Most Worshipful Brother Ortis Clifford Skaife

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1948.

Our Grand Master for the year 1948 came to Utah from the Northwest. He was born at Colfax, Washington, August 8, 1894, where his parents lived for many years. His school work was all done at Colfax. Shortly after graduating from the Colfax High School he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Colfax, later being transferred to Pocatello, Idaho, and subsequently to Salt Lake City. He was in the employ of that company from July, 1912, to April, 1932, except during the period of July, 1917, to November, 1919, when he was in the United States Military Service, twenty months of which was with the A. E. F. in France.

During the year 1934 he entered the employ of the American Smelting and Refining Company in the Salt Lake City Traffic De-partment. He has received a number of promotions and is now District Traffic Manager for the states of Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Montana.

He is a member of The Transportation Club of Salt Lake City, The Traffic Club of Denver, Colorado, the Codd French Post No. 41 of the American Legion at Colfax, Washington, and the Alta Club of Salt Lake City.

On July 17, 1933, he married Emily Clark. Mrs. Skaife has long been an ardent worker in the ladies organizations. She is a member of Mizpah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Price Assembly No. 86, Social Order of the Beauceant and Past Queen of Lybia Temple No. 32, Daughters of the Nile.

Brother Skaife is a member of Progress Lodge No. 22 of Salt Lake City. He received the Master Mason degree in that Lodge June 4, 1921-served his Lodge as Master during the year 193O-was elected Secretary of his Lodge in December, 1931, and has continued that work to the present. He also served his Lodge as Deputy Grand Lecturer during the years 1931 to 1943.

In the American (York) Rite of Freemasonry he has done much: In Salt Lake Chapter No.5, R. A. M. (Now Utah Chapter No.1) he was Exalted November 30, 1921, and served as High Priest during the year 1931. In Utah Council No.1, R. & S. M., he was Greeted January 31, 1922, and served as Master during the year 1935. In Victory Commandery No.4, K. T. (Now Utah Commandery No.1) he was Knighted November 12, 1925, and served as Commander during the year 1933. In the Grand Commandery, K. T., he served as Grand Commander during the year 1943-44.

He is a member of the Grand Council, Holy Order of High Priesthood-the Red Cross of Constantine and an Honorary member of Malta Commandery No.3 at Park City. An Honorary member of Salt Lake Chapter No. 114 of the National Sojourners and Honorary member of the Salt Lake Camp of the Heroes of '76.

In Scottish Rite he has also been one of the faithful and efficient workers. He received the degrees from the fourth to thirty-second inclusive, April 24-26, 1923, served as Wise Master of James Lowe Chapter Rose Croix during the year 1932-33, as Commander of Salt Lake Council of Kadosh during the year 1939-40, as Master of Kadosh of Utah Consistory during the year 1947-48 and is now Assistant Expert in Jordan Lodge of Perfection.

He was elected on October 19, 1943, by the Supreme Council to be Invested Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. This Ceremony was conducted December 18, 1943, at Salt Lake City.

He was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in EL Kalah Temple November 28,1927.

In the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Utah, he will have served six years as an Officer when he has completed his year as Grand Master, namely:

Grand Marshal appointed 1943
Grand Lecturer appointed 1944
Junior Grand Warden elected 1945
Senior Grand Warden elected 1946
Deputy Grand Master elected 1947
Grand Master elected 1948

Brother Skaife's training and experience in his profession, together with the many years he has devoted to the welfare of Masonry in its many branches, has prepared him to fill the high office in which he is now placed and we doubt not that he will serve Masonry with proficiency and zeal throughout the year.

E. R. G.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1948.

PGM, Ortis Clifford Skaife died on June 22, 1954 in Colfax, Washington. Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1955, page 107.