Bro. Chapman, the fourth child of Arvis Segrave and Lucina (Burr) Chapman, was born in Seville, Medina County, Ohio, August 17, 1839. During his infancy the family removed to Lodi, in the same county. and State, where they remained until September 1, 1845, when they settled in Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois. In the common schools of a frontier hamlet, supplemented by some instructions in private schools, he received such an education as could be obtained under the circumstances. At the age of sixteen he was employed as a clerk in a hardware and stove business owned by his father and brother.

October 1, 1863, he was called to Washington, D. C., to fill a responsible position in the War Department, which he resigned in 1864 to serve his country on the battlefield. When in April of that year, a call was issued from the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac for surgical and hospital volunteers, he supplied himself at his own expense, with all the necessary implements, went to the front, assisting and helping the wounded and dying during that memorable campaign of General Grant in 1864.

In 1867 and 1868 he held the office of Assistant County Clerk and Recorder of Bureau County, Illinois. In the winter of 1868 he began the study of dentistry, which occupation he has followed ever since successfully.

He came to Salt Lake City in January, 1878, and entered the dental office of Dr. J. R. Crawford, with whom he soon formed a partnership, which terminated by the removal of Dr. Crawford to New York.

In national politics Dr, Chapman has followed the banner of Abraham Lincoln ever since he cast his first vote, but from the day he stepped on Utah soil he has known no party affiliations, and could always be found in the ranks of those American citizens who fought for the exercise of
American principles in all parts of our common country; and when at that memorable meeting held in the Salt Lake Theater December 19, 1893, it was resolved to disband the Liberal party of Utah and divide on party lines, Dr. Chapman was among those who opposed the movement and voted against the adoption of the resolution.

Bro. Chapman has been an enthusiastic and zealous Mason for nearly two scores of years, and his record as such can profitably be used as a mirror for the younger brethren. He was initiated in Bureau Lodge No. 112, Princeton, Ills., April 14th, passed May 19th, and raised June 9th, in the year 1863, was the senior Deacon of the Lodge in 1865, dimitted from it December 11, 1867, for the purpose of assisting in the formation of Princeton Lodge, U. D. which was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Illinois October 6, 1868, as Princeton Lodge No. 587. Of that Lodge he was Senior Deacon in 1869, Junior Warden in 1870, Senior Warden in 1871, and Master in 1877 and 1878.

He received the Capitular Degrees in Princeton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M., Princeton, Ills., as follows: M. M. September 24; P. M. and M. E. M., September 29, and R. A., October 1, in the year 1863; was Secretary of the Chapter in 1864, 1865 and 1866; P. S. in 1870, C. H. in 1871, and dimitted from it January 17, 1878. Affiliated with Utah Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., at Salt Lake City, March 12, 1892, in which he held several minor offices.

The Cryptic Degree were conferred upon him in Orion Council No. 8, R. & S. M., at Princeton, Ills., December 10, 1864; was Recorder of that Council 1865-66, and dimitted from it March 12, 1892. He is a charter member of Utah Council No. 1, R. & S. M. was T∴Ill∴Master in 1897 and in 1901 Dep. T∴Ill∴Master.

The Degrees of the A. A. S. R. from the fourth to the thirty-second Degree, inclusive, were communicated to him at Princeton, Ills., April 14 to 29, 1867, by Bro. David W. Thompson, thirty-third Degree, Dis. Dep. Insp. General, and W. A. Stevens, thirty-third Degree, Ill∴Gr∴Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Consistory of Illinois. He was M. E. and P. K. Sen. W. of Princeton Chapter Rose Croix, in 1868 and 1869; was V. G. S. K. of S. & A. in Princeton Council, Princes of Jerusalem, in 1868, and was Gr. Sec. and K. of S. in Princeton Consistory in 1867 and 1868.

Bro Chapman affiliated with our Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2 March 14, 1881, and on December 12th of that year was elected Senior Warden; was Master of the Lodge in 1891 and 1892, and is one of its Trustees since 1794. And here it should be recorded that during this last twenty years old Mt. Moriah Lodge has had no member who has worked more faithfully and unceasingly for its interest than Bro. Chapman; to him the Lodge is largely indebted for its present sound financial condition, for the correct practice of the Utah Standard Work, and for the Sociability that exists between the members inside and outside of the Lodge. On December 10, 1900, Bro Chapman was unanimously elected an honorary life-member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, by which act it but feebly expressed its appreciation for the eminent services of a loyal craftsman and a member who has been its very soul for a full score of years.
In the Grand Lodge of Utah he was appointed Grand Orator in 1891; was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1892, Deputy Grand Master in 1893, and was Grand Master from January 17, 1894, to January 16, 1895. Is a member of the Jurisprudence Committee since January, 1895, and a member of the Board of custodians since January, 1898. Is Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Illinois since July 1, 1894, and of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia since April 20, 1898, and the Grand Lodge of Tasmania since July 28, 1892. He is an honorary member of the Masonic Veteran Association of the Pacific Coast since October 11, 1895. His Lodge number is 175; Grand Lodge number 618.

Bro Chapman was the first Grand Master who received the Signet Ring presented to the Grand Lodge by the retiring and ever-to-be-remembered Grand Master, Bro. Albion Bernard Emery, and on Sunday, June 17, 1894, it was his sad duty to conduct the funeral ceremonies in the Congregational church at Salt Lake City, and to bury the last remains of that true and warm-hearted Mason in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Bro. Chapman was born a Mason and will die a Mason.

In Memoriam

Arvis Scott Chapman
Born at Seville, Ohio, August 17, 1839
Died at Salt Lake City, May 12, 1919

In calling our friend and brother, Dr. Arvis Scott Chapman, that messenger from the beyond welcomed one who from his life here, a life of gentleness, inspired by a loving sprit of kindly nature, considerate of the rights and feelings of others, was helpful but never in the least compromising with wrong, was eminently prepared to enter upon the higher and fuller life beyond.

Brother Chapman was made a Mason in Princeton Lodge No. 587 at Princeton, Illinois, from which he dimitted when moving to Utah, and affiliated with Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2 of Salt Lake City, March 14, 1881. He served as Junior Warden of his Lodge in 1887, Senior Warden in 1888, and Worshipful Master in 1891 and 1892. For his devotion to service to his Lodge he was made a life member December 10, 1900, In the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Utah he was appointed Grand Orator in 1891, and elected Senior Grand Warden in 1892, Deputy Grand Master in 1893 and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1894. He was appointed a member of the Jurisprudence Committee of the Grand Lodge in 1896, serving continuously until his death. Brother Chapman was exalted to the sublime degree of a Royal Arch Mason in Princeton Chapter of Princeton, Illinois. He affiliated with Utah Chapter No. 1 in March, 1892, and made a life member in 1914.

He was appointed Grand correspondent of the Grand Chapter in 1911, which position he has ever since held. He was a member of the Utah Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, and of El Kalah Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, both of Salt Lake City. Brother Chapman was a member of Utah Consistory No. 1, being a charter member of the Rite at its institution in 1903. He was elected Treasurer at that time and held the office until his death.
He was elected by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, October 24, 1907.

For his going we have sadness; for his life and its fullness, its sincerity, its helpfulness and its inspiring example to all of us we have a reverent thankfulness.