grade 1/Ostiarius - March 27, 2021
Grade 2/Lector - March 27, 2021
Grade 3/Haler & Exorcist - June 11, 2021
Red Branch of Eri
Man-at-Arms - December 21, 2021
The Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers (Operatives)
Iº Indentured Apprentice - March 6, 2021
IIº Fellow of the Craft - August 28, 2021
Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis
Iº Zelator - October 9, 2021
IIº Theoricus - October 9, 2021
IIIº Practicus - October 9, 2021
IVº Philosophus - October 9, 2021
Masonic Leadership Training
Officer Leadership Training - Grand Lodge of Texas
Class 101 - Corpus Christi - November 10-12, 2017
Class 201 - Dallas - August 10-12, 2018
York Rite Emergent Leadership
Class 101 - South Central Department Conference, San Antonio - September 22, 2018
Class 201 - South Central Department Conference, Little Rock, AR - September 21, 2019
Class 301 - South Central Department Conference, Overton Park, KS - September 18, 2021
Offices Held
Fort Worth Lodge #148
Senior Steward 2017-2018
Junior Warden 2018-2019
Senior Warden 2019-2020
Worshipful Master 2020-2021
Tiler 2021-2022
Texas Lodge of Research
Senior Deacon 2020-2021
Junior Warden 2021-2022
Editorial Committee 2020-present
Webmaster 2020-present
Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons
Master of 2nd Veil 2017-2018
Excellent King 2018-2019
Most Excellent High Priest 2019-2020
Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters
Right Illustrious Deputy Master 2018-2019
Thrice Illustrious Master 2019-2020
Robert Morriss Elgin Council #415, Royal and Select Masters
Charter Member
Recorder 2019-current
Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar
Standard Bearer 2017-2018
Junior Warden 2018-2019
Captain General 2019-2020
Generalissimo 2020-2021
Eminent Commander 2021-2022
Council of Kadosh, Fort Worth Valley A.A.S.R.
Bearer of the Beauceant 2017-2018
Consistory, Fort Worth Valley A.A.S.R.
Assistant Expert 2020-2021
Knights of Saint Andrew, Fort Worth Valley A.A.S.R.
Quartermaster 2017-2018
Treasurer 2019-2020
Trinity College #154 - York Rite Sovereign College of North America
Eminent Secretary - June 6, 2020 to current
Worth's Hiram Abiff Council #342, Allied Masonic Degrees
Junior Deacon 2020-2021
Senior Deacon 2021-2022
Tejas Council #282, Allied Masonic Degrees
Senior Deacon 2020-2021
Senior Warden 2021-2022
Worth's Shamrock Council #54, Knight Masons
Sentinel 2019-2020
Priest 2020-2021
Director of Ceremonies 2021-2021
Tarrant County York Rite Association
1st Vice-President 2018-2019
President 2019-2020
Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Texas
Order of High Priesthood 2019
Grand Representative to Ontario, Canada (appointed 2019)
Internet Committee 2018-2020, 2022
Internet Committee Chairman 2019-2020
District Deputy Grand High Priest, District 19 2020-2021
Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas
Order of the Silver Trowel 2019
Grand Representative to District of Columbia (appointed 2020)
Internet Committee 2018-2020, 2022
Internet Committee Chairman 2019-2020
Planning Committee for MIGM Don Paul Payton, 2019 vice-chair
Planning Committee for MIGM Jackie Matthews, 2020
Planning Committee for MIGM Bob Brunk, 2021
Grand Chaplain 2020-2021
Grand Captain of the Guards 2021-2022
Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas
Electronic Communications Committee 2018-current
Grand Encampment Knights Templar, USA
Communications Committee 2021-current
Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle
Regional Secretary (Texas) 2017-current
Order of DeMolay
Adult Advisor (H. Malvern Marks Chapter) - April 27, 2017 to December 31, 2017
Adult Advisor (Texas Jurisdiction At-Large) - January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018
Adult Advisor (Red Oak Chapter) - January 1, 2019 to current
Esoteric Certificates
Grand Lodge of Texas
B certificate earned August 30, 2018, renewed August 3, 2019
3-year C certificate 2020
Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Texas/Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas
1st year 2017, renewed 2018 and 2019
2-year 2020
Out of State Lodges Visited
Phoenix No. 144, San Francisco, CA (stated meeting) - March 2, 2017
L'Union Française No. 17, Manhattan, NY (French Rite EA degree) - June 20, 2017
Chandler Thunderbird No. 15, Chandler, AZ (EA degree) - June 27, 2017
Lodge No. 2, Philadelphia, PA (stated meeting, 260th anniversary) - June 5, 2018
Navesink Lodge No. 9, Red Bank, NJ (stated meeting) - June 6, 2018
William H. Uptown Naval and Military Lodge No. 206, Bremerton, WA (stated meeting) - August 22, 2018
Yancey C. Blalock Lodge No. 265, Shoreline, WA (stated meeting) - June 11, 2019
Colorado Lodge of Research, Denver, CO (stated meeting) - July 31, 2021
Out of State Commanderies Visited
Ivanhoe Commandery #24, Milwaukee, WI (stated conclave) - March 7, 2018
Ivanhoe Commandery #24, Milwaukee, WI (stated conclave) - March 6, 2019