Most Worshipful Brother Joseph Granville Titley

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1937.

Our present Grand Master is a son of Albion. He was born in Egremont, Cheshire, England, July 24, 1889, and was educated in the public schools and Junior College of his native land. He came to this country in the fall of 1907. Some years later he returned to England for a trip, and as he relates the incident:

"I did my level best to secure passage back to New York on the Titanic, but as accommodations were limited on its maiden voyage I came back one week ahead, and learned of its sinking after my arrival."

Due to this seemingly insignificant circumstance Brother Titley's name, in place of that of another's, is at the top of this page.

Arrived in New York he proceeded at once to Portland, Oregon, where he remained until 1915, when he came to Ogden, and that city has since been his home, except for the period of the Great War. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces from November, 1917, to June, 1919; went to France and saw active service with the 7th Canadian Infantry-"Not wounded, but gassed a little," he reports.

Our Grand Master is manager of the David Eccles Building, Ogden; Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the Oregon Lumber Company, and Secretary-Treasurer of the Mount Hood Railroad Company.

On August 27, 1924, Brother Titley was married to Gladys Barbour, formerly of New Sharon, Iowa, who died March 2, 1936.

The Grand Master was initiated in Unity Lodge No. 18, Ogden, May 12, 1917, passed May 30, 1917, and raised June 27, 1917. He was Master of his Lodge in 1926.

In Grand Lodge he was appointed Senior Grand Steward in 1927, Junior Grand Deacon in 1928, and in January, 1935, he was elected Senior Grand Warden from the floor, regularly advanced, and elected Grand Master, January 20, 1937.

In the York Rite Bodies he holds membership in Ogden Chapter No.2, R. A. M. and was High Priest of that Chapter in 1931; in the Grand Council of Anointed High Priests of Utah; in the Ogden Council No.3, R. & S. M., and in EI Monte Commandery No.2, K. T.

In Scottish Rite he received the degrees from the 4th to the 14th in Jordan Lodge of Perfection, Salt Lake, with the class of April, 1927, and was made a Master of the Royal Secret, 32nd degree in Utah Consistory, a year later. On October 22, 1933, he was advanced to the rank and decoration of K. C. C. H. by the Supreme Council, S. J.

On March 22, 1921, Brother Titley was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in EI Kalah Temple, Salt Lake, and now holds the office of High Priest and Prophet in that organization.

Some of the other interests and activities which have engaged the thought and attention of the Grand Master are: the Ogden Masonic Board of Relief, of which he claims the parentage and now serves as a Director; the Ogden Fraternal Home Association which owns the Masonic Temple in that city, and of which he is also a Director; former chairman of the Ogden Council Order De Molay, and he is now a member of the Board of Governors of the Mobile Unit of the Hospital for Crippled Children, Salt Lake City.

Among hobbies, the Grand Master names trout fishing, and he cautiously admits that he "plays a little golf."

From the foregoing brief record of facts the conclusion appears to be justified that the Grand Master is a man of such diversified interests and experiences as to insure the equipment necessary for a successful administration of the affairs of the Craft of this Jurisdiction.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1937.

PGM, Joseph Granville Tetley died on November 4, 1963 in Encinitas, California. Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1964, page 90.