MAGLHFFrench

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HERBERT F. FRENCH 1868-1930

HerbertFrench1930.jpg

Junior Grand Warden, 1912

MEMORIAL

FROM PROCEEDINGS, 1930

From Proceedings, Page 1930-274:

R.W. Bro. French was born in Randolph April 8, 1868, and died in Braintree May 10, 1930. Bro. French was educated in the schools of his native town and at Thayer Academy in Braintree. His first business connection was with the shoe trade. After about twelve years he entered the field of public accounting 'where he remained until his death and where he commanded in the highest degree the confidence of the business world.

Bro. French was initiated in Norfolk Union Lodge Jan. 29, 1890, passed. March 5, 1890, and raised April 2, 1890. He served the Lodge as Master in 1898 and 1899, and was District Deputy Grand Master for the then Twenty-fourth Masonic District in 1908 and 1909 by appointment of M.W. John Albert Blake, and M.W. Dana J. Flanders.

He was Junior Grand Warden in 1912. Although Bro. French's official connections were with Craft Masonry he was a member of the various bodies in the York and Scottish Rites and his large services to the Fraternity were recognized by election to the thirty-third degree and Honorary Membership of the Supreme Council, which was conferred upon him in 1920. For many years his firm audited the accounts of the Grand Lodge and the Masonic Education and Charity Trust, and, more recently, those of the Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction.

Bro. French is survived by a brother and by his widow and two sons.

Bro. French was respected in the highest degree by all who knew him and loved by all who were privileged to enjoy his friendship. His loss will long be keenly felt by those of us with whom he labored in the work of the Craft.

From Proceedings, Page 1930-306:

Our late Brother, Rt. Wor. Herbert F. French, 33°, was born on April 8, 1868. He entered our Fraternity at the age of twenty-one and nine years later was elected Worshipful Master of Norfolk Union Lodge of Randolph. In 1908 and 1909 he served as District Deputy Grand Master and in 1912 was elected Junior Grand Warden. His death on May 10 of this year brought to an untimely end a career rich in Masonic service. He was a man of great civic pride and took a prominent and helpful part in the affairs of the community. His passing is regretted by all who knew him.

At the head of the firm which bore his name, his business reputation was beyond reproach and was distinguished by a code of ethics that none might question. Faithful and honorable in his relations with his clients, he never spared himself nor his employees in his care for their interests.

Of the highest efficiency in his profession as an auditor, there was in his every word and action a pronounced indication that there could be no compromise with right and that he would only consent to serve those whose standards were like his own.

The systematic arrangement of the accounting methods of the various funds of the Grand Lodge is a service which he has for years rendered to the Fraternity. He steadfastly refused to accept the usual fee for this work but consented only to a modest remuneration covering the actual cost.

"So when a great man dies,
For years beyond our ken,
The light he leaves behind him lies
Upon the paths of men."

H. P. Ballard,
Roy Prout,
Carl S. Gove,
Committee.

FROM COUNCIL OF DELIBERATION, 1930

HerbertFrench1930.jpg

From Proceedings of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation AASR NMJ 1930, Page 43:

Illustrious Herbert F. French was born in Randolph, Mass., April 8, 1868, son of George M. and Lavinia Mann French. He was educated in R&) public schools of Randolph and graduated from Thayer Academy, South Braintree, in 1885.

Brother French was twice married, first in 1890 to Grace Lincoln Moulton and second in 1910 to Edith Lillian MacGregor, who survives him. Ho leaves two sons — Earl Moulton French and Richard Frederic French.

He spent his early life until the age of twenty-eight years in the shoe manufacturing industry, after which he established himself as a Certified Public Accountant with offices in Boston. His ability and reliability in this chosen profession soon made his company one of the leaders of this line of work in New England.'jHc was President of the Randolph Savings Bank and Trustee of the Irncr Public Library at Randolph.

He was a member of the Certified Public Accountants Association of Massachusetts; a member of the C. P. A. of Ohio and also of the National Association, The Institute of Accountants. Member of the City Club, Boston; Boston Chamber of Commerce; Hatherly Country Club, Scituate; and the Brockton Country Club.

His Masonic record reads as follows

  • Received his Master Mason Degree in Norfolk Union Lodge of Randolph, April 2, 1890, and after passing through the chairs became Master in 1897-1898, and has served as Trustee of this Lodge since 1899.
  • He was exalted in Satucket R. A. Chapter, May 10, 1895; greeted in Brockton Council, R.& S. M., in 1910; Knighted in Bay State Commandery, K. T., No. 38, July 15, 1895.
  • Received the grades in A. A. S. R. in Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection; Giles F. Yates Council, P. of J.; Mt. Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix and Massachusetts Consistory in 1907-1908.
  • He was elected Junior Grand Warden of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1912 and has served continuously as an Active Member of the Board of Masonic Relief since 1915.
  • He was crowned an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, A. A. S. R., on September 21, 1920, and since that time has been a member of this Council of Deliberation.

Brother French's health has not been of the best for some time and he spent the winter in Southern California, hoping to escape our rigorous climate here, but he contracted a severe cold while away, which developed into the serious illness which caused his death.

His services to the Fraternity have been of immeasurable value, although p character of such service has not been in the spot light. Exceedingly faithful in his interest in his own Lodge, his largest contribution to our welfare has been his expert attention lo our finances and accounts, and his particular attention to the financial details connected with the charities of the Grand Lodge.

For years, he has given most freely of his time and service in preparing the annual audits and through his personal efforts has placed the accounting system on a solid and understandable basis.

His personal character was irreproachable and he was devoted to his home interests. His convictions of right and wrong were very strong and when convinced of the correctness of a decision he was unyielding in its support. No specious arguments could induce him to take any other but the path he had decided was right.

A quiet and pleasing personality was his. He was a firm and loyal friend and a Mason who was devoted to the highest principles of the Craft.

We shall miss his loyal service and his helpful friendship.

He was a perfect type of that class of Mason who, while modest in office bearing, shrinking from the bright light of publicity, yet quietly performs the best of service to the Craft.

“Such was our friend. Formed on the good old plan,
A true and brave and downright honest man!
He blew no trumpet in the Market-place,
Nor in the church with hypocritic face,
Supplied with cant, the lack of Christian grace;
Loathing pretence, he did with cheerful will
What others talked of, while their hands were still;
His daily prayer, far better understood
In acts than words, was simply doing good.
So calm, so constant was his rectitude,
That by his loss alone we know its worth,
And feel how true a man has walked with us on earth.”

Arthur D. Prince, 33°,
Harry P. Ballard, 33°,
Melvin M. Johnson, 33°,
Committee.


Distinguished Brothers