Most Worshipful Brother Eric August Bjorklund

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1944.

Our Grand Master this year is a native Utahan. Of the sixty-eight Grand Masters who preceded him, only three were born in Utah. They were William J. Lynch, Dana T. Smith and Charles F. Barrett.

Brother Bjorklund was born in Salt Lake City, October 22, 1888, the only son of Samuel and Emma Bjorklund. He has three sisters, however.

He received his education in the schools of Salt Lake City. On September 12, 1917, he married Miss Rena Rigby and they have two daughters, Elaine and Lucille.

As a young man he entered the employ of the United States fidelity and Guaranty Company and has now been with that comany for thirty-two years, succeeding to the position of District Manager for the States of Utah and Idaho sixteen years ago.

He received his Master Mason degree in Argenta Lodge No.3, May 20, 1922, and served as its Master during the year 1932. In Grand Lodge he served as Senior Grand Deacon in 1936, as Grand Pursuivant in 1937, as Grand Marshal in 1939, was elected Junior Grand Warden. in 1940, and continued through each of the elective offices until January 25, 1944, when he was elected Grand Master.

He has also been a faithful and efficient worker in the Scottish Rite Bodies. He received the degrees in April, 1926, was Wise Master of James Lowe Chapter of Rose Croix in 1936; Venerable Master of Jordan Lodge of Perfection in 1943, and on December 18, 1943, was vested with the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor.

In the American Rite of Freemasonry he received the Capitular degrees in Utah Chapter R. A. M., February 22, 1943; the Criptic de-grees in Utah Council R. & S. M., March 20, 1943; and the Orders of Knighthood in Utah Commandery, K. T., March 31, 1943.

He became a member of El Kalah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., March 31, 1930, and is an Honorary member of the National Sojourners, Salt Lake Chapter No. 114 and Heros of '76.

In addition to his many Masonic activities, he is also affiliated with he Kiwanis Club; the Chamber of Commerce; Bonneville Knife and fork Club and the Surety and Casualty Underwriters Association.

There is much more that might be said with propriety about our Grand Master. Those who have known him intimately and have worked with him throughout the years have learned to appreciate his worth and his accomplishments. He talks little and works much ,and by his work, accomplishes that which he sets out to do.

His many years of experience in the business World; his varied and numerous activities in Masonic work; his desire to do things worth while and his most genial nature, have qualified him, we are certain, to fulfill the duties of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Utah in a manner that will meet the approbation of all.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1944.

PGM Eric A. Byorkland died July 23, 1979 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1980, page 35.