Greetings,
This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice in it. Thank you for electing me as the 29th
Grand Worthy Matron of Excelsior Grand Chapter. I am truly honored by the trust and faith that
you have placed in me.
It’s with gratitude to God, I wish to thank every individual who has come before me and paved the
way for Excelsior Grand Chapter. I know there’s a challenge before me, but I promise that I will
give it my all.
I am thrilled to be working with such a great group of Sisters and Brothers.
The Lord is my Shepherd and He is my Protector. I am a Charter member of Temple Church in
Nashville, Tennessee and served on the usher board. I am married to Brother Ronald E. Pillow, a
member of Prince Hall Lodge No. 1, Nashville and the mother to Melissa, Melicent, Michael, and
Matthew.
I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science with a minor in History, as well as
and a Master of Science Degree in Guidance and Counseling with a minor in Psychology from
Tennessee State University. After 33 years, I retired from the State of Tennessee working with
Disability Determination and the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Both are federally funded
programs under Health Education Welfare and Labor. I also served also on the Board of Work
Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Now to reflect on my journey in the Masonic Order:
* I began this Journey in 1988 Eclipse Chapter No. 220; and I have truly enjoyed it. I served in
all positions, elected and appointed, from the Sentinel to the Worthy Matron.
*Later, I became a member of St. Mary’s Assembly; and was elected to the position of Loyal Lady
Ruler, and elevated to State Grand Loyal Lady Ruler.
* I then joined the Daughters and moved up the line to the position of Illustrious Commandress,
recently receiving the appointment of Honorary Past Imperial Commandress.
Tennessee York Rite Bodies:
*As I continued on this Masonic journey, Middle Tennessee petitioned to reactivate the York Rite
Houses, beginning with the Heroines of Jericho and the Guild. I was selected as Most Ancient
Matron and Princess Captain.
*Later, I became the Most Ancient Grand Matron and Jurisdictional Deputy for the General
Conference of Grand Courts, Heroines of Jericho United States of America and the Bahamas, Inc.
PHA, and Honorary Grand Princess Captain.
*I also served in the Grand Guild as the Grand Treasurer for ten (10) years.
* Later, The Ladies of the Circle of Perfection was brought on board; and I served as the Royal
Perfect Matron and Royal Grand Perfect Matron.
*In May 2017, I was elected as General Conference Royal Grand Perfect Matron of the General
Conference of Grand Courts, Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, United States of America and the
Bahamas, PHA, where I served an unprecedented three (3) years.
*In 2009, the Princesses York Cross of Honour (PYCH) was established. I have served as the
Regal Prioress for our local Court; and was elected as the Grand Treasurer for Tucker-Coffee
Grand Court, Princesses York Cross of Honour, United States of America, PHA, a position I still
serve today.
*In 2011, I was elected your Honored Grand Treasurer for Excelsior Grand Chapter Order of
Eastern Star; now, I am thrilled to be working with such a great group of Sisters and Brothers, as
your 29th Grand Worthy Matron of Excelsior Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star for the
Jurisdiction of Tennessee.
So far this year, I have been informed, educated, and learning to be accepting. In My Masonic
Life, I have learned to laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you
can’t change. In this in-coming year, we will borrow from the past, as yesterday is our history and
we will embrace it. Today, we will treat our present as a gift; and we will cultivate new ideas and
tomorrow we will see our goals come into fruition.
My charge to this administration is for us to work together like Moses, Aaron, and Hur in Exodus
17; 10-13. Elected officers on my right and Appointed officers and the Past Grand’s on my left
together, WE will serve Excelsior Grand Chapter well and move forward in Unity.
This year, we will make some enhancements which will create uniformity, along with inclusion,
of the overall membership of Excelsior Grand Chapter. We will be creative in our workings, but
we will not forget our Landmarks and Traditions.
My Philosophy: If you and I should differ
“In our beliefs
In our philosophies
In our understanding of things
We may come to realize
It is not important
That we always agree
Only that we respect each other’s
Right to be different”
My Anthem: “Lord keep me day by day, in a pure and perfect way. I want to live; I want to live
on in a building not made by hands.
My Motto: “Once a task is just begun, never leave it till it’s done. Be the labor great or small, do
it well or not at all.
It is my prayer that everyone will stay safe and stay masked up.
In conclusion, as we go into this new administration, I want you to Drink, Steal, Swear, and Lie.
Drink from the everlasting cup every single day of your life, Steal a moment of time to help
someone else who may not be as fortunate as you, Swear to be a better person than you were
yesterday, and Lie down and thank God every night for this opportunity to have lived one more
day.
Yours in sisterly & brotherly Love,
Sister Robbie R. Pillow
Grand Worthy Matron
Excelsior Grand Chapter