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There was more than a change in Grand Masters and other Grand Lodge officers at the installation and the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist on December 27, 1983. Two of our distinguished Brethren silently, but typical of their dignity, retired as Directors. Most Worshipful Whitfield Whittemore Johnson and Right Worshipful Walter Noble Cooper have served our Grand Lodge well. | There was more than a change in Grand Masters and other Grand Lodge officers at the installation and the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist on December 27, 1983. Two of our distinguished Brethren silently, but typical of their dignity, retired as Directors. Most Worshipful Whitfield Whittemore Johnson and Right Worshipful Walter Noble Cooper have served our Grand Lodge well. | ||
Revision as of 11:59, 2 September 2014
Contents
WHITFIELD W. JOHNSON, Esq. 1897-1995
Junior Grand Steward, 1936
Grand Sword Bearer, 1941-1943
Grand Marshal, 1944-1947, 1950
Senior Grand Warden, 1948
Grand Master, 1954-1956
TERM
NOTES
BIOGRAPHY
From TROWEL, Summer 1984, Page 9:
There was more than a change in Grand Masters and other Grand Lodge officers at the installation and the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist on December 27, 1983. Two of our distinguished Brethren silently, but typical of their dignity, retired as Directors. Most Worshipful Whitfield Whittemore Johnson and Right Worshipful Walter Noble Cooper have served our Grand Lodge well.
"It was time," said Brother Johnson as we shared good conversation in his East Dennis home on Cape Cod. "We need lie insight and expertise of some younger men, otherwise our Grand Lodge will not be the viable institution it has been for the betterment of man and the future of Massachusetts Masonry." The sands of the hourglass really passed imperceptibly while he recounted his active lifetime.
Often accepted as a native New Englander, Brother Johnson was born and raised in Galva, Illinois, the son of Lawrence Charles and Clara Louise (Seely) Johnson. It was there he received his early schooling, followed by training at Culver Military Academy in Indiana. He then attended Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. A Harvard College graduate of 1920, when he received his A. B. degree, he earned his L. L. B. from Harvard Law School in 1923.
Returning from Cambridge to his Galva home in 1918, he received the three degrees in Blue Lodge within six days. His father was Master of that Lodge and later Grand Examiner for lie Grand Lodge of Illinois. The world was now at war and within two months he enrolled in the United States Naval Reserve. Training for the Naval Air Force would take him to Dunwoody Institute, Minneapolis, then to Naval Air Stations in Florida. Appointed an ensign in May, 1919, he was then released from duty.
In 1922 Brother Johnson took as his bride Pauline Ames Skinner of Boston. They first resided in Cambridge and in 1926 settled in Watertown. It proved to be the right move because he learned that at least one-half of his family roots were in New England. His maternal grandfather was a direct descendant of Robert Seely, one of the original founders of Watertown in 1630. "That made us both happy and we were glad we made the choice of Watertown."
He has served the town as Trustee of the library; President of Sachem Council, Boy Scouts of America; Vice President of the Community Federation; Chairman of Watertown's part in the 1941 Greater Boston Community Fund campaign; Chairman, United War Fund campaign of 1942; Trustee of Watertown Home for the Old Folks since 1948; member of the Watertown Draft Board during World War Two, and as Treasurer and Moderator of Phillips Congregational Church.
He has been Assistant Treasurer and Director of the James Sugden Company of Boston, Trustee of Boston Penny Savings Bank, Director of Volunteer Cooperative Bank, the George B. Spurr Educational Foundation, Morton Charitable Foundation, Proctor Academy (Andover, New Hampshire), and Director and fchaimian of the Board of Frances E. Willard Homes of Waltham and Bedford.
A charter member of The Harvard Lodge in 1922, our esteemed Brother Johnson demitted from Galva Lodge of Illinois in 1938. But the Masonic bond of fellowship would grow stronger again when the Grand Lodge of Illinois conferred the Honorary Grand Master title upon him. He has been similarly honored by the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, Canada.
Appointed Junior Grand Steward in 1936, he was assigned the duty of Judge Advocate of our Grand Lodge in 1938. Following two terms as Grand Sword Bearer, he was Grand Marshal to Most Worshipful Arthur Coolidge and Samuel Holmes Wragg, 1944-47, and Senior Grand Warden in 1948 when he received the coveted Henry Price Medal. Elected and installed Grand Master in 1953, he is proud of the impetus he gave the Order of DeMolay in Massachusetts. He was quick to admonish those who suggested he tread softly on the youth movement.
Succeeded in office by Most Worshipful Andrew G. Jenkins of Lowell, Brother Johnson was delegated in 1957 to attend the 200th anniversary celebration of the Grand Lodge of The Netherlands. A highlight of the visit was a reception given for the official foreign guests by Queen Juliana at her summer palace at Soestdijk. She recalled to him her sojourn in Massachusetts during the German occupation of The Netherlands in World War Two. Mrs. Johnson accompanied her husband on that trip and they spent several weeks traveling throughout Europe.
