Celebrating our Faithful Friends and Guides

As Freemasons, supporting your Masonic Brothers is an obligation we all make and cherish when we join a lodge. 

Providing mentorship to our fellow Brothers is at the core of our Masonic membership experience. That’s why on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, we’re celebrating our faithful friends and guides for Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day.

In honor of the day, we’ve been collecting stories from Brothers who have inspiring mentor stories to share. We’ve compiled these below – read on as a reminder of the friendships that form and the memories that are created as Illinois Freemasons.

Honoring Brother Richard Kenneavy

“When I meet our Supreme Architect, I want him to be able to say, ‘There stands a true and upright Mason’.”

While many Brothers have helped shape my beliefs as a Mason, it was Worshipful Brother Richard Kenneavy who uttered those words that I use as a guide through my journey as a Mason. Brother Kenneavy took me under his wings early as the Worshipful Master who raised me to become a Master Mason and counseled me on how to start my journey.  He was a superior ritualist who believed in not only perfection but how we deliver ritual to share its meaning. His mastery of the funeral ritual was a nod to the belief that every Mason deserves the final goodbye befitting of being a Brother. He welcomed Brothers into our Lodge and was adamant that we held our lodge room as a place of reverence and purity.  

Brother Greg Hall and Brother Richard Kenneavy

When Brother Kenneavy was diagnosed with brain cancer, our counseling became weekly sessions of coffee in his kitchen. We would talk for hours about the need for Freemasonry in today’s society. As his fight to defeat his disease was losing its grip on his ability to communicate, our talks turned to how being a Mason should impact your family, your community, and your Lodge. He was a mentor in every facet of my journey.

As I laid the evergreen (Sprig of Acacia) on his casket, I remember thinking about my friend, “You are being welcomed with open arms into the heavens above as a ‘True and upright Mason.’ Rest in peace my friend and mentor, Worshipful Brother Richard ‘Dick’ Kenneavy.”

Right Worshipful Brother Greg Hall

Batavia Lodge No. 404

The Guidance of Brother Lewis Holyfield

In 2015, I had the privilege of meeting my Masonic mentor, Worshipful Brother Lewis Holyfield. From the moment I was introduced to him, I could sense his wisdom and sincerity. It was clear that he had a deep understanding of Freemasonry and was eager to pass on his knowledge to me.

Brother Kier Williams-Thomas (center), Brother Lewis Holyfield (far left) and their Brothers

One of the first things Brother Holyfield taught me was the importance of ritual work, specifically the importance of the Rod work within the lodge room. He patiently took the time to explain the symbolism and significance of each gesture and movement, helping me to truly understand the lessons each degree was teaching. But Brother Holyfield didn't stop there. He also showed me the value of not judging other Brothers within the fraternity. He emphasized that every Mason comes from different backgrounds and experiences, and that it is important to treat each other with respect and understanding. Furthermore, Brother Holyfield delved into Masonic history and how it has shaped the organization into what it is today. He showed me how I can apply the principles and tenets of Freemasonry to my own life, helping me to become a more well-rounded individual.

I am forever grateful for the guidance and mentorship of Worshipful Brother Lewis Holyfield. He has truly been an invaluable resource in my Masonic journey, and I cannot thank him enough for his patience, wisdom, and dedication to helping me grow as a Mason.

Brother Kier Williams-Thomas

Oak Lawn Lodge No. 1166

The Mentorship of Brother Wayne Spooner

I joined the fraternity a few years ago and realized that I wanted to learn the ritual and be good at it. However, life happened and I stepped away for a while. I don’t want to take anything away from my Intender, Worshipful Brother Frank Della, or Right Worshipful Brother Reuben Owens who were and are instrumental in my learning ritual. But Right Worshipful Brother Wayne Spooner showed me what it means to be an upright Mason. I was at a degree and saw how the Ritual Instructors moved with precision, but weren’t arrogant about it; instead, they were proud. I remember reaching out to Brother Spooner and asking what it means to be an instructor and how I become one.

Brother Wayne Spooner

I remember Brother Spooner saying that’s great, I’ll send you an Excel sheet that outlines the requirements on what a Certified Lodge Instructor must learn, fill it out, and we can start working. I thought this was going to be easy since I knew a lot of ritual at that time, but then I quickly realized I didn’t. We had long talks together about why things were and why they needed to be this way in our ritual work. It made me think about things from a literal and a spiritual point of view. He would always say that the interrogatories in the ritual spoke to everything about a Mason and why they are provided at that point in the candidate’s journey because it tells you what Masonry is all about.

We’ve had countless virtual Zoom sessions to discuss and perfect my understanding and execution of the ritual. Every time I think about and share a new idea or question, he never shoots it down, and says have you thought about trying it this way?

I believe a mentor isn’t someone who always has the answer, but helps you realize that you’ve had it all along inside. You just needed to dig deeper to find it. Right Worshipful Brother Wayne Spooner does that every time we talk or see each other, and for that I am grateful.

Brother Michael Lynch

Paul Revere Lodge No. 998

Remembering Brother Ed Fuller

Worshipful Brother Ed Fuller was an amazing man. He spent most of his life on the wrong side of the tracks and had plenty of stories to prove it. He wasn't the easiest person to get along with, and his refusal to candy-coat criticism rubbed many people the wrong way. I often wondered why a man like Brother Fuller would ever want to become a Freemason, yet he was one of the most dedicated and influential members our Lodge ever had.

Brother Fuller was born the same year as my father, yet he became a Freemason only two years before I did. His philosophy was that if you're not going to do something well, don't bother to do it at all. His term as Worshipful Master in 2008 transformed Dundee Lodge No. 190 in many ways. It was under his strict instruction that we won second place in the state Lodge Officer Ritual Competition.

His influence extended beyond the Lodge walls. He helped to shape our character as young men. Our beloved Brother Fuller died in 2014, but his name is still spoken in our Lodge. Sometimes it's in the form of a hilarious story about him. At others, it's a memory of something valuable he taught us, which we now pass on to newer members. He is still very much alive in our Lodge, and those of us who knew him are better Masons for it.

Brothers Ed Fuller (right) and Chad Lacek (left)

Though he was rarely in a good mood, I was fortunate to capture this picture of Worshipful Brother Ed Fuller and me expressing some Brotherly Love. We all miss him.

Right Worshipful Brother Chad Lacek

Dundee Lodge No. 190