Most Worshipful Brother Aaron Hey

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1971.

Our Grand Master was born and educated in Bingley, Yorkshire, England and following the death of his father, operated their business in connection with textile manufacturing until he joined the staff of a textile company opening a new plant in Canada. He emigrated there in 1930 where he worked as a textile (fabric) designer and later as plant accountant.

In the spring of 1931 his fiancee, Margery Kershaw, arrived in Canada where they were married in the United Church of Canada, Huntingdon, Quebec.

In 1935 the Heys returned to England where Brother Hey was self-employed until the outbreak of World War II. He served in several capacities, under both military and civilian control, on harbor security and criminal investigation and was serving as detective officer until 1947 when he resigned to return to the United States.

On his return he first located in Gainesville, Florida, where he was employed on the comptroller's staff of the University of Florida until coming to Utah in 1949. He was employed at the U.S. Steel Corporation's Geneva Works until his retirement last year as an industrial engineer.

The Heys have one son, Nigel, who is a Past Master Councilor, and Chevalier, Order DeMolay, and now resides with his wife and family in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Heys became U.S. Citizens in 1954 and were both raised in the same Wesleyan Methodist Church and now, by reason of location, attend the Community Presbyterian Church in American Fork. Brother Hey has served the church a number of years as choir director.

Our Grand Master was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Chateauguay Lodge No. 36, A.F.&M. in Huntingdon, Quebec, Canada in 1932. He dimitted to Story Lodge No.4, Provo, in 1952 and affiliated with Damascus Lodge No. 10, (at that time in Mt. Pleasant) as a dual member in 1957. He served as Worshipful Master of Damascus Lodge in 1959 and subequently as Secretary and Deputy Grand Lecturer.

He is a past presiding officer of the Provo York Rite Bodies and was Right Eminent Grand Commander, Knights Templar of Utah in 1962; Most Excellent Grand High Priest, Royal Arch Masons of Utah in 1966; and Most Illustrious Grand Master, Royal and Select Masters of Utah in 1969. He is a Past Most Excellent President Utah Council of Anointed High Priests and Past Thrice Illustrious Master, Utah Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters (Order of the Silver Trowel). He is also Past Eminent Prior of Utah Priory No. 47, Knights of the York Cross of Honou.r.

He received the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite through the 32nd degree in 1960 in the Orient of Utah and is a Charter Mem-ber of the Central Utah Scottish Rite Club.

He is also a member of Bonneville Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, in which he now serves as Prelate, and an honorary member of National Sojourners, Salt Lake Chapter No. 114 and Ogden Chapter No. 291.

He was active for a number of years as an advisor to Al Sirat Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Provo and holds the DeMolay Cross of Honour.

In Masonic Research he is a member of the Correspondence Circle, Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, London, England.

He received his first appointment in Grand Lodge from the late Dr. John L. Journay in 1964 and continued in various appointive offices until elected Senior Grand Warden in 1969. With his elevation to the office of Grand Master, which at the same time earns him the distinction of the fourth and final quadrant, Knight Grand Cross of Honour, your Grand Master is deeply appreciative of the many honors Masonry has bestowed upon him, and hopes to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this exalted office to the satisfaction of the Craft.

He became a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in EI Kalab Temple in 1957 and is a member of the Central Utah Shrine Club.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1971.

PGM, Aaron Hey died on July 25, 1997 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1998, page 125.