October 2015
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THE GRAND SOVEREIGN ROBERT S. FINLEY ROBERT S. FINLEY 1 GRAND SOVEREIGN’S BIOGRAPHY Robert Sullivan Finley was born on February 22, 1936 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Robert Rankin and Mary Jane Sullivan Finley. Robert’s father was working for the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At that time he was instrumental in surveying much of the Southwest, including the Grand Canyon. He was then transferred to Western New York in late 1948. At that time Robert attended and graduated from Bemus Point High school in 1954 and attended Jamestown Community College for 2 years. After college he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Maine for 2 years where he attended on base classes from the University of Maine. After being discharged he returned to Jamestown, New York and became active in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where he served as an Acolyte, Dean of Acolytes, Choir member for 30 years, a licensed Lay Reader and Vestryman for over 25 years. While he was serving on the Vestry, he discovered that every member was a Master Mason, he petitioned the Lodge in 1970. It was here he met his wife of 54 years, Katherine (Kay). They were married in 1961 and at that time Robert became associated with C.H. Bromley Motor Lines. (Kay’s Dad). He worked as a truck driver and later a supervisor. The business was sold in 1970 and he became Customer Service Manager for large local sheet metal fabrication company, and was promoted to New York State Sales Manager. Clients included Eastman Kodak, IBM, and Zerox. Also at this time he was associated with a local radio station and worked as a sports play-by-play announcer, broadcasting over 1500 games, both at the high school level and at the 2 and 4 year college level. He had the opportunity to broadcast the NJCAA basketball tournament from Hutchinson, KS, 4 times. The opportunity arose to purchase a local bedding manufacturing plant and he resigned from his current position and purchased and operated it for about 10 years. Again an opportunity arose and he sold the mattress factory and purchased a small market radio station and served as President for 8 years. While serving as President he served on the Board of Directors of ABC Information Radio. Again a career change and he went into the automobile business as a Salesman and Sales Manager for 3 local dealers, retiring in 1999. He holds membership in several local Social Clubs, Rotary (retired), American Legion, War Veterans, Vikings and served as Exalted Ruler of the local Elks Lodge. 2 GRAND SOVEREIGN’S MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Brother Finley was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Mount Moriah Lodge No. 145, Jamestown, NY in June of 1970. He holds plural membership in Peacock Lodge No. 696, Mayville, NY where he served as Master in 1985 and Carroll Lodge No. 1147, Frewsburg, NY. He served the Grand Lodge of New York as District Deputy Grand Master in 2000-2002, and as Deputy Grand Standard Bearer and Grand Standard Bearer 2002-2006. In 2006-2010 he served as Deputy Grand Marshal and Grand Marshal. In 2003 he received the Grand Lodge Award of Appreciation. In 2010 he was awarded the Chancellor Robert Livingston Medal. Brother Finley served on the Grand Lodge Committee for Charters and Dispensations, Committee on Masonic Benevolence, and Committee on Endowments. He is an Honorary Member of the Metro District Deputies Association 2004-2006 Brother Finley has had a very active involvement in Scottish Rite Masonry, having received his degrees in 1970 in the Valley of Jamestown, NY. He served at Most Wise Master in Jamestown Chapter of Rose Croix and Commander in Chief of the Jamestown Consistory, Treasurer, and Director of Works. He was coroneted a 33º Honorary Member of Supreme Council in 1982. He was created an Honorary Thrice Potent Master and an Honorary Sovereign Prince in the Valley of Jamestown. He is also an Honorary Member of the Valley of Rochester, NY. At the Supreme Council level he has served as Secretary of the New York Council of Deliberation. He was selected to serve as a Marshal of the Camp in the 33rd Degree, 2005-2006. Currently he is Director of the Marshals of the Camp in the 33rd Degree. Companion Finley is also a Masonic leader in the York Rite Bodies. He received all his York Rite Degrees in a York Rite Festival in Jamestown, NY in the fall of 1972. He served as High Priest of Western Sun Chapter No. 67, in Jamestown in 1995 and is currently Grand Representative from Maryland to New York. He holds the high honor of the Order of Old Saratoga. Brother Finley served