He was appointed a Director of the Masonic Education and Charity Trust in 1958. Three years later he renewed the Directorship of Grand Lodge which he had held while Grand Master. He holds membership in York Rite and Scottish Rite Bodies.
Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1923, he was in partnership with the Honorable Bert E. Holland, a Thirty-third Degree Mason and a Special Justice of the West Roxbury District Court. Judge Holland was a second cousin to Brother Johnson's mother. The lovely Chapman home on Old King's Highway, East Dennis, was owned by the family of Mrs. Holland and it was bequeathed to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson when Judge Holland died. Built in 1797, the site is where one of the first settlers of Cape Cod staked his claim. The home beckons Brother Johnson on weekends when not conflicting with a busy Masonic schedule. He maintains a law office in Dennis as well as his main office at 73 Tremont Street, Boston.
Truly a "Stalwart Builder" and a man of genius distinguished by his humility and sense of humor, our learned philosopher, teacher, and friend has been honored through the gift of $50,000 to establish the Whitfield W. Johnson Fund at Harvard Law School. Given in December, 1982, by the Sarah and Pauline Maier Scholarship Foundation, Inc., of Charleston, West Virginia, it is in appreciation for the recognition and twenty years of warm Fraternal friendship Brother Johnson had with the late William J. Maier, Jr., a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia. The fund will financially assist deserving law students at Harvard.
Thanks, thanks to thee, our friend,
For the lessons thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.
— Longfellow
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1995-115:
Most Worshipful Whitfield Whittemore Johnson, Esq. was born in Galva, Illinois, March 25, 1897. He was educated at the Galva Public Schools; Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana; Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire; Harvard College, AB 1920; and Harvard Law School, LL.D. 1923. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1923 and was in partnership with the Honorable Bert E. Holland, 33° under the firm name of Holland & Johnson, with offices at 73 Tremont Street, Boston, from 1930.
On August 31, 1922, in Chicago,.Jllinois, he married Pauline Ames Skinner, the daughter of Edward A. and Harriet Ames Skinner. He was a direct descendant of Robert Seely, one of the original founders of the Town of Watertown, Massachusetts.
In the Masonic Fraternity, Whitfield Whittemore Johnson was Entered, June 18, 1918; Passed, June 20, 1918; and Raised, June 24, 1918, in Galva Lodge No. 243, Galva, Illinois. He was a Charter Member of The Harvard Lodge in 1922 and was Worshipful Master in 1932-1933. He was Junior Grand Steward in 1936, Grand Sword Bearer in 1941, 1942, and 1943; Grand Marshal from 1944 to 1947, and in 1950; Senior Grand Warden in 1948. Whitfield Whittemore Johnson was Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1954, 1955, and 1956. He was at that time the third ranking Mason in the world.
He was awarded the Henry Price Medal in 1944. From 1947 to 1969, he was Grand Representative, Grand Lodge of North Carolina, and from 1969 on, he was Grand Representative, Grand Lodge of Illinois. He was an Honorary Director. He was an Honorary Trustee of the Masonic Education & Charity Trust. He was Judge Advocate from 1938.
He received the Royal Arch Degree in Newton Royal Arch Chapter on June 16,1936, and was High Priest in 1941-1942. He received the Super Excellent Degree on May 27, 1937. He received the Order of the Temple, April 14, 1937,in St. Bernard Commandery in Boston. He was Commander of St. Bernard Commandery in 1945.
In Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies, he was a member of Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection and was Sovereign Prince, from 1950 to 1953, of Giles F. Yates Council, Princes of Jerusalem. He was also a member of Mt. Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix and of Massachusetts Consistory.
He was Treasurer of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation. He was an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of lllinois. He was coronetted an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, September 27, 1950.
His work here in building the temple in the hearts of men is finished. May he find new service when the Grand Masters of all the ages in magnificent array welcome him into the celestial Lodge above where the God of us all and The Grand Architect of the Universe presides
Respectfully submitted,
M.W. LAURENCE E. EATON
M.W. STANLEY F. MAXWELL
M.W. J. PHILIP BERQUIST
M.W. DAVID B. RICHARDSON
M.W. ALBERT T. AMES
M.W. EDGAR W. DARLING
M.W. DONALD W. VOSE, Chairman
CHARTERS GRANTED
- 03/09/1955 Realty, Boston
- 03/09/1955 Nantascot, Hull
- 09/14/1955 Garden City, Newtonville
- 12/14/1955 Simonds, Burlington
- 03/14/1956 Emeth, Newburyport
- 09/12/1956 Frank W. Thompson, Bedford
- 09/12/1956 North Reading, North Reading
