Most Worshipful Brother Elmer Aylesworth Vail

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1963.

Elmer Aylesworth Vail, Jr., our eighty-eighth Grand Master, was born in Salt Lake City, June 1, 1905, where he has made his home throughout his life. Thus we have added to the number of native sons who have become Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Utah.

Brother Vail received his elementary and high school education in Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah. At the time he was in school he became interested in the Boy Scouts, receiving their highest honors and then he was assistant Scout Master of the troop sponsored by the First Congregational Church. He held this position of honor and responsibility for seven years. He then served on the Boy Scout Council of Salt Lake City for twenty-three years, resigning in 1953.

On September 28, 1928, he married Miss Kathryn LaRue Hansen of Salt Lake City and they have. three children: a daughter, Mrs. LaRue H. Phillips, living in Provo with her three children; two sons, Leonard A. and Donald E. Leonard lives in Salt Lake City and has three children; Donald is still at home.

To his many friends and to his Masonic Brethren he is known as "The Telephone Man." He was employed by Mountain States Tele-phone and Telegraph Company in Salt Lake City in 1929 and has been with them ever since. Thirty-four years in the Engineering De-partment of the company speaks well of his devotion to his duties and to his profession.

We can add Brother Vail's name to the growing list of Grand Masters who were former DeMolays. He joined the Order of DeMolay in 1923 and from 1948 to 1953 he was a member of the DeMolay Advisory Council. In the latter year he received the DeMolay Cross of Honor.

Our Grand Master received the Master Mason degree in Argenta Lodge No.3 on September 25, 1928, and served as Worshipful Master of his Lodge in 1946. He was also active in the formation of Bonneville Lodge at Bountiful and served as Worshipful Master while that Lodge was Under Dispensation in 1957 and was elected to serve again when the Lodge was chartered. He continued his Blue Lodge activities by serving as District Deputy Grand Lecturer for the Salt Lake area from 1954 through 1957.

In York Rite Masonry Brother Vail was Exalted in Utah Chapter, R.A.M.; Greeted in Utah Council, R.&S.M., and Knighted in Utah Commandery, K.T., in 1956.

He became a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies in Salt Lake City in April, 1946, and was Vice President of the 86th Class. He was acting Venerable Master of Jordan Lodge of Perfection during the greater part of 1954 and held that office in 1955. He, was elected Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix in 1957 and has directed the conferring of the 5th degree since 1950.

He was elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honour by the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree, October 18, 1955.

Grand Master Vail became a member of EI Kalah Temple of the Shrine in 1946 and has been active in Shrine affairs since that time. He has served as Chairman of the Entertainment Committee for several years, a member of the Wreckers, Director of the first and third sections of the Shrine Ceremonials for three years and at present is Chief Rabban in the official Divan.

At the conclusion of his term as Grand Master he will have served eight years in Grand Lodge.

Appointed Senior Grand Steward, 1955.
Appointed Junior Grand Deacon, 1956.
Appointed Grand Chaplain, 1958.
Appointed Grand Standard Bearer, 1959.
Elected Junior Grand Warden, 1960.
Elected Senior Grand Warden, 1961.
Elected Deputy Grand Master, 1962.
Elected Grand Master, 1963.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1963.

PGM, Elmer Aylesworth Vail, Jr. died on February 27, 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1998, page 93.