William George Henderson, Grand Master, 1900

Born in Washington, District of Columbia, October 15, 1852, he received his education in various private schools, including the preparatory school of Columbian College. Receiving an appointment as clerk in the office of the Inspector of Building Materials for the Treasury Department's Extension he remained there until he secured a better appointment in the Agricultural Department, leaving this in 1868 to accept a clerkship in the U. S. Patent Office, where he was for a number of years a member of the examining corps, until 1874, when he resigned. At this time he received the degree of Bachelor of Law from Columbian Law School, graduating with the class of 1874, and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.

For two years after beginning the general practice of law Brother Henderson had his office with the late Walter D. Davidge. Subsequently he concluded to make a specialty of patent cases before the Federal courts. On the motion of Mr. Davidge he was admitted to the bar of the U. S. Supreme Court May 10, 1880.

Brother Henderson is also identified with interests outside the pale of his profession, among them the Washington Board of Trade, in which he was for six years a member of the Board of Directors and is at present Chairman of the important Committee on Streets and Avenues. He was one of the organizers, and for a number of years the President of the North Capitol and Eckington Citizens' Association, organized in 1896, and at present is a member ex officio of the Executive Committee of that Association and Chairman of its Committee on Street Railways. Brother Henderson has a large and lucrative practice in patent and trademark cases both in the District of Columbia and before the U. S. Circuit Courts throughout the States where litigation is in progress.

Of pleasing presence and courteous demeanor he rejoices in a host of friends, while his judicial training and analytical mind has won for him high rank in the councils of his fellows in all his public and semi-public associations. A close and logical reasoner and a convincing, forceful speaker Brother Henderson has been a most valuable member of the Masonic Fraternity, to which he has devoted his talents for many years, and in which he has received the highest honors.

He was initiated in The New Jerusalem Lodge, No. 9, August 13, 1874; passed September 10, 1874, and raised October 22, 1874; was Worshipful Master thereof in 1880, and after serving in various subordinate chairs was Grand Master in 1900. In 1903 he was Chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Grand Lodge Constitution and at present is Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence of the Grand Lodge.

He received the Capitular degree in Columbia Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M., in 1875, and filled the offices of Scribe and King in 1881 and 1882, respectively. He was knighted in Washington Commandery, No. 1, K T., May 13, 1876, and received the Order of Malta February 28, 1877. He is a member of Mithras Lodge of Perfection, No. 1, A. A. S. R-, Southern jurisdiction, having received the fourteenth degree on December 5, 1899.

For a number of years Brother Henderson served as the representative of his lodge on the Masonic Board of Relief, and at one time was President of that Board.

He has also represented his lodge in the New Masonic Temple Association.

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.