Henry S. Merrill, Grand Master, 1894
Brother
Merrill was born at Plymouth, New Hampshire, May 23, 1843. When
about six months old his father removed to Charleston, Mass.,
and in that place young Merrill resided and received a common
school education, until the age of nineteen when, in July, 1862,
he enlisted in the 36th Mass. Regt, U. S. Vols., for a period of
three years. Two years later he received his discharge from the
army to accept a clerkship in the War Department at Washington,
and on February 1, 1872, resigned that position to enter the
service of the Treasury Department where he has since remained.
Brother Merrill has for many years
taken a lively interest in local Masonic matters and has brought
to the discharge of the duties of the many offices he has filled
a degree of earnestness and ability which have been alike
creditable to himself and the Fraternity. A genial,
companionable man he has a host of friends, and still continues
to keep in close and helpful touch with all the movements for
the advancement of the Fraternity. Brother Merrill was initiated
in LaFayette Lodge, No. 19, of this jurisdiction, December 16,
1865; passed January 12, 1866, and raised February 1, 1866;
served as J. W. in 1874; was Secretary, 1884-87, and again
1892-93, and in the interim, in 1888, filled the East in his
lodge. He became Grand Master in 1894 after having rilled the
subordinate chairs and in the same year was elected to honorary
membership in Washington Centennial Lodge, No. 14.
He received the Capitular degrees in
Columbia R. A. Chapter, No. 1, from June 1 to August 8, 1866,
and served as High Priest in 1872. He was knighted in Columbia
Commandery, No. 2, K. T., this city, in 1868 and dimitted
therefrom in 1888; affiliated with Washington Commandery, No. 1,
August 8, 1888, and was Recorder of the latter body from April,
1896, to April, 1909.
He is a fifteenth degree Scottish
Rite Mason, unaffiliated.
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.
|
