Most Worshipful Brother Sam Henry Goodwin

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1912.

Brother Goodwin was born in Bandera, Texas, February 12, 1862. The family returned to their former home in Michigan when he was about four years of age and his father died on the way.

He received his early education in the public schools of Michigan and later the Theological Seminary at Bangor, Maine, from which he graduated in 1890. He then entered the work of Pastorate in North and South Weare, New Hampshire. In September of the same year he was ordained by the Congregational Church, and in the following month, October 7, 1890, he and Miss Edwina Gilman Quinby, of Bangor, Maine, were married.

A change of climate being advised by his physician, he came to Provo, Utah, in 1898, where he was Pastor of the Congregational Church, Principal of Proctor Academy and Superintendent of the work of the Congregational Education Society in Utah, for nearly eight years. During one year of that period he served on a Commission appointed by Governor Cutler of Utah, to investigate to work of the University of Utah.

In June, 1906, he resigned the Pastorate, but continued in the other positions, to which was added, a year later, the duties of a non-resident member of the Faculty of the Agricultural College, in the department of Ornithology. In may, 1910, he was appointed Superintendent of the Congregational Home Missions for Utah, in addition to his other duties.

Brother Goodwin became a member of Fraternal Lodge No. 71, F. & A. M. of Farmington, New Hampshire, receiving the Master Mason degree on January 27, 1898. He transferred his membership to Story Lodge No. 4 at Prove on March 3, 1903, and served as Worshipful Master of Story Lodge during the year 1909. On December 8, 1919, he transferred his membership to Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2 of Salt Lake City.

He became an officer of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Utah on January 16, 1907, and served as Junior Grand Deacon, as Grand Marshal two years, as Junior Grand Warden, as Deputy Grand Master and on January 17, 1912, was elected Grand Master.

In York Rite Masonry he was Exalted to the Sublime Degree of Royal Arch in Provo Chapter No. 4 on May 24, 1906, and served that Chapter as High Priest and was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, R. A. M. during the year 1917.

He was Greeted on May 31, 1910, in Utah Council No. 1, R. & S. M. at Salt Lake City.

He was Knighted on April 24, 1907, in Malta Commandery No. 3, Knights Templar at Park City and when Ivanhoe Commandery No. 5 was chartered, May 10, 1921, he transferred his membership to that Commandery and was elected its first Eminent Commander.

He was installed as a member of Bonneville Conclave No. 25, Red Cross of Constantine, on February 4, 1939, and elected Honorary Sovereign on December 6, 1945.

In Scottish Rite Masonry he was in the Class of April, 1908, when he received the degrees 4th to 32nd, inclusive. He was recognized by the Supreme Council on October 20, 1915, when he was given the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and on October 16, 1917, was coroneted Inspector General Honorary of the 33rd degree.

He was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in El Kalah Temple on March 17, 1909.

He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Correspondence of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Utah, in 1914, and continued that work for nearly thirty years, during which time he wrote a history of each of the first twelve Masonic Lodges chartered in Utah and prior to becoming Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge wrote a book dealing with early Masonic history in the States of Illinois and Missouri, much of which reflected the early history of Masonry in Utah. This book created much interest among the membership and has been widely distributed throughout the United States, so much so that it has been reprinted five times, with some modifications and additions each time.

Brother Goodwin was elected Secretary of Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2, F. & A. M. of Salt Lake City on December 8, 1919, Secretary of the Four Coordinate Bodies of the Scottish Rite on February 19, 1920, and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Utah on January 18, 1922. He continued in that service until the time of his retirement, January 25, 1944.

He died on June 10, 1951, at Whittier, California, at the home of his nephew, Arthur Justus Goodwin, with whom he had made his home since the death of Mrs, Goodwin on March 10, 1950.

Those of the immediate family who survive him are two daughters, Mrs. Francis T. Whitworth of Salt lake City; Miss Helen M. Goodwin of Los Angeles, California; one son, William Gaylord Goodwin of Salem, Oregon, and a nephew, Arthur Justus Goodwin, whose home was with the family during most of his boyhood.

Brother Goodwin enjoyed the friendship of many citizens of the State of Utah and the Intermountain West, who mourn his passing.

Ref: Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Utah, 1953, page, 110, 111.

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