Lawrence H. Lee, PGM 1909-1911

“Lawrence H. Lee was born 1867 at Clayton, Alabama. His parents were Alto V. and Lillie (Lawrence) Lee. He received his early educational training in the common schools at Clayton, and afterwards attended the University of Alabama, from which institution he received the degree of A.B. in June, 1887. In June, 1888, he received from the same institution the degree of LL.B. On October 29th, 1889, he was married to Miss Augusta Alston, of Clayton, Alabama.  He served as County Solicitor of his native county of Barbour for the years 1889-1890, was alderman of his native town for the years 1896-1897, and representative from his county to the legislature for the years 1898-1899. He removed to Gadsden, Alabama, in September 1901, and was City Attorney of Gadsden for the years 1902-1903. On November 29, 1905, he was appointed Reporter of the Supreme Court of Alabama.

Lawrence H. Lee was initiated and passed in May, 1889 and raised in June, 1889, in Royal White Hart Lodge No. 10 of Clayton, Alabama. From this lodge he demitted on August 12, 1901 and on November 12th, 1901, he affiliated with Gadsden Lodge No. 236 of Gadsden, Alabama, of which lodge he was elected Worshipful Master in the years 1902 and 1903.

In December, 1904, he was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Alabama, was successively advanced and in December, 1909 was elected Grand Master, to which responsible and honorable office he was re-elected in December 1910.

He was advanced June 18, 1889, presided June 18, 1889, received and accepted June 18, 1889 and exalted to the august degree of Royal Arch on June 19, 1889 in Clayton Chapter No. 63 of Clayton, Alabama of which chapter he presided as High Priest from 1892 to 1894. He was anointed, consecrated and set apart to the Holy Order of High Priesthood on December 6, 1892. He demitted from Clayton Chapter No. 63 and affiliated with Coosa Chapter No. 80 of Gadsden, Alabama in 1903, being elected High Priest of that chapter the same year and serving form 1903 to 1905. He was appointed Grand Master of the 3rd Veil in December 1904, was elected Grand King in December, 1909 and was elected Deputy Grand High Priest in December 1910. He was received and greeted July 6, 1904 in Gadsden Council No. 56, Royal and Select Masters, from which council he demitted and affiliated with Montgomery Council No. 3 of Montgomery, Alabama, on June 17, 1909, and was elected Thrice Illustrious Master the same year. In the Grand Council he was elected Grand Steward in December, 1904 and was elected Most Illustrious Grand Master in December 1909. He received the Illustrious Order of Red Cross on June 5th 1904, and the Orders of Knight Templar and Knight of Malta on June 5th 1904, in Etowah Commandery on April 27th, 1908, and affiliated with Montgomery
Commandery No. 3, Montgomery, Alabama on February 11, 1909. He also received the degrees of the A. & A. Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, from the 4th to the 14th, inclusive, and was a member of Zamora Temple A. A. O. N.M. S. of Birmingham, Alabama.”
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Hugh S. D. Mallory, PGM 1907-1909

“Hugh S. D. Mallory was born on his father’s plantation in Talladega County, Alabama, Feb. 6, 1848. His education was acquired in the high school, and later at the Male institute of Talladega, then at the University of Alabama until the burning of the institution, when he entered the University of Virginia. He studied during 1866-67-68, and graduated with the degree of B.L. in the last named year. In January, 1869, he settled in Selma, and was admitted to the bar the same year or as soon as he had attained his majority. His career as a lawyer was one of uninterrupted success, and as a citizen he received the utmost confidence of the residents of the city. He served two terms as magistrate and two years as mayor. He was President of the Selma Bar Association four or five times, and a member of the Dallas Bar and State Bar Associations. He was one of the organizers of the Home Real Estate and Loan Company, of which he was president, and also one of the organizers of the Selma and Cahaba Valley Railroad Company. For five years he was Superintendent of Education for Selma and the President of the Board of Trustees of the Alabama State Colored University, of which the Governor of the State and the State Superintendent are ex-officio members, the entire board being prominent citizens of Alabama and Democrats. For a number of years, he was the chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee, and several times a delegate to state conventions.

He was a Knight Templar, a member of the I.O. O. F. and Past Grand Dictator of the Knights of Honor; was a member of the Legion of Honor and of the National Union.

A deacon in the Baptist church, he was also Superintendent of the Sabbath School and Moderator of the Association, in October, 1872.

