Richard Burditt Baldwin
(1935-2009)
55th Grand Master of the Grand Encampment (2006–2007)
Sir Knight Richard Burditt Baldwin was born in Concord, Massachusetts on October 28, 1935, the son of David Samuel Baldwin and Hope Elizabeth Whiney Baldwin. He grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, graduating from the public schools of that town in 1953, and was the second President of the School Council of the school system.
He attended the University of Massachusetts where he majored in Business Administration and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery in the United States Army, after successfully completing the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He entered Active Duty on Flag Day, June 14, 1957.
He was to spend the next thirty years in service to his country. He commanded Air Defense Artillery Units from Platoon through Battalion, saw combat in the Republic of South Vietnam, and had foreign service in the Federal Republic of Germany, and in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he held staff assignments from Brigade level through the Department of the Army as well as in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). He graduated from all the career service schools and colleges from the Basic Course through the Army War College and received a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from the George Washington University in 1974.
Early in the 1970’s, he had responsibility for the production funds for the Army’s Anti-Ballistic Missile Program, and his final assignment was as Comptroller for the Army’s portion of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), derisively nicknamed the “Star Wars program” after the 1977 movie, announced on March 23rd, 1983, by President Ronald Reagan. SDI represented Reagan’s rejection of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). MAD had fostered an uneasy peace during the Cold War as neither the U.S. nor the USSR attacked the other knowing that it would in turn be the target of a massive nuclear retaliation annihilating it (and much of the planet).
He held combat and meritorious service decorations from the Army Commendation Medal through the Legion of Honor, together with the appropriate service ribbons for his overseas duty. Following retirement in 1987, he served on the Defense Secretary’s Commission on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
His Fraternal work began at the Age of fourteen (14) when he became a member of Sudbury Grange No. 121, Patrons of Husbandry, and was taught the Master’s part in the Second Degree of that Order by his father a year later. He was a member and Past Ruler of Minuteman Junior Lodge No.2 Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (IOOF).
Sir Knight Baldwin was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Bezaleel Lodge No 100 (now Dark) in Hannover, New Hampshire while serving on the faculty of Dartmouth College, on June 5, 1967, receiving his Scottish Rite degrees the same year at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He later became a Shriner following his return from Vietnam in 1969. He affiliated with Elmer Timberman Lodge No. 54, Annandale, Virginia in 1969, became a Royal Arch Mason in 1971 and was created a Knight Templar in Arlington Commandery No. 29 on April 14, 1973.
He served as Commander of Arlington Commandery in 1983, being appointed Eminent Grand Warder the preceding year by Sir Knight Neville M. Hindman, Grand Commander, at Danville, Virginia. In 1989, he was appointed General Chairman of the Easter Sunrise Memorial Service Committee for the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, of the United States of America (USA) and served in that position until 1999.
He served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia in 1989-1990 and was appointed an Honorary Past Department Commander in 1991, by the Most Eminent Grand Master, William Henry Thornley, Jr., GCT.
In August 1997, he was elected Right Eminent Grand Captain General of our Grand Encampment from a field of five extremely qualified candidates. On August 16, 2006, he was installed as Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America in Houston, Texas. He was a staunch supporter of Commandery drill teams. As Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, published an article in the May 1999 Edition of the Knight Templar Magazine promoting the drill team as a program and activity that will create and promote interest of the members. Additionally, the purpose of his article was to renew the interest of Grand Commanderies in drill teams as well as promote esprit de corps within Commanderies.
Unfortunately, due to deteriorating health, he resigned as Grand Master on August 27, 2007. During his one year as Grand Master, his achievements were many. Templary is in his debt as many of the programs and plans he proposed came successfully to fruition.
He passed to the Supreme Architect of the Universe on February 5, 2009, and on February 8, 2009, over one hundred uniformed Knights Templar paid their last respects at his Knight Templar service held in Burke, Virginia. He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
The Baldwin-Brown Fellowship, “Building Today for a Better Tomorrow” is named for two outstanding Past Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of the Commonwealth of Virginia, SK Richard Burditt Baldwin and SK Fitz Allen Brown. Realizing all Masonic organizations in Virginia were experiencing an increase in operating costs, which were causing the necessity of increasing amounts of assessments, added to decreasing levels of membership dues, Sir Knight David Graham Mathews, Jr., Right Eminent Past Grand Commander in 1999, created this award to help provide financial stability by assisting expenses and to off-set harsh financial deficits.
The existing Grand Commandery Knights Templar Permanent Fund is an interest earning Endowment Fund from which only the interest amounts are used for the day-to-day operating expenses of The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Sir Knight Baldwin had three children: Julia B. Harris, Jodie B. Galliland, and Richard Burditt Baldwin, Jr. He held honorary memberships in many Grand Commanderies and York Rite Bodies in Florida, Alabama, South Dakota, and New Hampshire as well as Knight of the York Cross of Honour of Texas and Illinois. He had also affiliated with Allied Masonic Degrees, Grand College of Rites, L’Ordre de Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte (CBCS), Red Branch of Erie, Masonic order of Bath, and Royal Ark Mariners.
