Anthony T. Stafford Military Lodge #16
KAISERSLAUTERN MILITARY COMMUNITY GERMANY, DISTRICT 44 EUROPE
The MOST WORSHIPFUL UNION GRAND LODGE
Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity♦Free and Accepted Masons♦State of Florida and Belize♦Central America
Jurisdiction♦Incorporated♦Prince Hall Affiliated
Most Worshipful Gardner M. Torrence Sr.
Past Grand Master
Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of
Florida Belize, Central America and Jurisdiction, Inc. PHA
Biography
Brother GARDNER M. TORRENCE SR., Most Worshipful (M.·.W.·.) Past Grand Master was the second of five (5) children born to Mildred Adams Torrence (late) and James Torrence Sr. in Belle Glade, Florida on July 30, 1963.
After completing primary schooling and graduating from Glades Central Community High School in June 1981, he went off to Electronic Engineering School graduating with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electronic Engineering. M.·.W.·. Torrence then attended a Florida International University (.FI.U.) in Miami, FL on a basketball scholarship where he completed two years of studies. In January 1985 he joined the United States Air Force and retired on 1 December 2007 after serving 22 years of Honorable Service to his country. M.·.W.·. Torrence began his Masonic Career in February 1994 where he was Initiated Entered Apprentice, Passed to the Degree of a Fellowcraft, and Raised to the Sublime Degree Master Mason in Cherry Blossom Lodge No. 42, Yokota Air Base, Tokyo Japan.
In May 1994 after being Raised, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of his lodge where subsequently elected Lodge Secretary, Junior Warden, Senior Warden and in 1998 to the oriental chair of Worshipful Master. In 1999 and continuing his masonic career in the Washington Jurisdiction, he was appointed and served as Asst. District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District #6 (Mainland Japan), which at the time comprised of five lodges (Cherry Blossom #42, O’Misawa #54, Pride of Orient #55, Genesis #89, and Revelation #97). In 2002, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master (D.D.G.M.)for Masonic District #7 (Okinawa, Japan) which comprised of Torii #46 and Okinawa Military #68; and in 2004 appointed D.D.G.M. for Masonic District #10 (Republic of Korea) which comprised of Sprig of Acacia #93, Lion of Judah #94, Guiding Light #95, II Corinthians #96 and then Tri-Step #99. M.W. Torrence has also served in the capacity of Special District Deputy Grand Master for the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington as its Chief Editor for its Washington Community Monitor (newspaper) and as Website Administrator for the Grand Lodge official website for a number of years. He has also served on numerous Grand Lodge Committees in particular Chair of Grievance and Appeals; Chair on Report on Grand Masters Annual Address, Vice Chair of Election Judges as well as chaired the Grand Lodge Code Committee.
In July 2005, M.·.W.·.Torrence ascend his journey as a Grand Lodge Line Officer by being elected and installed Grand Lecturer for the ensuing year; 2006 and 2007 elected Grand Junior Warden; 2008 and 2009 Grand Senior Warden for the years; in 2010 elected and installed Deputy Grand Master. On 13 July 2011 he was elected and installed Most Worshipful Grand Master for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of Washington and Jurisdiction.
As Most Worshipful Grand Master, he traveled extensively to many Prince Hall Grand Lodges and has since become Honorary Past Grand Master in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon-Idaho, Tennessee, Texas, Washington D.C., and Virginia.
A full product of the “Far East” M.·.W.·.Torrence served membership in John J. Story Consistory #111, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (A.A.S.R.), Valley of Mainland Japan, N.J., Inc. where in 1999 he served as Commander-in-Chief; in 2001 as Most Excellent High Priest of Sylvester “Pappy” Cann, H.R.A.M., Okinawa Japan; and 1999 as Illustrious Potentate of As-Sami Temple #225, Oasis of Mainland Japan, Desert of Far East and Asia, A.E.A.O.N.M.S. Inc.
He has served positions as Imperial Advisor and Organizer for the Desert of the Far East and Asia; Illustrious Advisor to the Deputy for the Valley of South Korea, Orient of Far East as well as Asst. Grand Secretary for Council of Deliberation, Orient of the Far. In 1999, M.·.W.·. Torrence was honored for his support and dedication to Scottish Rite Freemasonry by being nominated to receive the Honorary Thirty-third and last degree in Masonry and in May 2001 was coronated a Grand Inspectors General, United Supreme Council, (A.A.S.R.), Prince Hall Affiliated (P.H.A.) in Philadelphia, PA as a member of the class “Alvin H. Swigget”. In 2012, to culminate his masonic career in Shrinedom for his longevity and support he was elected by his temple and honored as Honorary Past Imperial Potentate, A.E.A.O.N.M.S. Inc. In April 2013, while attending the M.W.U.G.L., P.H.A. Florida Jurisdiction and with the kindness of the Honorable Anthony T. Stafford, M.W.G.M. and its member M.·.W.·.Torrence was accepted as a Past Grand Master of the Florida Jurisdiction, where he is currently a member of ANTHONY T. STAFFORD MILITARY LODGE NO. 16.
M.·.W.·. Gardner M. Torrence Sr considers it a blessing and honor to be married to Sister Gloria M. Torrence for over 34 years. They have been blessed with three grown children Garneisha Metrice, Germieka Michelle and Gardner McKay Jr.