MAGLHPollard
Contents
HARRY G. POLLARD 1875-1968
- Deputy Grand Master 1920
- Grand High Priest 1925-1927
BIOGRAPHY
FROM KNIGHT TEMPLAR, 2015
From Knight Templar, December 2015, Page 7:
Harry G. Pollard, 33rd Grand Master of the Grand Encampment
Harry Gilmore Pollard was born on February 19, 1875, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the son of Arthur Gayton Pollard (1843—1930) and Martha Melissa (Fuller) Pollard (born 1847—died between 1920 and 1930). His father is quite interesting in his own right, being the owner of a department store (Pollard's) in downtown Lowell as well as operating a business that dealt with remnants of fabrics and carpeting from all the mills in New England. His father was also quite active in Freemasonry and served as General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons from 1903-1906.
Most Eminent Sir Knight Pollard graduated from Lowell High School and held membership in the First United Baptist Church of Lowell. He carved himself a career of distinction and leadership in the world of commerce, becoming president of the A. G. Pollard Company, Inc. in 1931 following his father's death, which at the time was Lowell's leading retail department store. He was also vice-president of the Central Savings Bank, president of Stony Brook Railway, and director of the Lowell Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He served as president of appropriations of the South Congregational Meeting House and was the first president of Lowell Rotary Club. He was president of Vesper Country Club and a long time active member of the Old Middlesex Chapter of the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution. He also served as food administrator for Lowell and vicinity during World War I.
On April 29, 1903, he married Miss Leah Parchert (born in 1881) of Lewiston, New York. They had two sons: Arthur G. Pollard, II (1904-1980) and Harry G. Pollard, Jr. (1907-1992).
His extensive Masonic record is shown below:
Symbolic Lodge
He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Ancient York Lodge in Lowell on June 11, 1896; elected and installed Worshipful Master on October 10, 1907, and served in 1908-1909; served Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as Senior Grand Steward in 1911, Junior Grand Deacon in 1912, District Deputy Grand Master in 1913-1914, and Deputy Grand Master in 1920; and received the Henry Price Medal in 1921. He was Grand Representative of Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario in 1929.
He was an honorary member of Pentucket and Kilwinning Lodges in Lowell, a charter member of William Sewall Gardner Lodge in Lowell on March 31, 1929 and received the Veteran's Medal in 1947.
Capitular Masonry
He was exalted in Mount Horeb Chapter, Royal Arch Masons on February 15, 1897, and served as High Priest in 1919; anointed a member of Massachusetts Convention of High Priests on March 11, 1919; served as Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts in 1924 and as Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts during 1925-1927; received the Paul Revere Medal on December 10, 1929; served as Treasurer of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts from 1931-1947; and received the fifty year emblem on April 15, 1947.
Cryptic Masonry
He was greeted in Ahasuerus Council, Royal and Select Masters on June 21, 1897, served as Illustrious Master from 1914-1916, and served as Grand Principal Conductor of the Work of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Massachusetts 1917.
Chivalric Masonry
He was knighted in Pilgrim Commandery No. 9, Knights Templar on February 19, 1898; served as Commander from 1906-1908; Grand Commander of Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1920-1921; and as Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America from 1940-1943.
Scottish Rite
He received the degrees from the 4th to the 32nd in the following bodies; Lowell Lodge of Perfection on March 29, 1897, where he served as Thrice Potent Master from 1905-1907; Lowell Council of Princes of Jerusalem on April 5, 1897; Mount Calvary Chapter of Rose Croix in Lowell on April 13, 1897, where he served as Most Wise Master from 1917-1919; and Massachusetts Consistory, Boston on April 23, 1897. He was created an honorary 33° at Boston on October 4, 1912; served as Grand Sword Bearer under Sovereign Grand Commander Melvin Maynard Johnson; and was the First Lieutenant Commander of Massachusetts Council of Deliberation.
Sir Knight Pollard was a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Boston and served as Potentate in 1937. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. He was made a member of the Massachusetts College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis on November 9, 1917, and served as Celebrant. He served as Treasurer of the College from 1932-1940. He was a charter member of Bay State Conclave No. 29, Red Cross of Constantine on December 17, 1952. He was a member of Massachusetts Priory No. 52, Knights of the York Cross of Honour.
The Forty-Second Triennial Conclave at which Most Eminent Sir Knight Pollard presided was held on May 24, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois. A short meeting was held due to the war restrictions.
After a long illness. Sir Knight Pollard passed away at Juniper Hall io Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on June 29, 1968.
(Author's note: Juniper Hall was at that time owned by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and was known as the Masonic Hospital.)
Funeral services were held at the Morse Funeral Home in Lowell on July 3,1968. I have been unable to locate where he is interred in Lowell.
(Editor's Note: This article drew upon this page for its research!)
MEMORIAL
FROM PROCEEDINGS, 1968
From Proceedings, Page 1968-155:
Right Worshipful Harry Gilmore Pollard was born on February 19, 1875 in Lowell, Massachusetts, the son of R.W. Arthur Gayton Pollard and Martha Melissa Fuller Pollard. After a long illness, Brother Pollard passed away at Juniper Hall in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on Saturday, June 29, 1968.
