One of the greatest lessons Freemasonry has taught me is that becoming a better Mason is not measured by titles or offices, but by the willingness to continue learning, growing, and challenging yourself.

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Ohio Masonry created the Royal Scofield Society as a program of personal growth that encourages members to do exactly that through reflection, travel, writing, memorization, and education. Much like the Hauts Grades Academy, it is structured in three increasingly demanding levels that require both intellectual study and personal commitment.

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I began this journey in September 2020. The first level I completed in only three days. The second took me two and a half months, and by then I felt I was on a steady roll. Four and a half months later, I presented my capstone, “My Masonic Journey and Legacy.” In many ways, that presentation was the equivalent of a graduate-level capstone project—or even a mini-dissertation—requiring both depth and reflection.

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Normally, that capstone presentation marks the end of the program. But for me, the journey was far from over. I still had two major requirements to complete, and one of them became my greatest challenge: memorization. Each candidate may choose either three charges or a lecture to commit to memory. I chose the three charges, and it took me nearly a year and a half to fully master them.

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Finally, I was ready to deliver the last of the three charges. An unexpected delay at my lodge prevented me from completing that final requirement for several more months. After new lodge leadership took office, I was finally able to present the charge in November 2023.​

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Because of that delay, my induction had to wait until the following October. When at last I was admitted, I became the 49th Mason in Ohio to complete this demanding program—out of more than 60,000 brethren statewide at the time.

 

but that is precisely what made crossing the finish line—and finally being welcomed into the Royal Scofield Society—all the more meaningful.​

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Altogether, it took just over three years to complete the program's requirements and more than four years from my first enrollment to formal induction. The journey was longer—and far more challenging—than I ever expected. Looking back, however, I realize the value wasn't simply earning membership in the Royal Scofield Society. It was discovering that growth often comes through perseverance, discipline, and a willingness to continue learning long after the excitement of beginning has passed.

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The Royal Scofield Society reminded me that becoming a better Mason isn't about reaching a destination—it's about committing yourself to the lifelong journey of learning, reflection, and personal growth.

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