Mr. Mallory married Miss Lula Moore, daughter of Dr. C. B. Moore of Summerfield, Dallas County, and the result of the union being the birth of six children.” lvi[MemDallas]

Ben M. Jacobs, PGM 1905-1907

Ben M. Jacobs, PGM 1905-1907

“Brother Ben M. Jacobs, Past Grand Master and Past Grand Patron was born August 21, 1850, at Quincy, Illinois, and attended school in that city until the year 1874. In 1880 he removed to Columbus, Miss and after a few months decided to cast his lot in the city of Birmingham which then was a small village.

Brother Jacobs was initiated in Laster Lodge No. 441, August 15, 1884, and was exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason in Mineral City Chapter No. 101 on March 14, 1889. He was greeted as Royal and select Master in Sam Thompson Council No.43, R. & S. M., on October 1, 1891. He was elected Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Alabama in December 1905.

Brother Jacobs was an active member in the Scottish Rite and Shrine.

He was elected Grand Patron in 1921. He was initiated in Salter Chapter No. 21, and served as Patron of his Chapter in 1917-1918. He was a most enthusiastic Eastern Star.

His influence will ever live. He is truly the father of the Masonic Home for which he conducted a successful campaign.” lv [Eastern229]

Henry Hudson Matthews, PGM 1904-1905

“Henry H. Matthews was born at the Arsenal Academy of Columbia, South Carolina, Oct 23rd, 1854, and was the son of Captain Joseph Matthews who at that time was Superintendent of that branch of the South Carolina Military Academy, known as the “Arsenal,” having risen from the position of a private in the U. S. Army to the office of Superintendent, with the rank of Captain, of this institution. At an early age Brother Matthews was left an orphan, his father dying during a recess of the Academy in June 1856, his mother following in 1865. His school days were spent in the city of his nativity, where he received written distinctions for meritorious conduct and proficiency in studies. He came to Alabama in 1870 and located in the city of Montgomery, which position he held under various appointments to the time of his death.

Brother Matthews “sought his first light” in Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 173 A.F.& A. M., on the 19th of November, 1875, less than one month after arriving at the age of twenty-one years, and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on the 14th of January, 1876. He served his Lodge as Worshipful Master for three different terms. A further advance in Masonry was made by his receiving the Capitular Degrees in Montgomery R. A. Chapter No. 22. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason January 19th, 1877, and was elected High Priest thereof in June, 1888, and re-elected in June, 1889. He was anointed, consecrated and set apart to the Holy Order of High Priesthood in 1899. He was received and greeted in Montgomery Council No. 3 R. & S. M., November 28, 1894, and was elected Thrice Illustrious Master thereof in 1898. He was knighted in Montgomery Commandery No. 4, K.T. in 1879.

Brother Matthews filled the various stations of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Alabama and was elected M. W. Grand Master December 7, 1904, and re-elected December 6th, 1905.In the Grand Commandery of Alabama, he was elected R. E. Grand Commander in May, 1897, and served the Constitutional limit, retiring in May, 1898, and was appointed Inspector General in 1901, and acted as such until May, 1906, declining reappointment on account of failing health. Brother Matthews also received the various degrees of the A. A. Scottish Rite from the 4th to the 32nd, inclusive, the latter degree having been conferred on him February 4th 1903, at Birmingham, Alabama during the reunion held in that city.

Henry Hudson Matthews died June 6, 1906 after a long and serious illness during his second term as Grand Master and was unable to complete his term. He was a man of unimpeachable character much respected and beloved in the community in which he lived and his virtues as a man and citizen were recognized wherever he was known.”

Robert J. Redden, PGM 1902-1904

“Robert J. Redden was born June 16, 1848 near Russellville, Alabama. His parents soon after moved to Lamar County, Alabama and his boyhood days were spent in Pickens, Lamar, Tuscaloosa and Fayette counties. He received his education in the common schools of his home and studied medicine under his father, Dr. R. D. Redden, later graduating in medicine
at the Washington University of Baltimore, Maryland on February 22, 1872.
Returning to his home, he practiced his profession in his home and in nearby Counties. He was married on January 15, 1874, to Miss Mary E. Hollis and from this union five children, two sons and three daughters were born.

DR. Redden was initiated in Moscow Lodge No. 206, of Moscow, Al on July 17, 1869, passed August 23, 1869, and raised September 18, 1869. He was elected Worshipful Master of this Lodge on June 12, 1875, and served in this capacity for twelve years. Moscow Lodge No. 206 became defunct, Brother Redden affiliated with Vernon Lodge, No. 389 of Vernon, Alabama.
In 1893 he demitted from Vernon Lodge No. 389 to become Charter member and the first Worshipful Master of Sulligent Lodge No. 532, Sulligent, Alabama, said Lodge being organized on September 13, 1893. He served as Worshipful Master of this Lodge until June 1904. His first appearance in the Grand Lodge was in 1876 and he attended every Annual Communication since that time with one exception.