as Illustrious Master of Dunkirk Council No. 25, Dunkirk, NY in 1994 and was elected to the Grand Line in 1995. He is a member of St. George’s Council of Anointed Kings. Sir Knight Finley was Commander of Jamestown Commandery No. 61, 1999-2002, he is also a Member of Dunkirk Commandery No. 40, Empire State Commandery No. 83, Blaney Commandery No. 5, Tremont, IL and Jamestown Past Commanders Association. He is the Grand Representative of Illinois to New York. Sir Knight Finley is a former member of Willermoz Lodge No. 1, The Grand Priory of the Reformed and Rectified Rite of the U.S.A., Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cite Sainte (CBCS.) He holds the rank of Knight Commander of the Temple (KCT) and has served an Aide-de-camp for the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar. He is a member of the Royal Society of Knights Occidental, and holds the rank and dignity of GCO, Grand Cross Occidental. He is a member of the Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor. He has received the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor. 3 Brother Finley is a member of Crusade Priory No. 57, KYCH and Empire State Priory No. 46. In Empire State Priory he is currently Deputy Prior. He is a member of Pilgrim Chapel No. 11, St. Thomas of Acon. Member of The Royal Order of Scotland, Grand College of Rites, and Knight Masons. He presently serves as Grand Director of Ritual for the Grand College of America, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests. He is a member of Grand Preceptors Tabernacle “A”, where he was created a Knight Commander, and elevated to the rank and dignity of (KGC), Knight Grand Commander. He is a Past Governor of Niagara Frontier College No. 77, York Rite College, Buffalo, NY and received the Order of the Purple Cross in 2004. Brother Finley is now serving as Chief Adept IXº of the New York College of Rosicrucians, and was honored with the rank and dignity of KGC. He also serves on the High Council as 2nd Herald. Brother Finley also is a member of Kharram Grotto, Jamestown, NY, is a past Grand Tall Cedar, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Rochester Forest No. 133. Noble Finley is a member of Ismailia Shrine Temple, Buffalo, NY, Past President of the Jamestown Shrine Club, and former member of the Erie Shrine Hospital Board. He is a Charter Member of Conewango Council No. 243, Allied Masonic Degrees, Past Sovereign Master, and holds the Red Branch of Eri. He is a member of Grand Master’s Royal Ark Mariners, a Knight of Constantinople, has received the Order of the Cork, Order of the Bath, Order of the Garter, Order of the Secret Monitor, Order of the Thistle, Royal Order of Kamehameha and St. Lawrence the Martyr. Knight Companion Finley was elected into St. Mark’s Conclave in June of 1977. He was appointed to the line and progressed through and was enthroned a Sovereign in 1987. From that time forward he has served on the Committee for the Eastern Regional Assembly, and for the last 10 years has been its Chairman. Grand Sovereign Thurman Pace appointed him to be his Standard Bearer and for the next 10 years he was privileged to be an appointed officer for 9 Grand Sovereigns. Grand Sovereign Joe Manning appointed him as Intendant General for the Division of New York Western in Tulsa, and 10 years later Grand Sovereign Stuckey created him a Past Intendant General in Oklahoma City. (Oklahoma was very good to him.) The following year in Troy, Michigan he began his journey through the Grand line and was installed on June 6, 2015 as Grand Sovereign. Over the many years of activity in various Masonic endeavors, Brother Finley has used a phrase by the great philosopher Albert Camus, “Do not walk before me, I may not follow, do not walk behind me, I may not lead, walk beside me, be my friend, and we will lead together”. This will be the Quest. 4 GRAND SOVEREIGN’S MESSAGE When I first started the journey into over Freemasonry over 45 years ago, preparing this message as your Grand Sovereign was beyond my wildest dreams. I am humbled by my election and installation this past June in Seattle. Past Grand Sovereign Miller and his staff presented an outstanding Assembly, and we all owe them a vote of thanks. After returning home and regrouping, it has been my privilege to visit a Regional Assembly in Arizona, as well as represent our Grand Council at the York Rite Sovereign College in Louisville, and at the Triannual of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templars, in Buffalo. After a week off, I traveled to Canada, the Southern Jurisdiction Supreme Council, in Washington, D.C., and the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in Indianapolis.