George C. Whiting, Grand Master, 1837-61
and 1863-67
To this
Brother belongs the distinction of the longest service in that
capacity in the history of the jurisdiction, with the exception
of M. W. Brother French, whose terms aggregated the same number
of years. Brother Whiting was born in Fauquier County, Virginia,
in 1816, but in his boyhood came to this city with his family
and remained throughout his life. It is related as from the lips
of Brother Whiting himself that his father, a clerk in one of
the Government Departments, had, at the time of the election of
Andrew Jackson, strongly espoused the candidacy of Adams and
expected early removal from office therefor, but a shower
chancing to catch the President on one of his daily walks near
the Whiting home he took shelter there, and both the President
and the elder Whiting being Masons and recognizing each other as
such, a strong friendship sprang up between them which lasted
throughout the life of the latter and caused the President to
take a personal interest in the affairs of the family when the
death of George's father left them dependent upon the young man
for support, and to have him appointed to a position in the
Treasury Department.
It is also
said that during the life of the elder Whiting in Virginia he
became seriously involved financially, and that these
obligations were all finally wiped out as soon as the son was
able to earn sufficient money to do so, an incident which speaks
volumes for the character of the man. During his adult life he
filled many important positions in the civil department of the
Government He was Commissioner of Pensions during the
administration of President Buchanan and when succeeded in that
position was transferred to a specially created office
concerning the African slave trade. He was Acting Secretary of
the Interior a number of times and possessed a practical
knowledge of the affairs of that Department which rendered his
service of great value for many years.
Brother
Whiting was a man of many virtues. Noble minded and generous to
a fault, urbane and gentle in demeanor, he endeared himself to
all with whom he came into contact, while the dignified and
impartial manner in which he presided as Grand Master and the
learning, skill, and integrity he brought to bear upon the
duties of that high office, contributed in the largest measure
to the elevation of Masonry in this jurisdiction to a higher
plane.
He passed
away September 4, 1867, in the fifty-first year of his age and
while Grand Master, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery,
Georgetown, District of Columbia, September 6, the Grand Lodge
conducting the Masonic rites in the presence of a concourse of
Masons and citizens that testified to the universal esteem in
which he had been held. A few years later a suitable monument
was erected by the Fraternity to mark the last resting place of
this good man and Mason.
In Masonic
circles Brother Whiting was for many years a most active and
valuable worker. He was initiated in National Lodge, No. 12,
March 17; passed March 31, and raised April 29, 1846, and after
serving as Junior Deacon for one term, filled the office of
Secretary during the years 1850-51; withdrew December 27, 1853,
to become a charter member of B. B. French Lodge; served the
latter lodge as Senior Warden while U. D., and for the year
1854, filled the office of Worshipful Master during 1855-56, and
was elected an honorary member April 3, 1865. He entered the
official line of the Grand Lodge as Grand Secretary in 1856, and
the following year began his long service as Grand Master, as
shown above.
He received
the Capitular degrees in Columbia R. A. Chapter, No. 1, April
19, April 26, and May 3, '64.
George C.
Whiting Lodge, No. 22, chartered in 1868, takes its name from
this eminent Mason.
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.
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