MOGMCBriggs
CORONA HIBBURD BRIGGS 1849-1932
Grand Master, 1899-1900
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Note: This biography was written when Brother Briggs was still alive. He died in 1932 and is buried in Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.
Most Worshipful Brother Corona Hibburd Briggs received his first official recognition in the Grand Lodge at the Annual Session of 1881, when he was appointed Grand Chaplain. He was at each Annual Communication reappointed until 1895, when he received appointment as Senior Grand Deacon. The following year he was elected Junior Grand Warden, in 1897 Senior Grand Warden, in 1898 Deputy Grand Master, and at the Annual Session held in Kansas City in 1899 he was chosen, by practically a unanimous vote, Most Worshipful Grand Master.
Brother Briggs was born in Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa, July 29, 1849. During the year 1856 the family moved to Illinois and settled in Centralia, where he received his education in the graded schools. In 18B8 the family moved to Barton County, Missouri. At the age of twenty-one — in 1870 —he entered the ministry, and has ever since remained a hard-working, efficient and leading member of the South-West Missouri Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He served for many years as Presiding Elder of a number of church districts, and has performed valuable work as agent of Central College, located at Fayette, Missouri, and as curator and trustee of several colleges. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Central College in 1894.
Brother Briggs was made a Master Mason in Cooper Lodge No. 36, at Boonville, Missouri, January 9, 1880. He served as Worshipful Master one term, and has held membership therein to the present date. The Capitular degrees were conferred upon him May 26, 1883, in Springfield Royal Arch Chapter No. 15, at Springfield, Missouri. In 1887 he dimitted and affiliated with Independence R. A. Chapter No. 12, at Independence, Missouri, which he served as Excellent High Priest in 1891. He received the Order of High Priesthood in 1891. The Cryptic degrees were conferred upon him March 30, 1888, by Arcana Council No. 16, Royal and Select Masters, at Harrisonville, Missouri. The Christian Orders of Knighthood were conferred upon him in. St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights Templar, stationed at Springfield, Missouri, during the month of August, 1883. In 1887 he affiliated with Palestine Commandery No. 17, at Independence, Missouri, and served as Eminent Commander.
In the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Missouri he served as Grand Chaplain from 1884 to 1891, when he was elected Grand Scribe, the following year Grand King, in 1893 Deputy Grand High Priest, and in 1894 Most Excellent Grand High Priest.
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
Corona Briggs was born in the State of Iowa in Elkader, Clayton County, July 27, 1849. In October 1856 the family moved to Centralia. In 1869 he moved to Barton County and taught school in Harrison Township, Vernon County. In September 1870 he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church and served as pastor in Sedalia, Harrisonville, Independence, Boonville, Springfield, Nevada, Marshall and Joplin, concluding as presiding ender of the Springfield District, although he had served as presiding elder of the Neosho, Kansas City, Boonville, St Louis and St Joseph Districts. From1891 to 1894 he was the agent of Central College, Fayette Mo. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was received from Central College in June 1894.
The death of Dr. Briggs occurred at Springfield Mo., September 24, 1932 at 3:30 a.m. on the Saturday preceding the annual communication of Grand Lodge. Funeral services were conducted in St Paul's Methodist Church and burial was in Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield. Masonic services were under the direction of Past Grand Master Byrne Bigger.
Briggs was made a Master Mason in Cooper Lodge NO 36, Boonville, Mo., January 9, 1880, serving as Master in 1895. Even before he served as Master he appreared in Grand Lodge and was named Grand Orator in 1880, his address delivered in 1881 was on the subject, "Conserving Power and Influence of Freemasonry" In 1895 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon and elected Grand Master in 1899. He dimited from Cooper Lodge in 1906 to affiliate with Solomon Lodge No 271, Springfield, in which he retained his membership.
The was a member of the York Rite bodies and served the Grand Chapter as Grand High Priest in 1894. He served the Grand Commandery as Grand Prelate from 1923 to 1932.
He was a member of the Red Cross of Constantine in St Andrew's Conclave No 11, Joplin, Mo., in 1911 and was Sovereign in 1922.
He was a member of the Scottish Rite in St Joseph and Ararat Shrine in Kansas City
