William Jackson Burnham, Fortieth Grand Master
William Jackson Burnham was born in Saco, December 22, 1835, and was educated in the public schools there and at Thornton Academy. As a young man, he went to Lowell, Mass., and learned the cotton manufacturing business. In 1861, he came to Lewiston, and until his death was connected with the Hill Manufacturing Co., of that city. He was a man of exemplary character and reputation. Brother Burnham was made a Mason in Ancient York Lodge, in Lowell, April 7, 1858, and served that lodge as Secretary for two years. Coming to Lewiston in 1861, he affiliated with Ashlar Lodge, and served as its Master in 1865 and 1866. In 1870, he was appointed Chaplain, which office he held until his death. He was District Deputy Grand Master in 1869, and was elected Grand Master in 1903, serving one year. He received the Capitular degrees in Mount Horeb Chapter in Lowell, in 1860, afterwards affiliating with King Hiram Chapter at Lewiston, serving as its High Priest in 1866 and 1867. and was Treasurer from 1867 until his death. He was T. I. Master of Lewiston Council in 1860. He was knighted in Portland Commandery, No. 2, K. T.. and was a charter member of Lewiston Commandery, No. 6. He received the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Portland in 1876, was made a member of Supreme Council. Thirty-third Degree, in Boston in 1888. Brother Burnham died in Lewiston. February 18. 1912, and was buried by the Grand Lodge of Maine assembled. February 21st. under special call of M Worshipful Grand Master Ashley A. Smith, who conducted the services.
Hugh R. Chaplin, Forty-first Grand Master
Most Worshipful Brother Chaplin was born in Bangor, November 24, 1858, and received his education in the public schools of that city and at Colby College. After leaving college he began the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1882, began practice in Bangor two years later, and has built up a large and remunerative business. He has devoted a considerable time to corporation matters, and is counsel for some of the largest business concerns of the State. Brother Chaplin received Masonic light in St. Andrew's Lodge, in Bangor, December 6, 1887, and was Worshipful Master in 1891 and 1892. His ability was at once recognized in Grand Lodge when he attended as the representative of St. Andrew's Lodge, and he was appointed to committee work which he promptly attended to, and in 1901, he was elected Senior Grand Warden. In 1903, he was elected Deputy Grand Master, and Grand Master in 1904 and 1905, serving with much ability. He was exalted in Mount Moriah Chapter, serving as High Priest in 1891 and 1892, and was Grand Scribe of the Grand Chapter of Maine in 1912. He was greeted in Bangor Council, and was T. I. Master in 1895. In 1894, he was elected Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council from the floor, to be advanced to M. Ill. Grand Master the year following. His interest in this rite did not relax however, as he later served his home council for eight successive years as Principal Conductor of Work, a place of much importance in conferring the degrees in that body. He received the orders of knighthood in St. John's Commandery, No. 3. Brother Chaplin also gave much attention to Scottish Rite Masonry, and was honored by having the Third-third Degree conferred upon him by the Supreme Council in Boston, September 18, 1900. Died in Bangor, September 22, 1935.
Charles Fletcher Johnson, Forty-second Grand Master
Most Worshipful Charles F. Johnson was born in Winslow, Maine, February 14, 1859. He was graduated from the Coburn Classical Institute, in 1874, and from Bowdoin College, in 1879. From 1879 to 1886 he taught school, reading law meanwhile. He was admitted to the Maine bar in 1886, and continued the practice of law at Waterville until his appointment as United States Circuit Judge, in 1917, with the exception of six years he was United States Senator, from 1911 to 1917. He was Mayor of Waterville in 1893, and was twice Representative to Legislature. He was twice candidate of his party for Governor, both times running far ahead of his party ticket. Brother Johnson received his Masonic degrees in Harwood Lodge, No. 91, at Machias, October 23, 1882, while there teaching. On returning to Waterville, he affiliated with Waterville Lodge, which he served as Master in 1894 and 1895. He was Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine in 1904 and 1905, and Grand Master in 1906 and 1907. Brother Johnson was the first candidate to receive the Mark Master Mason degree, and one of the first three exalted in Teconnet Royal Arch Chapter, No. 52, at Waterville, in 1892. He served the chapter as its High Priest in 1897. He received the Cryptic degrees in Mt. Lebanon Council, at Oakland, January 20, 1895. He was knighted in St. Omer Commandery, March 16, 1894, and was Eminent Commander in 1899 and 1900. He received the degrees of the A. & A. Scottish Rite, in 1907, and on October 1, 1912, was made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, Thirty-third Degree, in Boston. In 1911, his alma mater, Bowdoin College, honored him with the degree of L. L. D. Died February 15, 1930.
