Cadet Earns Master Mason Degree

Photo courtesy of Jim Young, Lee Lodge

On January 25, 2013, Cadet Captain Shawn Gregory Thomas ’13 became the first Fishburne cadet ever to be raised as a Master Mason in the history of Waynesboro’s 147-year-old Lee Lodge, A.F.&.A.M.    

On hand for the ceremony were Waynesboro Sheriff  and Past Master Joe  Harris, Jr., who taught the new Mason his Masonic catechisms; the cadet’s father, Wayne G. Thomas, a fourth-generation Mason who travelled from Suffolk, VA, to participate in his son’s degrees; Cadet Captain Thomas; Past Master J. B. Yount III, FMS ’56; Past Grand Master of Virginia William T. Ellison, Jr., FMS ‘69; and Kenneth W. Dameron, Lee Lodge’s current Worshipful Master.

Virginia Masons recently lowered the eligibility age from twenty-one to eighteen, and the young cadet officer managed to include this difficult achievement  among the many awards and honors earned during his five years at Fishburne Military School.

Thomas later noted “being the first cadet to become a Master Mason in the history of Fishburne, I thought it would be nice to give back to the Lodge so I gave them a Barracks Cover, the lodge has done so much for me so I gave them something to remember the school and me.”

Upon hearing news of the event and of Cadet Thomas’ gift to his lodge, Fishburne Superintendent COL Gary Morrison (VA), FMS ’81 reacted by saying “This is a very big deal  and we are all very proud. It’s certainly not every day that one of our young men makes history in a way like this. Mr. Thomas’ hard work, commitment and involvement in the community are a great example to others and a testament to the kind of young man FMS attracts. I hope the people at the lodge realize how powerful a gesture that is for him to leave his barracks cover for them.”