Thomas John Newton, Junior Grand Warden,
1911
Born in
Liverpool, England, January 20, 1852, he came to Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, when nine years of age, and received his education
in the public schools of the latter city. After engaging in
mercantile pursuits for a few years he removed to Washington,
District of Columbia, and entered the Government service as a
clerk in the Department of State, July 1, 1874, and has been
continuously employed in that service to the present time,
filling many positions of trust, among them that of Special
Disbursing Officer of the Department for the Alaskan Boundary
Tribunal, which met in London, England, from August 1 to
November 18, 1903.
Brother Newton was raised in National
Lodge, No. 12, April 20, 1880, and filled the East in that body
for the years 1885 and 1886; was exalted in Eureka R. A.
Chapter, No. 4, March 23, 1883, and served as High Priest in
1889; was knighted in Washington Commandery, No. 1, K T., May
23, 1883.
Brother Newton has been an
indefatigable worker in the different branches of local Masonry,
but perhaps his most valuable efforts have been directed toward
the perfection of the Masonic Relief work, and along this line
he has builded for himself and the jurisdiction an enviable
record. His work in this direction commenced on the local Board
as a delegate from his lodge in 1882, and he has been in
continuous active service to the present time, serving as
Secretary from 1886 to 1890, inclusive, when he was elected
Vice-President and then President, serving in the latter office
two years. In 1904 he again took up the duties as Secretary and
is still holding that position.
On the formation of the General
Masonic Relief Association for the United States and Canada, in
1885, our Board became a contributing member, and it has been
his privilege to attend all its meetings as a delegate from our
local Board, with the single exception of the 1903 meeting, when
he was absent from the country on Government business. He has
served the Association in various capacities, i. e., as a member
of the Advisory Board from September, 1890, to 1899, when he was
elected Second Vice-President; in 1901, elected First
Vice-President, and in 1903, notwithstanding his absence, was
elected President, serving until 1905, and by virtue of such
service is a permanent member of said association. At the
present time, he is holding the important position of Chairman
of the Committee on Organization and Membership.
Gifted with an unusually attractive
personality, of courteous, kindly demeanor, Brother Newton has a
deservedly wide circle of friends, while his exceptional mental
equipment and earnestness of purpose insures for the
jurisdiction a successful administration under his guidance when
he shall have been installed as Grand Master.
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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