GMACoolidge

ARTHUR WILLIAM COOLIDGE 1881-1952

Deputy Grand Master, 1941
Grand Master, 1944

MEMORIAL

Born at Woodfords, Maine, October 13, 1881
Died at Reading, Massachusetts, January 22, 1952

Most Worshipful Arthur William Coolidge was Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts from December 27, 1943, until December 27, 1944. Normally, our Grand Master accepts election for three consecutive years, and it was with great regret on the part of our Brethren, as well as of Brother Coolidge himself, that he served only one term. A critical situation had arisen politically in Massachusetts and there was an urgent demand that he become a candidate for President of the State Senate, to which he was elected. Later, he yielded to a call to public service and was elected Lieutenant Governor, serving during the years 1947 to 1949. He declined re-election as Grand Master in the belief that it would be unwise to hold that office while a candidate in a state-wide campaign for the Lieutenant Governorship. His Masonic advisors reluctantly conceded the wisdom of his decision.

Brother Coolidge was born at Woodfords, Maine, October 13, 1881, being a ninth generation descendant of Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Colony and of John and Mary Coolidge, who helped found Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1630. He also traced his ancestry to a sister of Charles Bulfinch, who designed our present State House. He was a fifth cousin of President Calvin Coolidge, and resembled him in many ways; both had a rugged character and sense of duty to serve their fellows.

Brother Coolidge was educated in the public schools of Deering, Maine; Westbrook Seminary ; Tufts College (A. B. 1903); and the Law School of Harvard University (LL.B. 1906). Thereafter, he practised law all his life, but devoted much time to altruistic and public service as follows:

Member Finance Commission, Norwood, Mass., 1920-1925
Member School Committee, Reading, Mass., 1927-1937
Representative, Massachusetts Legislature, 18th Middlesex District, 1937-1940
Senator, Massachusetts Senate, 7th Middlesex District, 1941-1946
President of Massachusetts Senate, 1945-1946 (elected on the first ballot, an unprecedented distinction)
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. 1947-1949
Candidate for Republican Governor in 1950, but defeated

He was a member of the Massachusetts State Guard, Company H, 13th Regiment; Director Washingtonian Hospitai and the Massachusetts Tuberculosis League; Member Massachusetts, Middlesex and American Bar Associations, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, Mayflower Descendants and Theta Delta Chi; Director of the Reading Co-operative Bank; Trustee and member of the Investment Board of the Boston penny Savings Bank; and former Treasurer of the Massachusetts Sunday School Association.

Brother Coolidge's Masonic record is as follows:

Raised in Zetland, Lodge, A.F. & A.M., November 13, 1902, and became a member of The Harvard Lodge of Cambridge on February 17, 1927
Worshipful Master in 1925-26
Trustee, Permanent Fund, 1930
District Deputy Grand Master, Boston Second District, 1927-28
Deputy Grand Master, 1941
Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, 1943-44

Brother Coolidge was respected by all men who knew him, even by his political adversaries. He was a pure and upright man who put altruistic service above his own personal gain. Moreover, he was a friendly man among men, a sound adviser and a revered leader against whose life and character there was never adverse criticism.

Our beloved Brother was at his law office as usual the day of his death, and drove home. After dinner, he went to the garden at the rear of the house. When he failed to return, Mrs. Coolidge found him lying on the doorstep, and shortly thereafter. a medical examine-r pronounced death due to a coronary occlusion. Funeral services were held at the Reading Unitarian Church on Friday, January 25, 1952, of which Church he was a Trustee.

Brother Coolidge is survived by his wife and three children: Mrs. Dorothy B. Cox of Malden, Robert T, Coolidge, architect and member of the faculty of Yale School of Fine Arts, and Arthur W. Coolidge, Jr., of Schenectady, New York, an elecrricai engineer with the General Electric Company.

"Some must be great; great offices will have
Great talents. And God gives to every man
The virtue, temper understanding, taste
That lifts him into life, and lets him fall
Just in the niche he was ordained to fill."
- Cowper

Fraternally submitted,
Melvin M. Johnson, Chairman
Claude L. Allen
Joseph Earl Perry
Roger Keith
Samuel H. Wragg
Committee