In December 1879, he was appointed on the Committee on Work of the Grand Lodge and served until December 2, 1896, when he was elected Junior Grand Warden. He was regularly advanced and on December 3, 1902, was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master, being again elected as such on December 2, 1903.

He was again appointed on the Committee on Work in December 1921 and was appointed Chairman of the Committee in December 1921. At the Annual Communication in December 1928, he was appointed Grand Lecturer, that office being created for and during his life.

He received the Capitular Degree in Jasper Chapter No. 118 of Jasper, Alabama, receiving the Mark Master and Past Master degrees on February 21, 1913, and the Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch degrees on May 20, 1913.

Brother Redden died March 13, 1931 at his home in Sulligent, Alabama.

Brother Redden was honored and loved by all who knew him in his home community and was revered, respected, and beloved by the entire Craft of Alabama.”
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[1926 PRO][1931 Pro] [Grand Masters of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons The State of Alabama 1821-2008 by Donna R. Causey]

Russell McWhorter Cunningham, PGM 1900-1902

“Russell M. Cunningham physician and surgeon, teacher, farmer, legislator, member constitutional convention, lieutenant-governor and acting-governor of Alabama, was born Aug. 25, 1855, at Mt. Hope, Lawrence County; son of Moses W, and Nancy Caroline (Russell) Cunningham of that county, the former a native of Tennessee. Dr. Cunningham received his academic education in the public schools of his native county and at the age of seventeen began teaching school. March, 1871, he began the study of medicine under Dr. John M. Clark, a distinguished physician of North Alabama. In 1878 he entered Bellevue hospital medical college, New York City, from which he graduated the following year. He located in Newburg, where he practiced for two years and in 1881 was appointed physician of the State penitentiary, and removed to Wetumpka, where in also built up and extensive private practice. In 1885 he was appointed physician and surgeon for the Tennessee coal, iron and railroad company at Pratt Mines prison, and was later also physician for the Alabama steel and ship building company. He established a private hospital at Ensley which he conducted for a number of years. During 1880-81, he represented Franklin County in the legislature and after locating in Jefferson County was a strong factor in the Democratic party there. During 1896-1900, he represented that county in the State senate and was chosen president of that body in 1898. He was the nominee for membership in the proposed constitutional convention of 1901. After the adoption of that instrument, which had recreated the office, he was elected lieutenant-governor on the ticket with William Jelks, Governor, and by virtue of this office presided over the deliberations of the senate. While holding the office of lieutenant-governor he served as acting governor of the State for a year, during the absence of Governor Jelks, who was in the west on account of ill health. At the expiration of his term of office, he resumed the practice of medicine in Ensley. He was a member of the Southern surgical and gynecological association; past president of the Tri-State medical association,1895; president, Jefferson County medical association, 1896; president, Alabama State medical association, 1900; for some years member State committee of public health; County health officer of Jefferson County, resigning that office in 1916. He was at one time professor of principles and practice of medicine in the Birmingham medical college. He married (1) August 13, 1876 in Franklin County, Sue L., daughter of Judge J. E. Moore of that county; (2) Annice Taylor of Birmingham. His son Moses, by his first wife, a physician, married Kathleen Hundley.

He was initiated in Wetumpka # 39 April 29,1882, Passed June 3, 1882, and Raised July 26, 1882. He demitted May 23, 1885.”
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[Dictionary] [Grand Masters of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons The State of Alabama 1821-2008 by Donna R. Causey]

Benjamin Dudley Williams, PGM 1898-1900

]

“Benjamin Dudley Williams, physician was born January 11, 1851 at Oxford and died at that place March 12, 1911. He was educated in the schools of Calhoun County and studied medicine.

From 1886 to 1890 he served as physician to the Ute Indians, having been appointed to that work by President Cleveland; and was a member of the Chippewa Indian Commission 1893-1896.

He married December 14, 1881 to Mollie T. Williams and they had one son and three daughters.

Benjamin Dudley Williams was affiliated in Oxford, with Hartwell Lodge #101 June 28, 1882 and was Secretary of that Lodge in 1882.

He died March 12th, 1911 at the age of 57.