Christopher Hodapp is the author of Freemasons For Dummies, the best-selling introduction to the Masonic fraternity; Solomon's Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington D.C. ; and he is the co-author with Alice Von Kannon of The Templar Code For Dummies and Conspiracy Theories And Secret Societies For Dummies. He is also the author of the feature, A Pilgrim's Progress: Rustic Tales of an Organic Greenhorn in Living Natural First Magazine. In 2008 he became the Editor in Chief of The Journal of The Masonic Society.
He has appeared in the program “Scottish Rite For the 21st Century,” produced for the Scottish Rite Northern Jurisdiction; “Secrets of the Founding Fathers,” produced by Digital Ranch for the History Channel; and “Hunting The Lost Symbol” for the Discovery Channel.
He has spent more than twenty years in advertising as a commercial filmmaker for Dean Crow Productions, editing close to 1,000 commercials, music videos and feature films. He has written scripts for corporate and non-profit clients, and his voice has appeared in many television and radio commercials.
Chris is an alumnus of Brebeuf Jesuit High School in Indianapolis. He has attended Indiana University, the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Valley College, California State University at Northridge, and Indiana/Purdue University at Indianapolis.
As a Freemason, he is a Past Master of Broad Ripple Lodge #643 and of Lodge Vitruvian #767, Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana. He is an honorary member of Vincennes Lodge No. 1, Ancient Landmarks Lodge #319, Garfield Lodge #569, and Logan Lodge #575 in Indiana, and African Lodge #459, Prince Hall Affiliation, in Boston, Massachusetts.
He is a member of Indianapolis Chapter #5 Royal Arch Masons, Indianapolis Council #2 Cryptic Masons (Royal and Select Masters), and Raper Commandery #1 Knights Templar. He is a founding member of Levant Preceptory, a medieval Templar period recreation degree team. Chris is a 32° Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Indianapolis Valley, and a Past Sovereign Master of Allied Masonic Degrees Imhotep Council #434. He is a member of the York Rite Sovereign College, the Yeoman of York, the Royal Order of Scotland, and an honorary recipient of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He is also member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Murat Oasis in Indianapolis.
Chris is a Founding Fellow of The Masonic Society. He is a member of the Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, the Philalethes Society, the Phylaxis Society, the Southern California Research Lodge, the Iowa Research Lodge No. 2, the Scottish Rite Research Society, the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America, and the Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle.
Chris is the editor and a contributor to "Laudable Pursuit: A 21st Century Response to Dwight Smith" by the Knights of the North, a Masonic leadership think-tank. He has written for Indianapolis Monthly, Masonic Magazine, Templar History, the Scottish Rite Journal, the Knight Templar Magazine, the Indiana Freemason magazine, and numerous other publications.
He is a moderator for Hiram's Forum, a Masonic internet project of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, treasurer of the Indianapolis Masonic Temple Association, a member of the Indiana Grand Lodge Technology Committee, and the Grand Lodge Library and Museum Board.
He has received the Grand Master of Indiana's Award for distinguished service in bringing the Masonic Angel Fund program to Indiana in 2003; the President's Award from the Philalethes Society in 2003; the Distinguished Service Medal from the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of Indiana in 2006; and the Duane E. Anderson Excellence in Masonic Education Award from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota in 2006.
He is a member of the Rosslyn Chapel Trust, the Heartland Film Festival, the Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana Historic Landmarks Foundation, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, and a lifetime member of the Indiana Railway Museum.
His new book, Deciphering The Lost Symbol is due from Ulysses Press in time for Christmas 2009.
He lives in Indianapolis.
Coming
Thanksgiving
2009:
Deciphering
The Lost
Symbol
