MOGMCWoods
CHARLES CARROLL WOODS 1838-1927
Grand Master, 1882-1883
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Note: This biography was written when Brother Woods was still alive. He died in 1927 and is buried in Arrow Rock Cemetery in Arrow Rock, Missouri.
Most Worshipful Brother Charles Carroll Woods made his first appearance in the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication of 1869 as proxy for the Master of Corinthian Lodge No. 265, of Warrensburg, Missouri. In 1875 he was appointed one of the Grand Chaplains and reappointed until 1879, when he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon; 1880 elected Senior Grand Warden, followed by his election in 1881 as Deputy Grand Master, and in 1882 he was chosen Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. His successor was Brother Lee A. Hall, in 1883.
Brother Woods was born at Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia, July 4, 1838. He was named after Charles Carroll, of Carrollton — the last of the signers of the Declaration of Independence — because of birth on that anniversary. Removed to Missouri in 1855; settled in Morgan County; attended Trinity College in North Carolina, afterwards Central College at Fayette, and is an alumnus of Central; received degree of D. D. from Trinity College in 1878.
During the period he was located in Cole County, Missouri, he petitioned Hickory Hill Lodge No. 211 in the fall of 1867, but was called to another place. Was not able to return for initiation until September, 1868. Taking charge of the church at Warrensburg, a waiver permitted Corinthian Lodge No. 265 to confer the degrees in December, 1868. In 1877 he dimitted to assist in forming W. D. Muir Lodge at Pilot Grove, Missouri, which he served as Worshipful Master. In 1879 he dimitted and affiliated with Temple Lodge No. 299, at Kansas City, Missouri, where his membership still remains. He was elected Worshipful Master of Temple Lodge in December, 1883.
Brother Woods received the degrees of Capitular Masonry in De Molay Royal Arch Chapter No. 26, at Warrensburg, in the spring of 1869; dimitted in December, 1872, and affiliated with Boonville Chapter No. 60, at Boonville, Missouri; served as Excellent High Priest, and in 1895 dimitted and affiliated with Orient Chapter No. 102, at Kansas City, Missouri.
In the Grand Chapter Companion Woods served as Grand Chaplain in 1876, 1877 and 1878; in 1880 Grand Captain of the Host; elected Grand Scribe in 1881, Grand King in 1882, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1883, and Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1884. Companion Woods was greeted in Arcana Council No. 16, Royal and Select Masters, at Harrisonville in 1871. In the Grand Council he served several times as Grand Chaplain. The Orders of Christian Knighthood were conferred upon him in Bayard Commandery No. 26, stationed at Harrisonville, Missouri, in 1879. He assisted in organizing Oriental Commandery No. :l.1, at Kansas City, Missouri; remained a member about three years, when he again affiliated with Bayard Commandery No. 26, remaining a member until 1895. He assisted in forming Neosho Commandery No. 57, at Neosho, Missouri, which he served as Eminent Commander. In the Grand Commandery K. T. of Missouri in 1886 he was within a few votes of election to the office of Grand Captain,General, but declined to accept the office to which he undoubtedly would have been elected on the next ballot. He was elected Grand Prelate in 1884 and re-elected twelve consecutive times, serving thirteen years; declining further election. He was Grand Warder in 1897, and Grand Sword Bearer in 1898.
