MOGMJBrowne

From MasonicGenealogy
Jump to: navigation, search

JOSEPH SESSFORD BROWNE 1836-1906

JBrowne.jpg

Grand Master, 1879-1880

BIOGRAPHY

From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:

Note: This biography was written when Brother Browne was still alive. He died in 1906 and is buried in Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri.

MOST Worshipful Brother Joseph Sessford Browne entered the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication of 1867 as Master and representative of St. Joseph Lodge No. 78, of St. Joseph, Missouri. He soon took an active part and was recognized as a zealous member and was appointed District Deputy Grand Master and Lecturer in 1873. In 1877 he was chosen Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master in 1878, and Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1879. Brother Wm. R. Stubblefield succeeded him as G. M.

Brother Browne was born August 23, 1836, in Washington City, District of Columbia. His parents moved to Hillsborough, Ohio, the same year, and to St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1857, where he has since resided. He has been for very many years and under various political administrations the very efficient Deputy Postmaster of the city of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Brother Browne was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in St. Joseph Lodge No. 78, December 11, 1858, and served as Worshipful Master in 1863, 1866, 1867 and 1868, and has served as Treasurer for many years. He was exalted in St. Joseph Royal Arch Chapter No. 14, in 1858, and was Excellent High Priest in 1872, 1873 and 1874. He served for a number of years as District Deputy Grand Lecturer. In the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Missouri he was Grand Captain of the Host in 1872 and 1873, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1875, and Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1876. He has served on almost all important committees during the period since he retired from the office of G. H. P. The present Ritual he was largely instrumental in perfecting.

Companion Browne received the degrees of Royal and Select Master in St. Joseph Council R. & S. M. at its organization under Dispensation, March 24, 1871, and became a charter member, was elected Thrice Illustrious Master in 1873, and in the Grand Council the same year was elected Most Illustrious Grand Master.

The Orders of Knighthood were conferred upon him in Weston Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, at Weston, Missouri, in 1859. He assisted in organizing old St. Joseph Commandery under Dispensation in 1859, and became a charter member, continued during its existence, when he joined old Hugh de Payens Commandery at its organization in 187:3, and served as Eminent Commander in 1877. He received his first important recognition in the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Missouri when in 1883 he was chosen Grand Captain,General, advanced in 1884 to Grand Generalissimo, Deputy Grand Commander in 1885, and Right Eminent Grand Commander in 1886, serving during the Twenty,third Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment K. T. of the United States, held that year in St. Louis.

He assisted in forming St. Joseph Chapter No. 98, Order Eastern Star, in 1890, and served as Worthy Patron in 1893. In the Grand Chapter O. E. S. of Missouri he was Most Worthy Grand Patron in 1895. He assisted in organizing Moila Temple N. M. S., at St. Joseph, December 17, 1887, was the first Director, and a Representative to the Imperial Council in 1896.

He is Representative near the respective Grand Bodies of Missouri for the Grand Lodge of South Dakota, Grand Chapters of Ohio and New Jersey, the Grand Councils of Connecticut and Michigan, and the Grand Commandery K. T. of Virginia. He has served for several years as Treasurer of all his Masonic Bodies in St. Joseph. He contributes largely to the columns of the Sunday daily, papers on Masonic matters.

He received the 32d degree A. A. S. Rite Masonry, October 17, 1879.

Brother Browne is the second Mason noted in this work who is distinguished as having presided in all the Masonic Grand Bodies of Missouri. He is and has been a Director of the Masonic Home since it was organized.

From Missouri Lodge of Research:

Joseph Browne was born in Washington D.C. August 23, 1836. His family moved to Hillsborough Ohio and then to St. Joseph, Mo.

Browne served as Deputy Postmaster of the City of St. Joseph Mo under many administrations.

Brother Browne was active in every branch of Freemasonry. He was made a Mason in St Joseph Lodge No 78, December 11, 1858 serving as Master in 1863, 1867, and 1868. He appeared in Grand Lodge as a proxy for the Junior Warden in 1869. He was appointed DDGM and Grand Lecturer in 1873 and elected Grand Master in 1879.

Browne was a member of the Board of Directors of Directors of the Masonic Home from the time of its organization.

He was a member of St.Joseph Chapter No 14, joining in 1668. He served as High Priest in 1872, 1873 and 1875 and in 1876 was elected Grand High Priest

He belonged to St Joseph Council No 9 R&SM at the time of its organization on March 24, 1871 and served as Master in 1873, the same year he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Council.

He received the Orders of Knighthood in Weston Commandery No 2 in 1859 and became a charter member of St Joseph Commandery No. 4 where he served as Commander in 1877 and 1878. In 1886 he served as Grand Commander

He received the degrees of the Scottish Rite 4° to 18° in 1865 by communication and the remaining degrees of the Rite were conferred in honorarium October 17, 1879 by Grand Commander Albert G. Mackey.

His death was due to an apoplectic stroke which came at 3:30 Monday afternoon, February 12, 1906 as he was seated at his desk in the St Joseph Federal Building. He is buried in Mt Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph.


Missouri Grand Masters