Why Legacy Matters: Fellowship Across Generations of Freemasons

By Right Worshipful Brother Jeremy Coumbes

One of the most powerful things about Freemasonry isn’t just what we learn inside the lodge, but who we learn it from.

For many men, the journey begins long before they ever knock on a lodge door. It starts by watching a father, a mentor, a friend, or an older Brother quietly live out the values of integrity, service, and fellowship. Over time, those examples shape our understanding of what it means to be a good man and why belonging to something bigger than ourselves matters.

Freemasonry is made stronger through these long lines of connection. Each generation builds upon the one before it, not by obligation, but by answering a call within themselves. That continuity and shared sense of purpose are what turn individual membership into lasting Brotherhood. What follows is a reflection on how those connections first drew me to Freemasonry, and how they continue to guide the way I try to live its values today.

Me and RW Brother Frank Cline on my first day back in office last May

Following in His Footsteps

I didn’t grow up knowing much about Freemasonry through family tradition alone. I had a couple of great uncles who were members, but their involvement wasn’t something that was actively discussed or passed down to me.  

What truly sparked my interest came later through older friends and paternal figures I respected. In addition, my interest piqued around the time Freemasonry was popping up again in popular culture (my friend Shane and I jokingly called ourselves “Da Vinci Code babies”). While we knew that most of what was portrayed in films like The Da Vinci Code or National Treasure was likely inaccurate, it got us curious about the fraternity overall.

So, we did what curious men do — we asked questions and delved into what Freemasonry was truly about. And we were hooked.

Continuing the Legacy

Today, I’m proud to be a twenty-year member of Harmony Lodge No. 3, a lodge with a remarkable history of roots dating back to the 1820’s, when a lodge was formed under the original Grand Lodge of Illinois.  Later in 1837, Harmony Lodge No. 24 helped organize the current Grand Lodge and became Harmony Lodge No. 3 in the process.  That sense of history is something we carry with pride, not so much as nostalgia, but as a responsibility as conservators.

Me and Brother Rabbi Rob Thomas at Grand Lodge Annual Communication 2025. 

When it comes to my own legacy, I have two sons, ages 20 and 22. One has expressed a small interest in Freemasonry, while the other is heading down his own path and preparing to join the Army. I’ve been heavily involved in Masonry throughout their lives, but I’ve never believed in pressuring them to join to “preserve a legacy.” Legacy isn’t something you force, but rather something you hope to inspire.

At the lodge level, continuing that influence means showing up — consistently and intentionally. For me, that looks like:

• Introducing myself and others to every Brother, new or old

• Making space for real conversation and connection

• Planning informal get-togethers outside stated meetings

• Volunteering both in the lodge and in our community, and inviting others to serve alongside me

Coming out of the COVID pandemic, we saw some dark days when we were not sure we could keep the lodge going.  But now, in the last two years, we’ve seen a renewed energy at Harmony Lodge. Nearly every week, we meet to perform degree work for someone new. There’s a sense of excitement that’s hard to describe, especially among the “younger” members who once worried we might be tasked with closing the lodge for good.

Watching new Brothers experience that same sense of hope and belonging reminds me why this work matters.  After 20 years, it’s nice to feel hope and excitement again.  If I’m remembered for anything, I hope it’s that I helped keep the lights on and the doors open.

Legacy and Fellowship in Practice

I’ve been fortunate to learn from many men along the way. Brothers like Right Worshipful Brother Frank Cline, who influenced me deeply at the Lodge, and later, at the Grand Lodge level.

There is also the late Right Worshipful Brother Marvin Ford, who served on my investigative committee and quietly exemplified what steady, faithful service looks like. Brother Marvin, a 56-year member, was always there as a mentor and a friend until illness took him from us last year. His absence is still felt.

RW Brother Marvin Ford

Then there are the new members like Brother Rabbi Robb Thomas— the loudest person in the room (with the loudest laugh) in the best way possible. His energy reminds us that fellowship doesn’t have to be quiet to be meaningful. It just has to be genuine.

That’s why “Legacy and Fellowship”, the theme chosen by Grand Master MWB Joseph B. Ferrell, resonates so strongly with me. Legacy isn’t only about lineage. Fellowship isn’t only about attendance. Together, they remind us that Freemasonry thrives when men come together in real life, for a shared purpose, beyond distractions. 

We all need community. We all need peers who challenge us, support us, and walk alongside us. Freemasonry gives us that space —a place of refuge from the noise of the day-to-day, and a reminder that Brotherhood still matters.

Final Thoughts

The strength of Freemasonry has always rested in its people and in the relationships that connect them across generations.

When we follow the examples set by those who came before us and commit to extending that same fellowship to those who come after, we ensure the Craft remains not just preserved, but alive and thriving.

Legacy isn’t something we inherit but something we live — together. And fellowship is the thread that binds it all.

Learn more about Harmony Lodge No. 3 on their Facebook or Instagram.

 Interested in hearing from another lodge that is living out the theme of Legacy and Fellowship? Check out Kinmundy Lodge No. 398.