Thomas Henry Bodge, Forty-sixth Grand Master
Most Worshipful Brother Bodge was born in Fayette, Maine, August 16, 1866. Graduated from the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, 1886. He taught school the following year, and then began his business life as bookkeeper. From 1897 to 1906, he was in charge of the ' money order division of the Augusta Post Office. At the organization of The State Trust Co., he left the Post Office to become Assistant Treasurer of the new bank, which position he held until his death. Brother Bodge was initiated into Masonry in Bethlehem Lodge, No. 35, April 10, 1893. In 1898, he served as Master, and was D. D. G. M. for the Eleventh District in 1900 and 1901. In Grand Lodge he began to serve on committee work in 1901. He was Grand Master in 1915 and 1916, serving with marked ability. Brother Bodge was made a Royal Arch Mason September 7, 1894, and was elected High Priest in 1899. He was Grand High Priest in 1910, serving one year, declining a re-election because of ill health at the time, but from which he afterward fully recovered. From 1916 to 1942, he wrote the correspondence report for the Grand Chapter, and is considered by his brother scribes as one of the best chapter writers. He was greeted in Alpha Council, December 12, 1902, was T. I. Master in 1905 and 1906, and Grand Master of the Grand Council of Maine in 1918. He was knighted in Trinity Commandery in 1896, and was Eminent Commander in 1907. In the A. & A. Scottish Rite he served the Augusta bodies in about every important office, and was at the head of the Princes of Jerusalem for eight years. He served as 1st. Lieut. Commander of Maine Consistory. Died July 11, 1942.
Waldo Pettengill, Forty-seventh Grand Master
Waldo Pettengill, was born in Livermore, December 1, 1844, and was educated in the public schools, at Farmington Academy and Edward Little Institute. A teacher and a land surveyor in his younger days, about 1890 he did more than any other one man to interest capital in the , development of the gigantic water power at Rumford Falls, which built the present Rumford. The development of the power needed railroad connection and his energy provided that. He was a director in a score of more of big corporations, and president of a four-million dollar bank. In public life he has been equally active and prominent. He was for six years School Committeeman; Selectman for eleven years; County Commissioner for six years; Representative to Legislature four years; State Senator two years; member of the Governor's Council two years, and Chairman of the Maine Enforcement Commission for four years. Brother Pettengill was always a devoted Mason, and for all his busy life always found time to patronize its assemblies. Raised in Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, June 12, 1867, he served in nearly every office in the lodge. He was exalted in Oxford Chapter, Norway, in 1869; greeted in Oxford Council, Norway, in 1886, and knighted in St. Alban Commandery, at Portland, April 1, 1886. He was a charter member of Rumford Chapter, No. 50, at Rumford, and its second High Priest; was a charter member of Strathglass Commandery, No. 21, and was its second Eminent Commander. In the A. & A. Scottish Rite, he received all the degrees to the Thirty-second in the Portland bodies, in 1895. He was elected Deputy Grand Master by almost a unanimous vote in 1915 and 1916, and Grand Master in 1917 and 1918, serving with dignity and ability. Died September 5, 1926.
Silas Bradley Adams, Forty-eighth Grand Master
Silas B. Adams was born in East Deering, (now a part of the City of Portland), on October 17, 1863, and always resided in Portland. He was educated in the public schools of the city and was graduated from the Deering High School and from the New Hampton, (N. H.) Academy. He was what may be termed a business man in the very strictest sense, and from boyhood was a most energetic, stirring, do-something individual; making the most possible of every opportunity. Beginning life as a grocery clerk he has forged ahead step by step, and was the First Vice 1 resident of the American Chicle Corporation of New York, and resident manager of the Portland Branch of that company. He was always a devoted student of Masonry, and in all his connection with the fraternity he put into his work the same systematic and energetic push that he did into business affairs. Raised in Deering Lodge, No. 183, on January 16, 1886, he began at once to enter into the working line and served his lodge as Worshipful Master in 1901. He was exalted in Greenleaf Royal Arch Chapter, No. 13, on April 4, 1887, and served as High Priest in 1900, He was greeted in Portland Council, R. & S. M., and knighted in Portland Commandery, No. 2, K. T. In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite he was at the head of Portland Council, Princes of Jerusalem, six years from 1909 to 1916. On October 1, 1912, he was made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, 33rd Degree. Brother Adams began serving the Grand Lodge of Maine in 1909 as the Chairman of the Committee on Credentials until 1916, when he was elected Deputy Grand Master, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1918, to be re-elected in 1919, as the Centennial Grand Master. He died in Portland December 4, 1930.
