MAGLFHilton

From MasonicGenealogy
Revision as of 17:22, 8 October 2011 by 98.216.82.200 (Talk)

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

FRANK HERMAN HILTON 1875-1957

FrankHilton1957.jpg

Grand Sword Bearer, 1920-1922
Grand Marshal, 1923-1925
Senior Grand Warden, 1926
Grand Secretary, 1940-1951

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1957-118:

On August 24, 1957, Right Worshipful Frank Herman Hilton, one of the most widely known and universally beloved members of our Craft, laid down his working tools after fifty-three years of service. To an unusual degree he personified Massachusetts Freemasonry in the three continents and the Canal Zone, in which our Grand Lodge had jurisdiction. His was a long and interesting record of service in countless ways to countless people.

He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 27, 1875, the son of James Madison Hilton and Mariette Frances (Stacy) Hilton. He graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School and then entered the business world. From 1894 to 1897 he was in Fanueil Hall Market; and from 1897 to 1902, with Lexington Lumber Company; from 1902 to 1920, he was Treasurer and part owner of The Cloverdale Company. He was a Sergeant in the First Motor Corps, Massachusetts State Guard, from 1916 to 1917.

He was received as an Entered Apprentice in Mizpah Lodge, Cambridge, on April 12, 1904, and on June 14, 1904, was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason and signed the By-Laws of the Lodge. He was appointed a line officer in the Lodge in January 1906 and became its 26th Master on December 11, 1916, serving with great distinction until January 1918. During this trying World War I period, 1916-1918, Mizpah Lodge, under Worshipful Brother Hilton's direction, became a home away from home for over two hundred servicemen of the United States Navy Radio School in the Boston area. In appreciation of the brotherly love and affection shown to them by Wor. Brother Hilton and the members of Mizpah Lodge, this band of over two hundred Masonic servicemen, in January 1918, presented Wor. Brother Hilton a beautifully inscribed silver trowel which is to this day one of the proudest possessions of the Lodge.

He served as Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Lodge in 1920, 1921 and 1922 and accompanied Most Worshipful Arthur D. Prince to the Canal Zone in 1921 as Acting Grand Marshal. He was Grand Marshal in 1923, 1924 and 1925 and revisited the Canal Zone, and then travelled to Chile, South America and the Caribbean area as Grand Marshal with Most Worshipful Dudley H. Ferrell. He received the Henry Price Medal in 1925 and the Veteran's Medal on March 19, 1944.

Right Worshipful Brother Hilton was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1926, and in 1929, became Director of Administration of the Grand Lodge, a post which he held until 1940. He was appointed Grand Secretary Pro-Tem on May 23, 1940, and was elected Grand Secretary on September 11, 1940, in which capacity he served until 1951. He was elected to Honorary Membership in Mizpah Lodge on October 14, 1935. He affiliated with Belmont Lodge, Belmont, Massachusetts, on April 4, 1909, and was elected an Honorary Member of that Lodge on November 4, 1937. He became a Charter Member of Beaver Lodge, Belmont, on October 15,1923, and was also an Honorary Member of Sibert Lodge, Canal Zonel an Honorary Member of International Lodge, Peking, China; an Honorary Member of Hykes Memorial Lodge in Tientsin, China, and an Honorary Past Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Ontario, Canada. He represented the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire in our own Grand Lodge.

Right Worshipful Brother Hilton was a member of St. Andrew's Royal Arch Chapter, a Charter member of the Cambridge Council of Royal and Select Masters, and a member of Boston Commandery, Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Boston Lodge of Perfection, Giles F. Yates Council Princess of Jerusalem, Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix, and Massachusetts Consistory. He received the Honorary 33rd Degree in the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite, on September 24, 1944.

When the invasion of China caused the suspension of our Masonic activity on that continent, Right Worshipful Brother Hilton spent endless hours of time, in addition to his arduous duties as Grand Secretary, corresponding with and helping our Brethren in China and throughout the world wherever they had dispersed. No one will ever know what an extraordinary service he rendered in this time of need, but it was typical of his attitude toward everyone with whom he came in contact throughout his long life.

Right Worshipful Brother Hilton will long be remembered as a truly remarkable Mason who by his thoughts, words and actions always exemplified the highest tenets of our Ancient and Honorable Institution.

Fraternally submitted,
Joseph Earl Perry
William H. Haugh
Gerald W. White
Committee


Distinguished Brothers