Most Worshipful Brother Thorwald John Nelson

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1940.

The present Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Utah is a native of Denmark. Brought to this country by his widowed mother at the age of two years, when he reached his majority he was advised by legal counsel that he was entitled to vote. and he acted on that advice. But he was not satisfied with this situation and decided to take out naturalization papers. This he did many years ago and recently, when mentioning the matter to the present writer he said, with no little pride in voice and bearing: "I an American citizen!" Pity it is that so many, born to that great privilege, esteem it so lightly!

Brother Nelson was born in Copenhagen. June 2, 1872. Upon arrival in Utah the family went first to Bear River City, shortly afterward they moved to Clifton , Idaho where, on a small farm our Grand Master spent his early boyhood. During that period he attended a country school as opportunity offered which was not very often, he states, for he had to work to help support the family.

At the age of sixteen he entered the employ of a construction contractor who was building a railroad grade in the Salmon River Country and he continued with him for two years. and then came to Ogden, where he was employed by F. J. Keisel as yard man, and coachman for the family. In this position, as he puts the matter, he "worked all day and went to Smith's Business College at night." After four years in this double capacity his employer sent him to Pocatello, Idaho, with a set of books for the Remington Brokerage Company, of which he (Keisel) was the principal owner. About a year later he was transferred to Salt Lake City, to the B. K. Block and Company of which Keisel was the principal stockholder.

Although there were changes in the name and personnel of this Company the Grand Master continued in its service for more than twenty-five years,

Early in 1917 he was joined by Mr. George Anson~an employee of same Company~in the purchase of the S. B. Clark Produce Company's business, changed the name to Nelson~Anson Company Inc., and since the death of his partner a few years ago, he has been President and owner of Company.

On September 16. 1897. Brother Nelson married Annie Barr, of Ogden and to them one daughter, Nell Margaret was born.

The Grand Master's Masonic Record gives unmistakable evidence of his interest and activity in the Fraternity.

He was made a Mason in Kaibab Lodge No. 25 F. & A. M., Salt Lake City. on June 28, 1921, and served his Lodge as Worshipful Master during 1928.

In Grand Lodge he served as Junior Grand Steward and Grand Marshal~ in the last named position for three years~and on January 20, 1937 he was elected Junior Grand Warden and thereafter regularly advanced till September 24. 1940, when he was elected Grand Master.

He was made a Royal Arch Mason in Salt Lake Chapter No.5, Royal Arch Masons, October 7, 1926 and served that Chapter as High Priest in 1930. He affiliated with Utah Chapter No.1, R.A.M. of Salt Lake City, May 4, 1932, when Salt Lake Chapter No.5 surrendered its charter in order to effect consolidation with Utah Chapter No. 1.

In the Grand Chapter, after having served in several appointive places, in June 1935, he was elected Grand Scribe and in June 1938, he was chosen Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, R.A.M., of Utah.

He received the degrees of Royal and Select Master in Utah Council No.1 R. & S. M., of Salt Lake City, November 18, 1925; served the Council as Illustrious Master in 1934, and Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1939.

In the Commandery, KT., he received the Order of the Temple in Victory Commandery No.4 KT., Salt Lake City. March 11. 1926; affiliated with Utah Commandery No. 1. KT. in March 1930, when Victory Commandery surrendered its charter in order to effect consolidation with Utah Commandery No.1. He was Eminent Commander in 1931.

He had held appointive offices in the Grand Commandery of Utah. and in May, 1940, he was elected Eminent Grand Junior Warden.

The degrees from the 4th to the 32nd in Scottish Rite were conferred on him in November, 1922, and in October 1931 he was elected to the rank and dignity of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, and six years later~ 1937 ~ he was further honored by the Supreme Council by being elected Sovereign Grand Inspector General. 33 Honorary, and Honorary Member or the Supreme Council. and coroneted October 18, 1937.

In the Red Cross of Constantine he waS installed as a Knight Companion in this Order in St. Bernard Conclave No. 25, R. C. of c., Salt Lake City, September 4, 1931; served as Most Puissiant Sovereign from December 1936 until this Conclave surrendered its charter, August 1. 1938; appointed M. P. Sovereign of Bonneville Conclave U.O. when it was instituted August 29, 1938.

He was Created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in EI Kalah Temple, Salt Lake City, March 23, 1923, and was elected Illustrious Potentate, in January of the current year (1940).

Brother Nelson is also a Past Patron of Lynds Chapter No. 1 O.E.S. These various honors which have come to our Grand Master show conclusively that he is no "drone in the hive" but real worker in the field Masonic. Recently he stated that, "Until I was made a Mason my greatest school was the 'school of hard knocks.''' All who know the Grand Master and are informed on the splendid work that he has done for the Fraternity are agreed that the school of experience has done a fine job for him~and for us.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1940.

PGM Thorwald John Nelson died on January 8, 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1956, page 104.