John Glenn Sharman

John Glenn Sharman

John has been a freemason since December 2023, and was initiated into The Cricket Lodge of Essex No. 10009 just after turning twenty-five. He is currently the Lodge's Junior Deacon, where he enjoys challenging himself with, and presenting freemasonry's fantastic ritual. He is also a member of Angel Lodge No. 51, and the British Sub-Aqua Lodge No. 8997.

John was exalted into the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch in 2025, and is a member of the Combined Sporting Chapter of Essex No. 9944. He has been advance and elevated into the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner degrees, and is a member of Ilford St. Mary No. 1470. He holds active office in all of these units. John is also a member of Metropolitan College No. 1 of the SRIA.

In 2026, John was the joint winner of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Essex's Keystone lecture competition, with his essay - Linking the Mark and the Ark: Rediscovering the “lost” Mark degrees. This essay explored the origins of the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner degrees, and the lost component degrees that once linked them together.

Outside of freemasonry, John is a Management Consultant in London. He holds a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Warwick, and a MSc from King's College London. 

The Bondwomen's Son: Jephthah and the Imperfect Mason

This essay explores the biblical figure of Jephthah and his significance within the Second Degree of Freemasonry. Though often overshadowed by the better-known characters and themes of Masonic ritual, Jephthah occupies a prominent place in the Fellow Craft degree and offers a compelling lesson in moral formation.

Set against the wider background of the Book of Judges, Jephthah's story follows his rise from social outcast to ruler and military commander. His achievements are considerable, yet his life is marked by a series of tragic decisions that reveal the limitations of ability when it is not tempered by understanding. He is neither an ideal hero nor a straightforward villain, but a deeply human figure whose virtues coexist with serious flaws.

The essay argues that Jephthah represents a man in the process of development rather than one who has attained wisdom. For this reason, his story has particular relevance to the Fellow Craft, who likewise stands in a state of transition and self-improvement. Through an examination of Jephthah's actions and their consequences, the essay considers the dangers of pursuing advancement without sufficient reflection and the risks that arise when conviction is mistaken for understanding.

The essay then turns to contemporary Masonic life, using Jephthah's experiences to reflect on leadership, progression through lodge office, and the responsibilities that accompany influence. Ultimately, the essay suggests that the value of Jephthah's story lies in its realism. Rather than presenting an unattainable model of perfection, it offers a study of human weakness and the need for continual self-examination. In doing so, it reinforces the Second Degree's emphasis on the careful development of judgement and character as the foundation of genuine Masonic progress.