Nevada City Lodge Freemason Honored with Hiram Award

NEVADA CITY — This past Saturday evening, May 31st, Nevada Lodge No. 13 of the California Free & Accepted Masons (F&AM) gave one of its members Masonry’s highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Mason, the Hiram Award. Family, friends, and brother members memorialized their fellow brother with a dinner and, later, a ceremony.

US Marine Corps Colonel and Past Grand Master of California Sean Matroka, current sitting Master of Mountain Range Lodge No. 18 of Nevada City (that consolidated with Downieville Mountain Shade Lodge No. 18 around 2007), explained each individual lodge may elect the award only once per year, and it may only be received by a member once in a lifetime. However, a Mason may receive more than one Hiram award if he is an affiliated member of multiple lodges.Matroka, in 2023, was given two Hiram Awards, one by Harmony Lodge No. 164 of Sierra City and the other by Nevada Lodge No. 13.

Saturday’s awardee, Charlie Wilson, was born in July of 1955 and raised in Gridley. In 1970, Charlie entered the Masonic community with the Sutter Butte DeMolay Chapter. DeMolay is a Masonic youth order that has roots tied to Knights Templar’s last Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay. Charlie served the DeMolay youth order and later became a chapter and divisional advisor. He currently continues advising the Nevada City DeMolay North Star Chapter. He has received many recognitions, awards, and honors from DeMolay over the years for his selfless devotion. In 1977, Charlie became a Freemason. Charlie has displayed great eagerness, devoting his time and energy to the community and leading the local youth.

Matroka explained that although “award” is in the Hiram’s title, there is a distinction between receiving an award and being honored. About the Hiram, he said, “It’s an honor given to you…as opposed to an award, which is earned. In my opinion, it is perhaps the premier way a lodge can show appreciation to an individual brother for exemplary service. It is not something you seek or earn… or set out to achieve. It’s not that kind of recognition. The significance of presenting this award (by a lodge) is having Masons in the community coming together to witness this event…. It shows the recipient how much Masons appreciate his efforts. That it may inspire others to follow his example of service.” Awardees exemplify the devotion and selflessness found in the tenets of Freemasonry.

The award consists of a Gold and Silver Medallion on a blue ribbon accompanied by a certificate of recognition. The Medallion depicts the square and compass, the letter “G,” and a wreath of Laurel. The award, named after Hiram Abiff, a central figure and Masonic legend, is designated for Master Mason recipients only. It is common for a lodge to go years without awarding the Hiram Award.