Landon Cabell Williamson, Grand Master,
1893
Born at
Charlottesville, Virginia, October 12, 1853, his early education
was by private tutor until he entered the National University
where he received his degree in law, was immediately thereafter
admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia and later before the U. S. Supreme Court, and since
1874 has been an active and successful practitioner before the
bar of Washington. For a number of years M. W. Brother
Williamson has been active in local church affairs, being
identified in his earlier adult life with the First Presbyterian
and later with the Assembly Church, in which latter he was twice
Superintendent of the Sunday School, an Elder, and the leader of
a large Bible class. When the Assembly and North Presbyterian
Church united several years ago and formed the Northminster
Presbyterian Church, he went into that church and is at present
an Elder, Superintendent of its Sabbath School, and teacher of a
Bible class. His interest in other lines of religious activity
is shown by the fact that he served the local Y. M. C. A. for
years as its President.
For more than thirty years he has
been an enthusiastic and tireless worker in all branches of
Masonry and has given liberally of his time and talents in most
efficient work in this field. He was made a Mason in Washington
Centennial Lodge, No. 14, of this jurisdiction, receiving the
three degrees February 19, March 18, and May 6, 1880,
respectively; was Junior Warden in 1884 and Master in 1885-'7;
withdrew May 21, 1890, as a charter member of Osiris Lodge, No.
26, serving as its first S. W.; became Junior Grand Warden the
same year; S. G. W., 1891; D. G. M., 1892, and Grand Master,
1893.
He received the Capitular degrees in
LaFayette R. A. Chapter, No. 5, in October, 1884, entered the
Council as Scribe in 1888, was King in 1889, and High Priest the
following year.
He was knighted in Columbia
Commandery, No. 2, K T., but dimitted and became a member of
Orient, No. 5, in which latter commandery he remains.
In Cryptic Masonry he is on the roll
of Washington Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters.
He was one of the founders of the
Masonic Relief Association of the United States and Canada, was
the Secretary of the same for four years, and its President for
two years. He is also a past president of the local Masonic
Board of Relief. He holds membership in the Masonic Veterans'
Association, the Convention of High Priests, and Almas Temple,
A. A. O. N. M. S.
He is a thirty-third degree Mason of
the A. A. Scottish Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction of the
United States; is a member of Mithras Lodge, No. 1; a life
member of Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix, Robert De Bruce
Council of Kadosh, and Albert Pike Consistory, A. A. S. R., and
an honorary member of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite.
As a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Brother Williamson
has also attained exalted rank. He was the first Patron of Naomi
Chapter, No. 3, the first Grand Patron of the District of
Columbia, and has held the office of Most Worthy Grand Patron of
the General Grand Chapter of the O. E. S.
He is one of the incorporators and
directors of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home, and to his
untiring interest, activity, and ability the success attained by
that Institution is in a large measure due.
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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