RW Deputy Grand Master James Williams on Brotherhood, Ritual, and the Road to Grand Master
In 1978, a young man in Quincy, Illinois, was handed a petition document for membership in the fraternity by his father and told it was something he might want to consider. He wasn't sure. He held onto it for a couple of years before sending it in. Forty-five years later, that same man is the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M., preparing to lead the fraternity he once hesitated to join.
We sat down with Right Worshipful Brother James “Jim” Williams, Bodley Lodge No. 1, to talk about his Masonic journey, what he's learned from the Brothers who came before him, and what he's looking forward to as he prepares for his own term as Grand Master.
Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master James “Jim” Williams
The Petition That Took a Couple of Years
Brother Williams' introduction to Freemasonry came the way it does for many men: through family. His father gave him a petition for membership document shortly after he turned 21, which was the minimum age at the time.
"It took me a couple of years to fill it out and send it in," he said. "It took me some time to decide."
What changed his mind wasn't a hard sell; it was watching. His father invited him to events at the lodge and temple in Quincy, and what he saw there stuck with him.
"I saw the camaraderie and fundraising events of his Brothers, and I thought that was something I'd want to be a part of."
He joined Bodley Lodge No. 1 in Quincy and has been a member ever since. He's served as Master of the Lodge, twice as Secretary, and holds honorary membership at several other lodges. But like many Brothers, his early years in the fraternity were quieter than his more recent ones.
"Life got in the way, raising kids and whatnot, and Lodge kind of took a back burner. After the kids got older and I found a little bit more free time, I decided to get a little bit more involved."
What pulled him back in was the ritual.
Finding His Calling in Degree and Leadership Work
For Brother Williams, the heart of Freemasonry lives in the degree work. He served thirteen years on the Board of Grand Examiners, eventually rising to Chairman. The path he traveled to the Grand Line of leadership for Illinois Freemasonry started there.
Under the old system, advancement to the Grand Line ran through the Board of Grand Examiners. A Brother would move up through the Board, become Chairman, then run for Junior Grand Warden. Several years ago, that changed. The Grand Lodge moved to an application process, and Brother Williams was on the Board when the transition happened.
After stepping away from the Board for a couple of years, he and his wife began talking seriously about whether he should apply to the Grand Line. It wasn't a small conversation.
"It takes a lot of time, and you do a lot of travel, and your wife or your significant other is just as involved in that as you are," he said. "I just wanted to make sure that after 13 years on the board, she was okay with doing another potentially 12 years somewhere else."
They decided together. He applied. And here he is.
Of all the work he's done across decades in the fraternity, the part that has meant the most to him is teaching the ritual to other Brothers.
"The enjoyment and satisfaction of seeing a Brother complete his examination and get his teaching commission as a ritual instructor, and helping them refine themselves and become better at what they do–that's probably the thing that I like the best."
Why the Application Process Changed Everything
Ask Brother Williams what he likes most about the way the Grand Line works now, and he'll tell you it's the teamwork.
Under the current application process, the Grand Line functions as a unit. Grand Master MW Brother Joseph B. Ferrell’s theme of Legacy and Fellowship and his initiatives were discussed with the rest of the leadership team months before he took office, and every member helped shape them. The same will be true when Brother Williams takes his own turn as Grand Master.
"It's kind of a group effort. It really is," he said. "We help each other work that stuff out. He has the ultimate yay or nay, but yeah, we're kind of all in the planning."
That collaboration solves an old problem. In years past, a Grand Master's signature program might last only as long as his two-year term. The next Grand Master would come in with his own priorities, and the previous initiative would quietly disappear.
"Now you've got six or eight Brothers who are committed to it. We might do a little tweaking here and there, but that program will be in place for a while."
It's also, in his view, what's made the fraternity stronger.
A Statewide Perspective
Brother Williams has stayed close to many of the Past Grand Masters he's served alongside, and he credits them collectively with shaping how he thinks about leadership.
The most important lesson, he said, is one of perspective.
"When one becomes Grand Master, they’ve got to consider the whole state. You've got to view the whole fraternity as a whole — and not just Blue Lodge, but the appendant bodies as well. You have to take in the whole picture."
He lives that lesson personally. Beyond his work in the Grand Line, Brother Williams is a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and the Shriners. Last year in Indianapolis, he received his 33rd Degree in the Scottish Rite — something he describes simply as "quite an honor." He currently serves as treasurer of his local York Rite body in Quincy.
When Brother Williams was asked what advice he'd give a Brother thinking about applying to the Grand Line himself, his answer reflected that same statewide perspective.
"You should feel that you have something to contribute statewide. It's got to be something that you contribute to the betterment of the fraternity as a whole. Don't come in with a personal agenda. You'll find out real quick that it's a much broader picture."
The Brotherhood Beyond the Lodge Room
For all his love of ritual, some of Brother Williams' most meaningful experiences as a Freemason have happened outside the lodge room — at fundraisers, charity events, and community service work alongside his Brothers.
In Quincy, the lodge once ran a hospital bed program funded by a chili luncheon. More recently, the Brothers have organized fundraisers in support of Honor Flight, the organization that flies veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorials built in their honor.
"That aspect of the Brotherhood — being involved in fundraisers, events like the Honor Flight, or just raising money for people that need it — I'd say that's probably one of the things I most value."
When it comes to his upcoming tenure as Grand Master (starting in the fall of 2027), Brother Williams is deliberately not getting ahead of himself. He's saving the heavy planning for later this year, when the picture becomes clearer.
"I've got about 14 different ideas on a theme, and I haven't really settled on one," he said with a laugh. "That's a tough one!"
What he is sure of is that he supports the current direction. Grand Master Ferrell’s Legacy and Fellowship theme, he said, resonates strongly with him.
"We've all got a legacy, and we're all potentially creating a legacy for somebody. Hopefully, we can inspire somebody to do ritual work or maybe even become part of this line and become a potential Grand Master."
When asked if he's excited for what's ahead, he said with a chuckle:
"It should be great. I'm hoping, anyway."
If his last 45 years are any indication, the fraternity is in good hands.
For Brothers considering their own path deeper into the fraternity — whether toward ritual work, lodge leadership, or the Grand Line — Brother Williams' story is a reminder that there's no single timeline. His own took 45 years. The work, he'd tell you, is worth it.
This post was produced by the communications team of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. For more stories from Illinois Freemasonry, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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RW Brother James (Jim) Williams of Bodley Lodge No. 1 in Quincy, Illinois, currently serves as Deputy Grand Master. He has been a Freemason since 1980 and is expected to become Grand Master following the 2027 October election.
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The Grand Line is the progression of officers who lead the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. Officers advance through the line over multiple years, with the Deputy Grand Master next in succession to become Grand Master. Brothers can join the Grand Line through an application and interview process to become Junior Grand Deacon.
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Bodley Lodge No. 1 is a Masonic lodge in Illinois, located in Quincy. It is RW Brother Jim Williams' home lodge, where he has served as Past Master and twice as Past Secretary.
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The 33rd Degree is the highest honorary degree conferred by the Scottish Rite, recognized as an honor for distinguished service to the fraternity and community. Brother Williams received his in Indianapolis in 2025.
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Brothers interested in joining the Grand Line submit an application and go through an interview process to become Junior Grand Deacon, which begins the years of learning, leadership, and progression towards becoming the Grand Master. Candidates are selected based on their potential to serve the fraternity statewide. Brother Williams advises applicants to come in with a statewide perspective rather than a personal agenda.