MOGMAChambers
ADAM BLACK CHAMBERS 1808-1854
Grand Master, 1834-1836
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Brother A. B. Chambers received his first elective recognition at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in December, 1833, when he was elected Deputy Grand Master. In November, 1834, he was elected M. W. Grand Master. As no Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge was held in 1835, in consequence of the perturbed state of feeling against Masonry, Brother Chambers held over until October, 1836, thereby serving as Grand Master two terms. From old records it appears he was not permitted to go into retirement. At the Annual Communication in October, 1837, he was elected Senior Grand Warden, and re-elected in 1838, serving two years, when in 1839 he was advanced to the Deputy Grand Master's chair. On the 21st of October, 1839, as acting Grand Master, he laid the cornerstone of the St. Louis Court House.
Brother Chambers was born in Mercer County, Pa., on the 9th of January, 1808; removed to and settled in the town of Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo., in 1829, with but seventy-five cents in his pockets. Having studied law, he took up the profession, and soon attained prominence in both civil and criminal courts. He volunteered as a private in the Black Hawk War. In 1832, after returning home, he was elected to the Legislature, and again in 1836. In the meantime assisted in the publication of a newspaper in Bowling Green. In 1837 he removed to St. Louis and became a partner in the then Missouri Republican. Being a man of strong convictions and fearless in the expression of them, he soon took a leading position.
He was of amiable disposition and maintained throughout life the character of a pure and honorable man. Passing through the trials of the flood of 1844, the great fire of 1849 and the epidemic of cholera, he maintained his courage and devotion in a conspicuous manner. His death occurred May 22, 1854. A monument was erected over his remains in Bellefontaine Cemetery the same year.
Other than what appears in the beginning of this sketch as to our distinguished brother's Masonic history, we can not learn anything than that he was a member of St. Louis Lodge No. 20.
We are indebted to a daughter of Brother Chambers, Mrs. K. B. Hull, for the engraving herewith.
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
Adam Black Chambers (1808-1854) GM 1835
Born in Mercer, Mercer County PA. Moved to St Louis MO in 1930 and then to Bowling Green Pike County Mo where he was admitted to the bar. Published a news paper in Bowling Green and St Louis.
Attended Grand Lodge in 1832 as Master of Perseverance Lodge No 15 and was elected Grand Master in 1834. As Grand Master he laid the cornerstone of the St. Louis Courthouse.
Chambers died May 22, 1854 and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St Louis, Mo.
