When, at sunrise on the 19th day of March, 1889, the spirit of Past Grand Master Phillip Henry Emerson took its flight the immortal part of a good man and true Mason went home. Bro. Emerson did not have to die to be esteemed good and true and noble. For nearly a decade and a half he was known in Utah, and during all that time only good words were spoken of him. All who come in contact with him, on the bench or at the bar, in the social or Masonic circle, bore testimony to his ability, his uprightness, his fairness and his sincerity. Such a reputation as his is a thing to be proud of; such a record as he has left in a glorious legacy to come to his family and friends.

And how was it that Bro. Emerson succeeded so admirably in winning and retaining the good opinion of those who knew him.? It was a grand nature that fell to him, and that he cultivated and improved and made still more grand. He recognized the Brotherhood of man, and believed it was the duty and mission of man to do good to his fellows. To him the declaration “that all men are created equal” was not a void and meaningless expression, but a living truth, and by making that his guide in association of whatever character with men, he went through life gaining friends and winning plaudits. His was indeed a life worth living for, and when the Grand Tyler handed him the last summons he was ready and prepared to “answer and obey” it.

Bro. Emerson was born at Danby, Rutland County, Vermont, February, 15th, 1833. After receiving a common school education he entered the field of life as a school teacher. Leaving that he commenced to study law with the Hon. David Nicholson at Rutland. From there he went to the Conference Academy at Poultney, Vt., where he graduated. He was admitted to the bar at Rutland, and began the practice of law at Willingford, Vt. In 1861 we find him in Battle Creek, Michigan, where his legal abilities soon commanded the attention of the people, whom he served for a number of years as city attorney. In 1868 he was elected to the Michigan Legislature, and then for two terms to the Senate. During the second term in the Senate he was elected President pro tem. of that body, serving as Lieutenant-Governor, and for a short time as acting Governor of the State of Michigan.

In 1873 he resigned that position and accepted the appointment tendered him by President Grant as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah, which office he held for twelve consecutive years. Judge Emerson was so staunch a Republican that few days after the inauguration of President Cleveland his resignation was at the White House. Retiring from the bench he opened a law office at Ogden, in which capacity he was engaged at the time of his death.

Bro. Emerson was made a Mason in Shipman Lodge No.1, At Rutland Vermont, in 1855. He affiliated with Story Lodge No. 4, at Provo, Utah, in 1877, over which Lodge he presided as Master in 1879. On the 13th day of November, 1879, he appeared for the first time on the floor of the Grand Lodge of Utah, and he being well read in Masonic law and an eloquent speaker the members recognized his superiority and elected him Deputy Grand Master. Grand Master Frank Tilford having removed from the jurisdiction during his term of office, Bro. Emerson presided at the session of 1880, at which he was elected Grand Master. He was re-elected Grand Master in 1881, and again in 1883. Leaving the Grand East he was appointed on the Jurisprudence Committee, the members of which looked upon him as the guiding star. He was also for three consecutive years a member of the Board of Custodians., and largely are we indebted to him and his ability that we have a uniform work. Suffice it to say that every station and place in our Grand Lodge he had no superior. As Master of Story Lodge, as a member of Weber Lodge with he affiliated in 1885, as Deputy and Grand Master, as a lecturer or orator on any Masonic topic, whether in the Lodge, Grand Lodge, or on ceremonial occasions, or at the festive board, he was always industrious and zealous, impressive, eloquent, and grand. Powerful to grasp the subject, quick to digest it, ready to give it expression, serious, pathetic, or humorous, as occasion demanded, he knew just how to say the right thing at the right time. He was born a leader and died a leader. The stuff he was made of is not plentiful, and his like we may never look upon again.

Bro. Emerson at the time of his death, was Grand Representative of Grand Lodges of Kentucky and Vermont. The Memorial tributes the Grand Masters of these two Grand Lodges have paid their departed Grand Representative are well deserved and highly appreciated by the members of the Grand Lodge of Utah.

But it was not only in Masonic circles where Bro. Emerson occupied such as exalted position. His power was felt on the bench and at the bar, in politics, in commercial, city and church affaires as well. He was one of those men of whom the German poet sings:

“Within one man, how much was piled!
In light of thought, what soul of child;
In common praise, what giant sway,
Whose stream the strongest bears away.”

All the elements were so combined in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a man!” The signal distinction Judge Emerson had attained among his distinguished associates was fully expressed by Captain Ransford Smith, at the memorial meeting of the bar held at Ogden on the morning of the funeral: “Judge Emerson’s walk in life was confined to no narrow sphere–no pent up Utica. For twelve years a judge, engaged in the administration of justice–what a grand occupation! How ennobling to one always endeavoring to stand in the right. He performed his whole duty and that made him hosts of friends–friends who came from all parts of the Territory to be present at his funeral rites; hence the air is full of mourning

I need not speak in this presence of his ability as a jurist. The records of this court, and of the Supreme Court of the Territory attest his greatness in that respect. Nor need I speak here of his kindly disposition. That countenance, now hid from us forever, bespoke of his kindness. He bore in this arena a polished scimitar, but concealed the keenness of the blade with a silken handkerchief.” The presiding judge and other members of the bar made similar remarks, all testifying to the ability, fairness and high professional character of the deceased.

Eminent in many things, and with versatile qualifications for the service of society, the citizen Emerson took a most prominent part in the shaping of the free and untrammeled city government of Ogden. Few men did more of hard, honest work, than he, both in the quite preparation for the battle and on the open platform, to make out of the village of Ogden a free and prosperous city. He did not live to see the fruit of his labors, but that they were appreciated by all classes was demonstrated at his funeral. The flags at half-mast, every store and business place closed, the streets full of mourners, who had come from all parts of the Territory, evinced that he was beloved by his fellow-citizens, even though the majority of them differed with his in opinion.

While the last remains of Bro. Emerson laid in state on the green lawn in front of his residence, the coffin decked with floral offerings, the sun being at it’s meridian height, its rays shining through the trees, the buds of which were ready to burst open and put on their spring garments, hundreds of people with moistened eyes gazed for the last time upon the placid, peaceful countenance of the deceased, and all were deeply impressed that the light which shone upon his forehead was but the reflex of the gentile spirit which was born in him and which even though the icy finger had touched him was yet a part of his lifeless body.. Expressions of sympathy for the bereaved family came from every lip, for it was known in every household that Judge Emerson was a true husband and a kind father.

The funeral cortege was the largest ever witnessed in Ogden, and all who joined in it felt keenly their loss. He was buried with the impressive funeral rites of the Knights Templar, El Monte Commandary No. 2, of Ogden, and Utah Commandary No. 1, of Salt Lake City, performing the ceremony. The flowers on the mound, under which he sleeps will never wither, that sacred tomb will be the Mecca of his family and friends, and his monument their shrine. May the wind from Weber Canyon blow softly over his grave in Mountain View Cemetery, and may the snow-clad Wasatch mountains give it that shade and with it that peaceful rest its owner so well deserved in life.