Alexander Grant, Grand Marshal, 1911

This Brother was born in Monroe, Michigan, in the early fifties and is of Scotch parentage. He was educated in the public schools of his native city and graduated from the high school at the age of sixteen. He immediately entered the local post-office as a clerk and served in that capacity and as assistant postmaster for two and a half years. He then obtained a position as mail route agent on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway, then just completed between Toledo, Ohio, and Bay City, Michigan. In 1872 he was transferred to the west division of the great through trunk mail route between New York and Chicago, on the N. Y. Central and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railways, his assignment being between Cleveland and Chicago. He passed through the several grades from roustabout to clerk-in-charge, and in the latter capacity served on the first exclusive fast mail ever run in the United States. In 1880 he was detailed to the office of the Division Superintendent at Cleveland as Examiner and filled that position for something over two years, when he was called to Washington to assume a place in the office of the General Superintendent He served in various capacities in that office and in December, 1884, was made Chief Clerk, which position he held until August, 1897, when he was promoted to the position of Assistant General Superintendent. He succeeded Captain James E. White as General Superintendent of Railway Mail Service of the United States March 1, 1907.

Mr. Grant has been for many years a well-known figure in social and club circles. He is an enthusiastic lover and encourager of athletic sports of all kinds. Before coming to Washington he was for a number of years a member of the Board of Governors and Vice-President of the Northwestern Amateur Rowing Association, an organization comprising all of the rowing associations in the various cities located upon the Great Lakes. Shortly after coming to Washington he associated himself with the Columbia Boat Club and shared in its fortunes and those of its successor, the Columbia Athletic Club., being for many years on the Board of Governors, two years Vice-President and three years President of the last-named organization. He is an active and enthusiastic member of the Columbia Golf Club.

Brother Grant comes from good Masonic stock. His father was for several years Master of Monroe Lodge, No. 27, A. F. and A. M., jurisdiction of Michigan, and subsequently elected Secretary, which office he held until his death in 1865. An elder brother was also Master of the same lodge, High Priest of his chapter, Eminent Commander of his commandery, and for several years District Deputy Grand Master of one of the Districts of Michigan. Alexander Grant was made a Master Mason in Benjamin B. French Lodge, No. 15, F. A. A. M., February 8, 1893, passed through the several offices and was elected Master in 1898. He was exalted in Columbia Royal Arch Chapter, No. 1, May 2. 1894, and was elected High Priest in 1900. He was made a Knight Templar in Columbia Commandery, No. 2, K. T., June 15, 1894, and shortly after was appointed Captain of the Guard. He served successively as Sword Bearer, Standard Bearer, Junior and Senior Warden, and in 1902 was elected Eminent Commander.

Mr. Grant is an active, earnest Masonic worker and his rapid elevation to the highest offices in the several bodies with which he has been connected is the best evidence of his faithfulness and devotion to the Order. He is Grand Marshal in the Grand Lodge and Generalissimo in the Grand Commandery. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Mutual Life Association.

He is also Past Potentate of Almas Temple, Mystic Shrine.

AHGP District of Columbia

Source: History of the Grand Lodge and Freemasonry in the District of Columbia, compiled by W. Brother Kenton N. Harper, 1911.