Our Excellent Chief was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in March 1969, in William McKinley Lodge No. 876, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, at Chicago. He presided as Worshipful Master of William McKinley Lodge in the years 1974, 1986, & 1995; and of Wright’s Grove Lodge No. 779 at Chicago in 2000. He also holds membership in Clarence P. Schwarz Lodge No. 1163, Union Park Lodge 610, & Kelvyn Park-Willing Lodge No. 1075 at Chicago; Glenview Lodge No. 1058 (where he is president of the Past Masters Club) & Morton Grove Lodge No. 1146 at Glenview; Riverside Lodge No. 862 in Riverside; Men in Brotherhood Lodge No. 1178 in Franklin Park; and the Illinois Lodge of Research. He is past president of the North-Side Instruction Club, the Masonic Standard Club, and the Duck University Instruction Club.

Right Worshipful Brother Carlton has been an active Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois since being commissioned on 11 May 1974. He also served as a District Deputy Grand Master from 1977 through 1981, and as president of District Deputy Grand Masters’ Association of Northern Illinois in 1981. Likewise, he was a Grand Lodge Instructor from 1982 through 1995, and President of the Grand Lecturers Association of Northern Illinois in 1979. He was appointed the Worshipful Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge in 1996-1997, and has served on several committees of the Grand Lodge: the Masonic Homes Endowment Committee from 1976 to 1985, the Blood Sharing Committee from 1986 to 1992, and as chairman of the Appeals and Grievances Committee since 2004.

Cousin Carlton was advanced to the degree of Mark Master and exalted to the Supreme Degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason in 1971, both in Lincoln Park Chapter No. 177 of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois at Chicago. Lincoln Park Chapter subsequently consolidated into Irving Park Chapter No. 195 over which he presided as Excellent High Priest. He is also a Past High Priest of Oracle Chapter No. 180 at Glenview, and a Past District Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter. He is a member of the Order of High Priesthood.

Our Excellent Chief was greeted as a Select Master in 1971 in Chicago Council No. 4, Cryptic Masons of the State of Illinois, at Chicago, and received the degree of Super Excellent Master on 29 October of the same year. He is a Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Siloam Council No. 53 at Chicago and Forest C. McDaniel Council No. 115 at Glenview. He has served as a District Inspector for the Grand Council. In 2006, he was awarded both the Grand Master’s Leadership Award and membership in the Council of Knights of Ish Sodi (“Man of My Choice”).

Gerald was dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in 1972 in Saint Bernard Commandery No. 35, Knights Templar of the State of Illinois, at Chicago. He currently serves as Eminent Commander of Austin Commandery No. 84 at Glenview, where he is also a past president of the Austin Drill Corps. He is also a Past Commander of Saint Elmo Commandery No. 64 at Chicago, and a member of the Past Commanders Club. He is a member of the Grand Master’s Club in recognition of his financial support of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation.

As a Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Thrice Illustrious Master, and Past Eminent Commander, Sir Knight Carlton was received into Illinois Priory No. 11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honour. He was ordained into Simon Peter Tabernacle XXII, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, and is currently serving as Eighth Pillar.

Excellent Chief Carlton 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., on 13 October 2000. He was installed as Excellent Chief on 14 December 2007.

Cousin Carlton was initiated into Edwin M. Lambert Council No. 319, Allied Masonic Degrees, at Chicago, where he presided as Sovereign Master. His degrees include Secret Monitor, Grand Architect Royal Order of the Rock, and Ye Ancient Order of Corks. He was awarded membership the order of Knights of the Red Branch of Eri. He also became a member of the Grand College of Rites in the United States of America. Gerald was elected and received the degree of Knight of the Masonic & Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre & Saint John the Evangelist in Saint John Conclave. He 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 of whom he served as Pre-Eminent Governor in the year 2001. He was awarded the highest honour of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, the Order of the Purple Cross, in 1998. He is currently an Associate Regent of York Rite Sovereign College.

Cousin Carlton was created a 32° Scottish Rite Freemason and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in the Valley of Chicago in April 1969, where he served as an officer of of that valley’s Gourgas Chapter of Rose Croix of Heredom for six years before resigning because of the health of his wife, Mary Ellen; while in that line, he directed several degrees and chaired many special events. He served as Vice Chairman of the Fraternal Relations Committee for four years. Today, he continues his thirty-eight years on the valley’s make-up staff whom he directed from 1981 through 1991, is a member of the Ancient Craft Degree Team and is one of the most active members of the Speakers Forum. His membership pin bears twelve diamonds to reflect his sponsorship of sixty-five candidates. In recognition of his service to Scottish Rite Freemasonry,  the Illinois Council of Deliberation presented him the Meritorious Service Award in June 1981, and he was subsequently coroneted a 33° Freemason and Inspector General Honorary on 29 August 2006 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.

Gerald is a past president of Oak Park High Twelve Club No. 52, where he currently serves as secretary. He is a dual member of Middle Chamber High Twelve Club No. 725, and is Past President of the Illinois Association of Masonic High Twelve Clubs. He is a member of the Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill. He is Past Venerable Chief of the Masonic Veterans Association and their current Secretary/Treasurer. He is a member of the Dobrovsky Club of Czechoslovak Masons.

Cousin Carlton was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in 1969. In recognition of his outstanding record of candidate sponsorship, he holds the Roundy Jewel with Red Arch, Gold Arch, Emerald Star and one Diamond. He is Director Emeritus of Make-Up, having served as director for ten of his thirty-seven years on the make-up staff for thirty-seven years, and is a member of the Northwest Shrine Club.

Gerald is Past Worthy Patron of Glenview Chapter No. 862, Order of the Eastern Star of Illinois, at Glenview. He now serves as Chaplain.

Our Excellent Chief was awarded honorary membership in the Frank S. Land Preceptory of the Legion of Honour by the Order of DeMolay of Illinois.