MOGMAHough
ARTHUR MIDDLETON HOUGH 1848-1920
Grand Master, 1896-1897
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Note: This biography was written when Brother Hough was still alive. He died in 1920 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Most Worshipful Brother Arthur Middleton Hough made his first appearance in the Grand Lodge at the session of 1883, and has been a regular attendant since. His first official recognition was in 1890, when he was appointed Grand Marshal. In 1892 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon, followed in 1893 by election as Junior Grand Warden, in 1894 Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master in 1895, and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1896.
Brother Hough was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, January 9, 1848, and received his education in the public and private schools of Jefferson City, under the immediate supervision of his father. In his early youth he engaged as a salesman in a general store, but in a few years became a clerk on a river steamboat. At the age of twenty-two he began the study of law in the office of his brother in Kansas City; he in the meantime was Assistant Circuit Clerk of Jackson County. He was admitted to the bar at Kansas City in 1872. He later returned to Jefferson City, Missouri, where he began the practice of his profession, which he still continues, having built up a lucrative business. He has many times held positions of trust, and a number of times served as special judge of the Circuit Court.
Judge Hough first saw the light by which Masons work in Jefferson Lodge No. 43, at Jefferson City, Missouri, May 22, 1881, when he received the Entered Apprentice degree. He received the Fellow Craft degree June 22d, and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason August 5th of the same year. He served as Senior Deacon in 1882, Junior Warden in 1883, Senior Warden in 1884, and Worshipful Master in 1885, 1886, and again in 1888. He was elected Secretary in 1890, and served nine years.
He was D. D. G. Master of the Twenty-second District three years, and D. D. G. Lecturer two terms. In Capitular Masonry he was exalted March 24, 1882, in Jefferson City Royal Arch Chapter No. 34. Served as Royal Arch Captain in 1883, Scribe in 1884, King in 1886, again in, 1891 and 1892, Excellent High Priest in 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, and again in 1893, Secretary in 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901.
The Orders of Knighthood were conferred upon him in Prince of Peace Commandery No. 29, stationed at Jefferson City, May 15, 1882; he served as Warder in 1883, Generalissimo in 1884, 1885 and 1886; was elected Eminent Commander in 1887 and re,elected six times, serving altogether seven years; elected Recorder in 1897 and re-elected in 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901.
Companion Hough was recognized in the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Missouri at the Annual Convocation in 1893, when he was appointed Grand Master of the Second Veil; Grand Royal Arch Captain in 1894, Grand Principal Sojourner in 1895, Grand Captain of the Host in 1896, Grand Scribe in 1897, Grand King in 1898, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1899, and Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1900.
He was appointed Deputy Grand Lecturer for the Sixteenth District in 1897. The Order of High Priesthood was conferred upon him April 25, 1900. In the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Missouri he served as Grand Warder in 1889 and Grand Drill Master and Inspector in 1896.
The Cryptic degrees Royal and Select Masters were conferred upon him October 29, 1900, in Shekinah Council No. 24, at Kansas City.
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
Arthur Hough was born January 9, 1848 in Jefferson City, Mo. He was educated in the private and public schools of Jefferson City. At one time he was a clerk on a river steamboat but in 1870 began to study law in the office of his brother, the well known Warwick Hough, in Kansas City. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and served in the 26th and 27th General Assemblies as a clerk in the Legislature. He was a clerk in the Adjutant's General's office under General George Bingham and chief clerk under General John B. Waddell. He was Lieutenant Colonel on the military staff of Governor William J. Stone. He often served as special judge and one of his most important decisions in that office was the one affirming the validity of the issue of three and a half million dollars in bonds for the erection of the state capitol.
His public benefactions in his native city and to the Masonic Home were quite well known. To him, in great measure, the City of Jefferson owes its public library. His gift a park in Jefferson City and a $5,000.00 gift to the Masonic Home of Missouri, evinced his public spirit and devotion to Masonic principles.
He was made a Freemason in Jefferson Lodge No 43, August 5, 1881 and was Master of the Lodge in 1885, 1886 and 1888. He served as DDGM and DDGL in 1888 and 1889. He was appointed Grand Marshal in 1890 and elected Grand Master in 1895.
His personal character, culture and legal ability, together with his knowledge of Masonic Law gave him great influence in the grand bodies of Missouri. He was chairman of the committee on revision of the Grand Lodge in 1908, of the Grand Chapter in 1901 and 1911 and he revised the bylaws of the Grand Commandery three times.
His funeral was held in Jefferson City, July 5, 1920 under the direction of Julius C. Garrell, Grand Master
