Most Worshipful Brother James Henry Brown

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1908.

It is quite the common thing to think of one who is well on his way toward four score years, as being of a ripe old age, with perhaps few remaining ties and interests to hold him to the present, and as living mainly in the mist of scenes and events of the far-reaching past, and with friends who wearied, long since, and dropped out by the way. But this is not true of all. Some retain a certain youthfulness of spirit, with a clear-visioned forward look, and a grip on things and movements of today which carry no mark of the touch or tread of time. Of this class was our Brother James Henry Brown, who was born in Adrian, Michigan, September 5, 1855, and who fell on sleep January 31, 1932, in the 77th year of his age. Those of us who have been associated with this sterling character in various activities through the years can think of him, "as only old in judgement and understanding."

The early years of our Brother's life were spent in New York, to which state his parents returned soon after his birth, and there his school work was done, and in that, and the adjoining state of New Jersey, he had his early business training.

In common with energetic, ambitious young men of those days he found the "urge" to "Go West" too strong to be resisted, and following a brief pause in Chicago, he came to Echo, Utah, in the spring of 1881 and entered the employ of a mercantile firm that had stores in Utah and Wyoming. Transferred later to the company's store at Rock Springs, he served one term in the Territorial legislature of Wyoming. Severing his connection with this company, January 1st, 1890, he came to Salt Lake, and with his associates formed the company of Brown, Terry & Woodruff, succeeding to the business of Men's Furnishing Goods and the Troy Laundry, with which he was identified for so many years.

Only a bare list of his Masonic affiliations can be given place in this connection

He was initiated in Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2, April 14, 1899, passed April 17, and raised May 1st of the same year. He served his Lodge as Master in 1904, and in January of the following year, was elected Junior Grand Warden in the Grand Lodge of Utah, and was regularly advanced, becoming Grand Master in 1908.

He Received the Capitular degrees in Utah Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., May 15, 1901; was Knighted in Utah Commandery No. 1, K. T., January 30, 1902 and served as Commander in 1908; was made a member of Utah Council No. 1, R. & S. M., May 28, 1907, and presided over that body in 1915.

He became a member of El Kalah Temple in April, 1904, and was elected potentate in 1911.

This brief catalogue of the Masonic connections of Brother Brown gives hardly a hint of his varied activities in behalf of the Craft-and membership in an organization does not always connote service therein. But with him, such membership carried definite responsibility to the discharge of which he gave freely of time and means and of his exceptional administrative and business ability. Especially valuable was the service he rendered in connection with the erection of the Masonic Temple on South 2nd East Street, and with this building in which we are met. In both instances he was a member of the building committee as well as Trustee.

Of social and service clubs and organizations Brother Brown held membership in the Chamber of Commerce, and in the Rotary and Alta Clubs.

On October 24, 1883, our Brother was married-in Salt Lake City-to Mis Leoline Woodmansee. Of this union eight children were born, four sons and four daughters, seven of whom survive him-one son having died in infancy, and the wife and mother in 1916.

An Occasional Communication of the M W Grand Lodge of Utah was convened February 3, 1932, and at the request of the Master of Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2-which assembled in a special meeting-Grand Master Howard P. Kirtley and associate Grand Officers conducted the funeral services. (See page 77)

Ref: Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Utah, 1933, page 77, 78.

Electronically Transcribed as written without corrections to grammar or spelling by Aaron E. Saathoff, P.M., March, 2005.