Jeremy Jason Sawyer

2000, 2001

On May 20, 2000, and Brother Jeremy Jason Sawyer was installed as the 107th Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, Free and Accepted Masons.
Brother Sawyer was born on November 12, 1933 at Winchendon, Massachusetts, the third of six sons born to Jason and Elizabeth Sawyer. He spent his early life on a dairy farm in Jeffrey, New Hampshire and attended grammar school there. He graduated from Conant High School of Jaffrey in 1951 where he was the captain of the basketball team. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1955 and was a member of the Sigma epsilon fraternity. While in college he met his future wife, Barbara Harmon.

Brother Sawyer and Barbara Harmon were married in Needham, Massachusetts are March 24, 1956. They have 3 daughters, Susan, Lucinda and Priscilla. Susan is married to John LeBlanc and they have 2 children, Christen and Miranda. Lucinda is married to David Jefferson and they also have 2 children, Rebecca and Timothy. Priscilla is married to Jay Lord and they have one son, Calvin. All of them live in the same area as the Sawyers.

Brother Sawyer served in the United States Army from July 1955 to May 1957 was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Frankfurt, West Germany. After discharge from military service, he taught history at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, New Hampshire until 1962, when he moved his young family to Hampton, New Hampshire. He began teaching history at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton that year and spent the rest of his career at that school. He served as Chairman of the Social Studies Department and, from 1968 to his retirement in 1993, was a counselor, specializing in college placement and financial aid. He served as President of the Winnacunnet faculty; president of the Seacoast Education Association; President of the New Hampshire School Counselors Association and President of the Winnacunnet Scholarship Foundation. He has also served on the Regional Council of the College Board for New Hampshire and a trustee of the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation.

The Sawyers are members of First Congregational Church of Hampton and Brother Sawyer served on the board of Christian Education, Board of Deacons and has been the Senior Deacon on 2 occasions.

Brother Sawyer was raised the sublime degree of Master Mason in Saint James Lodge No. 102 of Hampton on September 20, 1973. He served the Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1978. He is a member of William Pitt Tavern Lodge No. 1789 and, as Grand Master, is the Lodge’s current Worshipful Master. He is a Past Master of General William Whipple Military Lodge and is a member of the New Hampshire Society of Veteran Freemasons.

Brother Sawyer is a member of both the York and Scottish Rites and served as Most Wise Master of New Hampshire Chapter of Rose Croix in 1998 and 1999. He is also a member of Bektash Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

In Grand Lodge, Brother Sawyer was appointed as the District Deputy Grand Lecturer for the First Masonic District in 1987 and again in 1988. He served as District Deputy Grand Master for the district in 1989 and 1990. In May 1992, Brother George D. Van Dyke appointed him to the office of Junior Grand Deacon and he has proceeded through the chairs to the position he now holds, that of Grand Master.

For service to his Lodge and Freemasonry Brother Sawyer has been awarded both the Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal and the Jeremy Ladd Cross Medal.

Brother Sawyer brings to the office of Grand Master a quiet dignity, and respect for his fellow man, not often found in today’s world. He is truly a gentle man, who places a great deal of credit for whatever success he has achieved, on the values taught to him while growing up on a small dairy farm in rural New Hampshire.
We are indeed fortunate to have a man of his stature as the 107th Most Worshipful Grand Master of this Grand Lodge.