Most Worshipful Grand Master Duane L. Vaught

Duane L. Vaught, the 157th Grand Master of Indiana, was born February 17, 1956 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, the first of three sons of Lloyd E Vaught and Loretta Maxine Vaught. He graduated from North Montgomery High School and from Indiana University, the latter with a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting. During college he was in Air Force ROTC becoming Cadet Major. He was baptized and confirmed as a member of the Methodist Church. In December 2000 married Georgia Jean Nagai Goode. M.W. Brother Vaught has two brothers, Dale and Glen, both residing in Indiana. Georgia has a sister, Gloria, living in Atlanta Georgia.

Duane Vaught began his professional career with a national accounting firm in its Indianapolis office, during which time he passed the CPA exam and was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. He subsequently moved to a large local accounting firm in Bloomington Indiana. He advanced in that firm to the level of partner. Since 1995 He has been vice-president of Stampfli Associates, CPAs, P.C., which has grown to be one of the largest accounting firms in Bloomington, Indiana. Although he works with individuals and many kinds of businesses, not-for-profit entities are one of his primary specialties. He served as president of his chapter of Kiwanis, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Indiana State CPA Society and the Bloomington Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, in which last organization he served several years as Vice-president for Professional Education.

Duane Vaught began his Masonic career on April 30, 1971 when he was initiated into Montgomery Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. In DeMolay he served as Master Councilor of his Chapter, Illustrious Knight Commander of DeMolay Order of Knighthood in Indiana and two years as an appointed officer of the DeMolay State Council. He has received the DeMolay honors of Representative DeMolay, Chevalier, and Legion of Honor (Active)

Brother Vaught was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Crawfordsville on March 21, 1977, and raised to the degree of Master Mason 49 days later after previously receiving the degree of Fellowcraft. He served as Worshipful Master of Spencer Lodge no. 95 in 1993 during which year the lodge received the Grand Master’s Award with Distinction. He has also served as Worshipful Master of Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research. Vaught received the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry, Cryptic Masonry and the Orders of Chivalric Masonry on October 22, 1977 in a festival, held in Muncie, in honor of then presiding Most Eminent Grand Master, Willard M. Avery. He Served as High Priest of Crawfordsville Chapter No. 40 and Illustrious Master of Montgomery Council No. 34 in 1983. In 1995 he was appointed as Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Oregon near Indiana.

Sir Knight Vaught served as Eminent Commander of Crawfordsville Commandery No. 25 in 1981 and 1982 and has received the Distinguished Service and Knight Commander of the Temple awards. He is Grand Representative of the Grand Commandery of Illinois near Indiana and also holds memberships in Bloomington Commandery No. 63 and St Anselm Commandery UD. He holds honorary memberships in several other Grand Commanderies. He served ten years as an officer of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Indiana culminating in serving as the 140th Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Indiana in 2001 - 2002. Sir Knight Vaught is also serving on the finance committee of the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the USA.

Brother Vaught is a Past Governor of Banks of the Wabash York Rite College No. 72 and has received the Gold Honor Award and Order of the Purple Cross. He is a Past Excellent Chief of Indiana Council No. 15, Knight Masons and Past Director General of Indianapolis Preceptory, Yeomen of York. In the Allied Masonic Degrees he is a Past Sovereign Master of St. Bernard de Clairvaux Council 256, as well Past Commander Noah and Past Supreme Ruler of the Secret Monitor. He is a Knight Commander of the Red Branch of Eri and currently serves as Secretary of his council.

Brother Vaught is currently serving as an officer of St Basil Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine and St Andrew Tabernacle XXXV Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests He is a member IX degree, Knight Grand Cross of Indiana College, Masonic Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis, MSCRIF, and serves as Treasurer General of the High Council, MSCRIF of the United States.

He is a member of J. Herbert Nichols and Robert A. Woods Priories of KYCH, Terre Haute Valley, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Scotland, Murat Shrine AAONMS, Sahara Grotto MOVPER, Knights of Pythias, Grand College of Rites, Order of Knights Preceptor, Indiana Past Commanders Association, Goose and Tater, and Royal Order of Zanzibar. In 2005 he was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33o. He is a Grand Cross of the Royal Society of Knights Occidental and an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.

Most Worshipful Grand Master Roger S. VanGorden appointed Duane as Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge in May of 2002. Brother Vaught was latter appointed as the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Oregon near Indiana. In 2003 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon by Most Worshipful Grand Master James L. Chesney of Ellettsville. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 he was elected to each successive office and on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 was invested with the purple of the fraternity as the 157th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana.

The History of the Grand Master Pin