Brother Pollard was graduated from Lowell High School and held membership in the First United Baptist Church of Lowell. He carved himself a career of distinction and leadership in the world of commerce, becoming President of the A. G. Pollard Company, Inc. in 1931, Lowell's leading retail department store. He was also Vice-President of the Central Savings Bank, President of Stony Brook Railway, and Director of the Lowell Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He served as President of Appropriations of the South Congregational Meeting House, and was the first President of Lowell Rotary Club. He was President of Vesper Country Club and a long time active member of the Old Middlesex Chapter of the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution. He also served as food administrator for Lowell and vicinity during World War I.
On April 29, 1903 he married Miss Leah Parchert of Buffalo, N.Y. They had two sons: Arthur G. Pollard II, with whom he made his home, and Harry G. Pollard, Jr. of Rye, N.H. Other members of his family are a sister Edith (Mrs. William T. Sheppard), two grandsons: Harry G. Pollard III of Hampton, N.H., and R. Stuart Pollard of Greenland, N.H., a great granddaughter, Hardy Pollard, and a great grandson, Harry G. Pollard IV, both of Hampton, N.H.
The inscrutable scythe of time, leveler of all men indiscriminately and with no special respect or favoritism for any, has cut down another great leader in our fraternity.
Right Worshipful Brother Pollard always had something to say, and had a way of imparting his warmth to and interest in those he met that made every man feel like a Prince. He moved into the lives of his fellow men with an interest in what they said, in their opinions and problems, and shared their grief and happiness. Beautiful tributes and moving eulogies can be made by such as we, but only those who have passed on to the Celestial Lodge above can deliver a Memorial of lasting significance. Only they can write their own epitaphs which will live in the hearts and minds of men; only they can leave their own footprints in the shifting sands of time by which men can retrace their journey as a shining example for others to follow, and by which they must be judged by the Supreme Court of last resort.
In Act III, Scene 2 of his Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare described our beloved Brother more eloquently than we could ever hope to do when he wrote:
"And, when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun."
Now that we have given him up, retaining only the memory of the service and joy of his friendship, we can selfishly say we are grateful for the many years we had him, and know that the members of our fraternity are much better off because of his presence among us. May we at our demise reflect some of his rare qualities when it is we for whom the bell tolls. One can only take from this world what he has given to mankind, and his memory will be eternally inscribed within our hearts. We shall all miss him very much.
The following Masonic record of Brother Pollard testifies to his many years of devoted service to Massachusetts Freemasonry:
- Symbolic
- Raised to Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Ancient York Lodge, Lowell, June 11, 1896.
- Elected and installed Worshipful Master October 10, 1907. Served 1908-1909.
- Served Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as
- Senior Grand Steward 1911.
- Junior Grand Deacon 1912.
- District Deputy Grand Master 1913-1914.
- Deputy Grand Master 1920.
- Received Henry Price Medal 1921.
- Grand Representative of Grand Lodge of Canada, in the Province of Ontario, 1929.
- Honorary Member of Pentucket and Kilwinning Lodges, Lowell.
- Charter Member William Sewall Gardner Lodge, Lowell, March 31, 1929.
- Received Veteran's Medal 1947.
- Capitular
- Exalted in Mount Horeb Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, February 15, 1897.
- Served as High Priest 1919.
- Member Massachusetts Convention of High Priests March 11, 1919.
- Deputy Grand High Priest of Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts 1924.
- Grand High Priest of Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts 1925-1927.
- Received Paul Revere Medal December 10, 1929.
- Treasurer Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts 1931-1947.
- Received 50-year Emblem April 15, 1947.
- Cryptic
- Greeted in Ahasuerus Council, Royal and Select Masters, June 21, 1897.
- Served as Master 1914-1916.
- Grand Principal Conductor of the Work, Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Massachusetts 1917.
- Chivalric
- Knighted in Pilgrim Commandery No. 9, K.T. February 19, 1898.
- Served as Commander 1906-1908.
- Grand Commander o{ Grand Commandery, K.T., Inc. of Massachusetts and Rhode Island 1920-1921.
- Grand Master of Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America 1940-1943.
- Scottish Rite
- Received the Degrees from the 4th to the 32nd in the following Bodies:
- Lowell Lodge of Perfection March 29, 1897. Served as Thrice Potent Master 1905-1907.
- Lowell Council of Princes of Jerusalem April 5, 1897.
- Mount Calvary Chapter of Rose Croix, Lowell April 13, 1897. Served as Most Wise Master 1917-1919.
- Massachusetts Consistory, Boston April 23, 1897.
- Received the Degrees from the 4th to the 32nd in the following Bodies:
- Supreme Council
- Created an Honorary 33° Member at Boston October 4,1912.
- Grand Sword Bearer under Sovereign Grand Commander, Melvin Maynard Johnson. 1st Lieutenant Commander of Massachusetts Council of Deliberation.
Brother Pollard was a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Boston, and served as Potentate in 1937. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. He was made a member of the Massachusetts College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis November 9, 1917, and was Celebrant of the High Council. He served as Treasurer of the High Council 1932-1940. He was a Charter Member of Bay State Conclave No. 29, Red Cross of Constantine December 17, 1952. He was a member of the Massachusetts Priory No. 52, Knights of the York Cross of Honor.
Funeral services were held at the Morse Funeral Home, 122 Princeton Boulevard, Lowell, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, July 3, 1968 at 1:00 P.M.
Fraternally submitted,
Andrew G. Jenkins
William L. Rust
Earl R. Duxbury
Committee