Edward W. Wheeler, Forty-ninth Grand Master
Edward Warren Wheeler was born in Brunswick, April 12, 1876, son of Henry Warren and Mary D. (Adams) Wheeler. He was educated in the public schools and Bowdoin College. While in college he acted as telegraph operator and newspaper correspondent. He has been engaged in practice of law since 1900. His has been a very active and busy life. He is Vice President of the Maine Central Railroad and General Counsel of the Maine Central and Boston & Maine Railroads; is a Director of the First National Bank of Brunswick and of the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was State Senator in 1909-1910, a member of the Executive Council 1913-1914; Chairman of the Board of Prison Commissioners, 1917, and declined the appointment as Chairman of Public Utilities Commission by two Governors. He is a member of United Lodge, No. 8, and Worshipful Master of that lodge, 1916; Grand Master, Grand Lodge, 1920-1921. St. Paul's Chapter, No. 14; Mount Vernon Council, No. 2, Thrice Illustrious Master, 1913; Dunlap Commandery, No. 5; Eminent Commander, 1910; Grand Commander, Grand Commandery of Maine, 1920; Scottish Rite, Yates Lodge, Portland Council, Dunlap Chapter, 1907, and Maine Consistory, 1919. Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, 1922; crowned an Active Member, 1932. Grand Minister of State in the Supreme Council. An eloquent and polished public speaker, his services are very much appreciated whenever he can find time from his active and busy life to respond to many requests.
Albert M. Spear, Fiftieth Grand Master
Albert Moore Spear, fiftieth Grand Master of Masons of Maine, was born in Madison, Maine, July 7, 1853. He fitted for college at Coburn Classical Institute, Waterville, where he was a classmate of Leslie C. Cornish, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine, both graduating in 1871. After his graduation, Brother Spear entered Bates College at Lewiston, and was graduated from that institution in 1875. After graduation, he took up the study of law in Lewiston, and two years later was admitted to the bar. He entered upon the practice of law in Hallowell. During seven years' residence in Hallowell, he represented that city in the Legislature of 1883 and 1885. He moved to Gardiner in 1885, and went from there to the State Senate in 1891 and 1893, being President of the Senate in his second term. Judge Spear was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholarship society, and held the degree of LL.D. from Bates in 1916, and from the University of Maine in 1921. He was a member of the Board of Governors of Bates College for more than forty years. Justice Spear was appointed to the Maine bench, March 1, 1902. One of the most interesting cases to come before the Supreme Court in his service was that in which the British House of Lords approved a decision of the Maine court dissented from England decisions, that of Maher vs. Cunningham, 105th Maine. This decision was drawn by Justice Spear. M. W. Brother Spear was initiated into Masonry in Northern Star Lodge, No. 28, at North Anson, June 10, 1876. He affiliated with Kennebec Lodge, No. 5, at Hallowell, December 15, 1880, and later served that lodge as Master. He was a Past Commander of Maine Commandery, No. 1, at Gardiner, and was Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Maine, K. T., in 1890. M. W. Brother Spear was made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, Thirty-third Degree, of the A. & A. Scottish Rite, at its meeting in Philadelphia, in 1919. He died January 31, 1929.
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