His Masonic Affiliations and Offices (*Date Unknown) were:
Annandale Royal Arch Chapter No. 77. High Priest, 1974-75 and 1979-80.
Seth Warner Camp, Heroes of 76, Commander, 1981-1982.
National Defense Masonic Club, President, 1982-1983.
Arlington Hall Chapter, No 440, National Sojourners, President 1982-1983.
Arlington Commandery No. 29, Commander, 1983-1984.
Washington and Lee York Rite College No. 93, Charter Governor, 1983-1984.
Norfolk, Virginia Forest No. 163, Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Grand Tall Cedar, 1984.
District Deputy Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Virginia, 1986.
Potomac Court No. 4, Order of Amaranth, Royal Patron 1982, 1985, and 1989 and Grand Royal Patron, 1989-1990.
Elmer Timberman Lodge No. 54, Worshipful Master, 1987.
- Douglas Smith Lodge of Research No. 1949, Worshipful Master, 1987.
Lord Fairfax Council No. 90, Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD), Sovereign Master, 1987.
Virginia Appreciation Club, KTEF, President, 1989.
Royal Order of Scotland, Grand Treasurer, 1986-1991.
Florida State Grotto Association, President, 1989-1990.
Virginia State Association of AMD Councils, President, 1990.
Columbia Chapter No. 15, Order of the Eastern Star (OES), District of Columbia, 1990-1991.
Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine, Sovereign, 1992-1994.
Great Chief’s Council, Knight Masons, Chief, 1993.
Nova-Vita Tabernacle, HRAKTP, Preceptor, 1994.
Rose of Sharon Priory No. 2, KYCH, Prior, 1994.
Virginia College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitas Foederatis; Past Celebrant and Chief Adept, 1994-1995.
Dogwood Shrine No. 3, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, Watchman of Shepherds, 1994-1997.
Supreme Watchman of the Shepherds, 1995-1997.
Valley of Washington, Orient of District of Columbia, A&ASR, Southern Jurisdiction, Coroneted
33rd Degree 2001.
Abaca Grotto. *
Adoniram Council No. 10, Florida. *
Anointed High Priest of Virginia. *
Bayard No. 15 (Honorary). *
Capitol Hill Shrine Club. *
Commonwealth York Rite College No. 50 *
Correspondence Circle, Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076. *
Supreme Council, Grottoes of North America; Director of Publications and Grand Ambassador. *
Grand Council, R & S.M., Grand Chaplain, District of Columbia. *
Grand College of Rites. *
Grice No. 16 (Honorary). *
INRI Commandery No. 4, District of Columbia. *
Kena Temple, AAONMS, Legion of Honor. *
Knight of York Cross of Honor. *
LaVon Parker Linn Memorial Square Club. *
Masonic Order of the Bath of the United States of America. *
Missouri Lodge of Research. *
New Jersey, A&ASR, Northern Jurisdiction. *
Orlando Scottish Rite, Editor of their newsletter for 12 years. *
Orlando High Twelve Club. *
Order of the Golden Key. *
Ormazd Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R, Past Monarch and Life Member. *
Oxford Lodge No. 1, Ark Mariners, Ye Antient Order of Corks. *
Penn-Neck Commandery No. 33. *
Pitman Masonic Club (34th Degree). *
Seminole Chapter No. 373, National Sojourners *
Sovereign Order of Knight Preceptor. *
St George No. 76, Ohio. *
Square and Compass Club, Long Bign, Vietnam. *
The Philalethes Society. *
Thomas S. Ely Commandery No. 30. *
Triangle Council No. 3, District of Columbia. *
Triangle Council No. 12, Knight Masons. *
Trinity Chapel, Order of St. Thomas of Acon. *
Thrice Illustrious Masters of Virginia. *
Valley of Alexandria, Orient of Virginia, A&ASR, Southern Jurisdiction. *
Virginia Lodge of Research No. 1777. *
Virginia Research Chapter No. 1753. *
Winchester No. 12 (Honorary). *
References:
55th Grand Master of the Grand Encampment – 2007. George Marshall, Jr., PGC, KCT Chairman, Knights Templar History Committee, 2012-2015. Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the United States of America, Historical Information from 1861.
Proceedings of the One Hundred Sixty Eighth Annual Grand Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar in the Commonwealth of Virginia, page 5, May 10-12, 1990.
Proceedings of the One Hundred Seventy Seventh Annual Grand Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar in the Commonwealth of Virginia, page 19, May 13-15, 1999.
Knights Templar Magazine, Volume XXXV, May 1989, Number 5, page 15.
Knights Templar Magazine, Volume XLV, May 1999, Number 5, page 13.
Knights Templar Magazine, Volume LII, September 2006, Number 9, page 13.
Knights Templar Magazine, Volume LIII, October 2007, Number 10, page 2.
Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. The Strategic Defense Initiative — The Other “Star Wars.”
By Sir Knight William Thomas Peterson
