Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest James William Patton was born in 1944 at Chicago, the son of George W. and Lillias G. Patton. He was awarded a baccheloriate degree in accountancy and finance from Northern Illinois University. He served the United States Treasury Department as an Internal Revenue Agent for more than twenty-six years until his retirement in 1966. He was united in marriage Priscilla Barlow in 1986, and has one daughter, Anne.

Brother Patton was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on 29 May 1968 in Elmwood Park Lodge No. 1163, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, which subsequently merged into Euclid Lodge No. 65, at Naperville. He presided as Worshipful Master of Euclid Lodge in 1984. He is also a member of Grove Lodge No. 824 at Downers Grove and Oriental Lodge No. 33 at Chicago.

Our Excellent Grand Chaplain was exalted to the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason on 24 October 1970 in Maine Chapter No. 257 which subsequently merged on 10 December 1982 into Wilmette Chapter No. 253 at Wilmette. He affiliated with Loudoun Chapter No. 55 of Herndon, Virginia and Three Pillars Chapter No. 280 at Western Springs, serving both as Excellent High Priest. He holds dual memberships in West Suburban Chapter No. 207 at Downers Grove, where he currently serves as Secretary, and Euclid Chapter No. 13 at Naperville. He joined the Grand Chapter line when he was elected Grand Master of the First Veil at the 1990 Annual Grand Convocation; from there, he progressed to the East and was elected Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1999. On 1 August 2008, he was appointed and installed as Excellent Grand Chaplain.

Most Excellent Companion Patton was greeted as a Select Master in 1975 in Loudoun Chapter No. 55 of Herndon, Virginia, as there is no grand council in Virginia and the Cryptic degrees there are under the jurisdiction of their Grand Chapter. He later joined West Suburban Council No. 103 at Downers Grove, where he presided as Thrice Illustrious Master and currently serves as Recorder. He has served the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of the State of Illinois as Illustrious Grand Chaplain.

Jim was dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in January 1972 in the former Humboldt Park Commandery No. 79. He presided as Eminent Commander of St. Bernard Commandery No. 35 at Chicago in 1983, and holds plural memberships in Trinity Commandery No. 80 at Downers Grove, where he is Recorder, and Albertus Magnus Commandery of Research No. 92 at Chicago, where he serves as Prelate. In addition, he is a member of St. John's Commandery No. 1 of Cranston, Rhode Island. He has served as Eminent Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Illinois on three separate occasions.

As a Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Thrice Illustrious Master, and Past Eminent Commander, Sir Knight Patton was received into Illinois Priory No. 11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honour. He now holds the jewel of a Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honour with one (red) quadrant, in recognition of his installation as Grand High Priest. He currently serves as Eminent Prior of Illinois Priory No 11; as such, the background of his KYGCH jewel will change from white to blue at the end of his term. He was ordained into Simon Peter Tabernacle XXII, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, whom he served as Preceptor.

He was installed into the degree of Knight of the East and West in Saint Bridget Council No. 23, Knight Masons of the U.S.A., then at Chicago (now at Glenview), where he presided as Excellent Chief in 2000, and is an active ritualist. He is a member of the Grand College of Rites in the United States of America.

He was initiated into Me’Ukevet Council No. 167, Allied Masonic Degrees, at Chicago. He was received into Ye Ancient Order of Corks and initiated into the Masonic Order of the Bath.

Our Excellent Grand Chaplain was elected and received the degree of Knight of the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and St. John the Evangelist in St. John's Conclave, whom he served as Sovereign.

Jim was elected and initiated as a Frater of the Illinois College, Masonic Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (Rosicrucian Society of the U.S.).

He was elected and received his degrees in Illinois York Rite College No. 15 over whom he presided as Pre-Eminent Governor; he currently serves as Regent of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

Most Excellent Companion Patton was created a 32° Scottish Rite Freemason and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in the Valley of Chicago, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, where he presided as Sovereign Prince of Chicago Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and currently serves as Prior of Oriental Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. In recognition of his service to Scottish Rite Freemasonry, he was coroneted a 33° Freemason and Inspector General Honorary in 1994 by the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America. He was honoured by being installed into the Royal Order of Scotland.

Jim was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Medinah Shriners, A.A.O.N.M.S.

Click here to send email to Jim.