The Grand Master of Utah, M.W. Brother Steven D. Lancaster
M.W. Brother Lancaster is a native Utahan born on July 6, 1963 in Brigham City, Utah, to Curtis and Janet Lancaster. He graduated from Box Elder High School in 1981 and enrolled at the University of Utah earning a Bachelors Degree in 1985. Following college he embarked on a career in mental health industry working in several acute adolescent treatment centers across the country ranging from Florida to Montana before eventually returning to the University of Utah where he earned a Master�s Degree in Social Work in 1995. Currently he is licensed in Utah and Idaho as Clinical Social Worker and is the Clinical Director for Island View, an adolescent residential treatment center located in Syracuse, Utah.
On August 15, 1987, he married Cindy Lee Sovereen and they are now the proud parents of two beautiful daughters. Hailey Michelle was born on January 12, 1993 and Ashley Marie was born on August 12, 1997. A proud moment for father and daughter occurred on February 11, 2004 when Hailey was initiated into Bethel #15 making the Grand Master a happy �Jobie Father.�
Brother Lancaster started his masonic journey as a DeMolay in 1977 when he was initiated into Leland Stanford Chapter in Brigham City, Utah eventually serving the Chapter as Master Councilor in 1980. In DeMolay he has received many awards including Past Master Councilor Meritorious Service Award, Representative DeMolay Award, and the Founder�s Award. He later was accorded the honors of Chevalier, Cross of Honor, Active Legion of Honor, and was elected to be a Deputy member of the International Supreme Council in 2002. Given all the honors, his proudest accomplishment is being Chapter Dad for four different Chapters across three states and receiving the Advisor of the Year: “Guild of the Leather Apron” in 1986 with his first Chapter.
Grand Master Lancaster began his masonic career in Amity Lodge #23 in Brigham City, Utah where he was initiated an Entered Apprentice in April 1983, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft in June 1983, and raised to sublime degree of Master Mason on September 30, 1983 by then Grand Master Curtis N. Lancaster, his father, and his Grand Lodge Officers. He served as Worshipful Master for two consecutive years in 1996 and 1997. In the Fall of 2000 he took a dual membership with Gateway Lodge #29 in Clearfield, Utah and later was one of the charter members for St. Andrew�s Lodge #34.
Brother Lancaster became a 320 Scottish Rite Mason during the 163rd Reunion of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Salt Lake City, Utah, in April 1984 where he was elected Orator of that class. He was invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor on November 6, 1999, and was Coroneted a 330 Inspector General Honorary on November 1, 2003. He served as Chairman of the Education and Americanism Committee for the Orient of Utah for three years, Director of the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, Commander of the K.C.C.H. Club, and is the Director of the Fourteenth Degree as well as a cast member in five other degrees. He was initiated into the Royal Order of Scotland in June 1999 and is a member of the Royal Scots of Utah.
He joined the York Rite in March of 1997 and is a member of Ogden Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, Ogden Council No. 3, Cryptic Masons, and El Monte Commandery No. 2 Knights Templars in Ogden, Utah. He served as High Priest in 1999 and Illustrious Master and Eminent Commander in 2000. He was initiated into the Red Cross of Constantine in January 2000 and is a member of the Bonneville Conclave. In December 2001 he received the Knight York Cross of Honor and in December 2003 was initiated into the Holy Royal Arch Knight Priests, Petra Tabernacle No. LXI.
Grand Master Lancaster proudly became a noble of El Kalah Shrine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in April 2003. He was also admitted as a honorary member of the National Sojourners, Salt Lake Chapter #114 in 2003.
Most Worshipful Grand Master Lancaster was appointed to the Grand Lodge of Utah by Past Grand Master David W. Barron in 1998. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in February of 2001 and was elected and installed Grand Master at the 132nd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Utah on January 31, 2004.
When he is not at meetings or going to masonic events, you will probably find him harassing fish with his fly rod or dreaming about being in the Tour De France burning up the streets and highways of Utah on his road bike. He has also been known on occasion to tie a mean looking bow tie! After this year you will find him repaying his family for all of the sacrifices they have made which allowed him to follow his dreams.