Past Grand Master ~ 2022
M.W.Bro. Charles W. Ward IV was elected and installed as the 42nd Grand Master of Masons of Alaska on February 4, 2022.
Prior to his service as Grand Master, Charles served the Grand Lodge of Alaska as its Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Sword Bearer and Grand Tyler. He has also been president of the Alaska Masonic Library and Museum’s Board of Directors, chairman of the Grand Lodge’s Wills and Endowments Committee and a member of its Jurisprudence, Public Relations, Long-Range Planning, Masonic Research and Education, Leadership Training, Code Review and Website and Social Media committees. He has also served as an editor for the Grand Lodge’s quarterly publication, Light From the Great Land.
Charles was raised a Master Mason on Oct. 22, 2011 at Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge No. 21. He served that lodge as its Worshipful Master in 2017, a year in which the lodge received the Grand Master’s Award of Excellence. He is also a member of Aurora Lodge No. 15, Matanuska Lodge No. 7, Yukon Lodge No. 45 under the Grand Lodge, A.F.& A.M. of British Columbia and Yukon, and the Missouri and Oklahoma lodges of research. In 2022, Valdez Lodge No. 4 honored him with the title of Honorary Past Master.
In addition to his Grand and Craft Lodge labors, Charles also served as Venerable Master of the Scottish Rite Valley of Juneau in 2018 and President of the Juneau-Douglas Shrine Club in 2014. Additionally, he is the attorney for Al Aska Shrine and a member of the Anchorage York Rite bodies, the Scottish Rite Valley of Anchorage, Juneau Chapter No. 7, Order of the Eastern Star and the Royal Order of Scotland and is a member of the Board of Governors for Shriners Hospitals for Children — Portland.
Charles received the District Deputy’s award for excellence in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and was named Cryptic Mason of the Year in 2018 by the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Alaska.
Charles earned journalism and law degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He works as executive director of two non-profit organizations and as a referee for 907 Pro Wrestling. He has also worked as a reporter and editor for several media outlets, as an investigator and executive administrator for the State of Alaska and as an attorney.
Charles lives in Eagle River with his wife Anne and their dog, Coach.