Edmund Button Mallet, Forty-third Grand Master
Edmund B. Mallet was born September 3, 1853, aboard the ship Devonshire," a family-owned craft of which his father was Captain, while sailing in the English Channel. At the time the sailing port of Captain Mallet's ship was Providence, R. I., and there Brother Mallet made his home until about fourteen years of age, when his parents moved to Bath, and later to Pownal, Maine. About 1875, Brother Mallet moved to Freeport where he was a most useful and influential citizen. He served his town as Selectman for ten years, and as Treasurer for about the same length of time. He was Representative to Legislature in 1887 and 1889, and again in 1911. In 1891 and 1893, he was State Senator for Cumberland County. Brother Mallet was initiated into Masonry in Freeport Lodge, No. 23, October 23, 1883. Two years later be was elected Master, serving two years. In Grand Lodge was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1890. He has served as one of the Board of Trustees of the Charity Fund for many years, also on the Committee on Finance. He was Grand Master in 1908 and 1909. He was exalted in Cumberland Royal Arch Chapter, at Yarmouth, and served as High Priest in 1907. He received the Cryptic degrees in Portland Council, and was knighted in Portland Commandery, No. 2, was Eminent Commander in 1905, and Grand Commander in 1916. In the A. ft A. Scottish Kite he received the degrees to the thirty-second in 1883, served six years as Commander in-Chief of Maine Consistory, and in September. 1888, was made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council. Thirty-third Degree. Died in Freeport. September 17. 1929.
Ashley Auburn Smith, Forty-fourth Grand Master
Ashley A. Smith was born in Auburn, Maine, May 28, 1871; was graduated from Edward Little High School in 1891, and from Tufts University in 1895, at which time he was ordained into the Christian Ministry of the Universalist Church. His first pastorate was in Gloucester, Mass., where he labored from 1895 to 1889 <sic>, when he received a call from the Universalist Church at Belfast. He remained there until 1911, when he accepted a call from the First Universalist Church, of Bangor. A deep thinker and a most forcible speaker, Brother Smith has also attained fame as a literary writer, and is a regular contributor to " The Bookman," " Youth's Companion," " The Universalist Leader," and for two years furnished regular book notices for " The New York Times, Saturday Review of Books, and Art." Brother Smith was raised in Phoenix Lodge, Belfast, April 21, 1902; served as Master two years, 1908 and 1909; was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in 1910 and 1911, and has ever since been one of the Grand Chaplains. He received the Capitular degrees in Corinthian Chapter in 1902, was High Priest in 1907 and 1908, and has served the Grand Chapter as one of its Grand Chaplains since 1910. He received the Cryptic degrees in King Solomon's Council in 1903, and since 1911 has been Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council of Maine. Knighted in Palestine Commandery, November 26, 1902, he served as its Eminent Commander in 1910 and 1911. Since 1913, he has been M. P. Sovereign of Tamerlane Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, of Bangor. In the A. & A. Scottish Rite received the degrees in 1908, and was Grand Prior of Maine Council of Deliberation from 1911 to 1918.
Elmer Pearl Spofford, Forty-fifth Grand Master
Elmer P. Spofford was born in Deer Isle, February 8, 1863, and received his early education in the public schools of that town, and then taught several terms of school himself. Later he attended Westbrook Seminary, from which institution he was graduated in 1882. He began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in Maine, in 1887, and to the Circuit Court of the United States in 1907. He was County Attorney of Hancock County four years, from 1888 to 1892; was a member of the Governor's Council in 1897 and 1898. He was Supervisor of the U. S. Census for Maine in 1900, and again in 1910. He was Judge of the Western Hancock Municipal Court from 1901 to 1910, and was Chairman of the Board of Railway Commissioners of Maine from 1910 until his death. In all these, and many other positions of public trust that he held, he was ever faithful to the trust reposed in him. Brother Spofford was made a Mason in Marine Lodge, No. 122, Deer Isle, March 26, 1889, and was its Worshipful Master in 1891 and 1892. He was Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge in 1898; Deputy Grand Master in 1910 and 1911, and Grand Master 1912 and 1913. He received the Capitular degrees in Atlantic Chapter, at Vinalhaven, and was a charter member and first High Priest of Pine Tree Chapter, No. 59, at Deer Isle, serving three years. He was knighted in DeValois Commandery, K. T., at Vinalhaven. He received the Scottish Rite degrees from the fourth to the eighteenth in the Augusta bodies, and the thirty-second degree in Maine Consistory, in 1899. While yet a young man, an organic trouble of the kidneys developed, and after nearly a year of intense suffering he died at his home in Deer Isle, December 12, 1914.
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