It is my sad duty to report the passing of Worshipful Brother Russell G Knox. Brother Knox put down his heavy earthly working tools of life after 49 years as a Mason.
Freemasonry is carried forward by men who quietly give their time, their guidance, and their steady presence to the lodge. Brother Russell G. Knox was one of those men.
Brother Knox was born on October 13, 1933, and passed away on March 7, 2026, at the age of 92. For nearly fifty years, he was a committed and respected member of Blazing Star Lodge, where he played an important role in the life of the lodge and the development of many younger Masons.
His Masonic journey began in 1976. He was Initiated on October 12, Passed on November 9, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on November 23 of that same year. From the beginning, he embraced the responsibilities that come with being a Mason.
Brother Knox later served as Past Master of the lodge. His leadership reflected the kind of Mason he was: steady, dependable, and committed to the well-being of the Craft. Titles never defined him. What mattered most was the work itself and the brothers around him.
One of his greatest contributions was the time he gave to younger men entering the fraternity. Over the years, he helped guide many candidates through their degrees and into active participation in lodge life. He believed Masonry was something to live, not simply something to attend.
Outside the lodge, he also devoted himself to public service. Brother Knox served the community through the Buffalo Fire Department, eventually retiring with the rank of lieutenant. The same spirit of duty and care for others that defined his public service was also evident in his Masonic life.
He was also a member of Shriners International, continuing his involvement in the wider Masonic family and supporting its charitable work.
Every lodge has brothers whose presence quietly shapes its character over many years. Brother Knox was one of those men. He helped maintain the traditions of the lodge while encouraging new generations to carry the work forward.
Freemasonry often speaks of light being passed from one Mason to another. That light does not diminish when it is shared. Instead, it grows stronger with each generation that receives it and carries it onward.
Brother Russell G. Knox spent nearly five decades passing that light to others. The men he mentored, the brothers he served beside, and the lodge he helped strengthen will continue to reflect that influence for years to come.
He will be deeply missed and remembered with gratitude by the Brethren whose lives he touched.
Farewell, dear Brother. May the Great Architect welcome you into His eternal Lodge above. Until we meet again.
Please join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to the family of Brother Knox in this difficult time.
“Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord” Amen.
