From our departed Brother Robert E. Dinwiddie, Jr.

As requested, here is a short bio to send on to the Esoterika brethren. I’ve not jumped in with discussion until now, so…

Brethren, we are living in interesting times indeed.  We are living a ONCE IN A LIFETIME opportunity – we are literally bringing Masonry back to the vaunted position in society it once held.  We are applying what we have learned in our careers to Masonry.  We’re making it appealing to a different demographic.  We have purpose, we have energy, we have resources – what we need is results.

I challenge each of you to have a personal goal for our first year together.  We’ll have goals as Esoterika, of course, but each of us should be asking ourselves “what exactly do I want to get out of this?”

Are you a ‘joiner/pin collector’ or are you dedicated to this Herculean effort?  Think about the working tools of an EA – how much of your personal 24” gauge is spent on Masonry each day?

We’re starting to experience a ‘pulling-back’ from folks who previously expressed full engagement.  While this was expected, it is still disheartening.  We have lots to do and little time to do it.

All comments welcome – As we do not meet as a group that often, perhaps we can use this as a forum.

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Autobiography – Robert Eugene Dinwiddie, Jr.

I was born in 1968 in Kodiak, Alaska.  In the years prior to high school, I lived in five different western states.

I graduated from Edmonds High School in 1986 and 10 days later joined the Army.

I went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  From there, I went to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA to learn Russian.  After a year of 24 hour immersion, I could read, write and speak the language about as well as a bright 11 year old.   From there, I spent another year in three different intelligence schools – Fort Devens, MA; Fort Huachuca, AZ and Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX.  After two years, I was trained in two specialties – Electronic Warfare Voice Signals Interceptor and Electronic Warfare Signals Analyst.

My job was to ride in the back of a tactical intelligence gathering platform (a modified Blackhawk helicopter called QuickFix) and perform intercepts and analysis on Soviet military activities.

After being stationed in Germany and temporarily assigned everywhere (Turkey, Korea, UK, Italy, etc) I left active duty in 1990 and was in the active reserves until 1997, assigned to an intelligence brigade in Chicago (I flew there every month)

Upon leaving active duty, I attended the University of Washington, graduating with a degree in history.

I started my insurance career after leaving the Army – until recently, I was a large-loss property claim manager for the western United States.  My team handled losses over $100,000 (usually fire-damaged or –destroyed homes) in 11 states.

I’ve recently left the insurance world and started as a Project Manager with Belfor USA.  Belfor is a contracting company for all types of restoration and new construction.

I joined Freemasonry on October 26, 2004.  I entered, passed and raised in Robert Burns #243.  I entered the Scottish Rite and received my 32º in May in the Everett Valley, where I am currently the 4^º degree master.  I’m also assisting with the Scottish Rite Foundation.  I’ve recently been elected Charter Prior with Knights of St. Andrew.  I’m a member of the York Rite, Esoterika UD, Alba UD and am hopeful that I will be accepted into St. John’s #9 next month. I’m also an advisor for the T.H. Little DeMolay chapter my son is a member of.

This past 8 months has been exhilarating.  I’ve met some phenomenal people and am very proud of what we have accomplished together.

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Zachary D. Dinwiddie Educational Trust , "Help for the Widow's Son."

For information please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Zachary D. Dinwiddie Educational Trust was established by the Founding Members of Esoterika Lodge to help offset the costs of post secondary educational expenses for Zachary D. Dinwiddie, the only child of our esteemed and departed Brother Robert E. Dinwiddie Jr. Bro. Dinwiddie passed away very unexpectedly November 28th, 2005, at the age of 37. While many of the trustees of The Zachary D. Dinwiddie Educational Trust are Brothers of Esoterkia, it is an independent charity and is in not affiliated or managed by Esoterika Lodge No. 316.