MOGMCWoods

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CHARLES CARROLL WOODS 1838-1927

CWoods.jpg

Grand Master, 1882-1883

BIOGRAPHY

From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:

Note: This biography was written when Brother Woods was still alive. He died in 1927 and is buried in Arrow Rock Cemetery in Arrow Rock, Missouri.

Most Worshipful Brother Charles Carroll Woods made his first appearance in the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication of 1869 as proxy for the Master of Corinthian Lodge No. 265, of Warrensburg, Missouri. In 1875 he was appointed one of the Grand Chaplains and reappointed until 1879, when he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon; 1880 elected Senior Grand Warden, followed by his election in 1881 as Deputy Grand Master, and in 1882 he was chosen Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. His successor was Brother Lee A. Hall, in 1883.

Brother Woods was born at Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia, July 4, 1838. He was named after Charles Carroll, of Carrollton — the last of the signers of the Declaration of Independence — because of birth on that anniversary. Removed to Missouri in 1855; settled in Morgan County; attended Trinity College in North Carolina, afterwards Central College at Fayette, and is an alumnus of Central; received degree of D. D. from Trinity College in 1878.

During the period he was located in Cole County, Missouri, he petitioned Hickory Hill Lodge No. 211 in the fall of 1867, but was called to another place. Was not able to return for initiation until September, 1868. Taking charge of the church at Warrensburg, a waiver permitted Corinthian Lodge No. 265 to confer the degrees in December, 1868. In 1877 he dimitted to assist in forming W. D. Muir Lodge at Pilot Grove, Missouri, which he served as Worshipful Master. In 1879 he dimitted and affiliated with Temple Lodge No. 299, at Kansas City, Missouri, where his membership still remains. He was elected Worshipful Master of Temple Lodge in December, 1883.

Brother Woods received the degrees of Capitular Masonry in De Molay Royal Arch Chapter No. 26, at Warrensburg, in the spring of 1869; dimitted in December, 1872, and affiliated with Boonville Chapter No. 60, at Boonville, Missouri; served as Excellent High Priest, and in 1895 dimitted and affiliated with Orient Chapter No. 102, at Kansas City, Missouri.

In the Grand Chapter Companion Woods served as Grand Chaplain in 1876, 1877 and 1878; in 1880 Grand Captain of the Host; elected Grand Scribe in 1881, Grand King in 1882, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1883, and Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1884. Companion Woods was greeted in Arcana Council No. 16, Royal and Select Masters, at Harrisonville in 1871. In the Grand Council he served several times as Grand Chaplain. The Orders of Christian Knighthood were conferred upon him in Bayard Commandery No. 26, stationed at Harrisonville, Missouri, in 1879. He assisted in organizing Oriental Commandery No. 51, at Kansas City, Missouri; remained a member about three years, when he again affiliated with Bayard Commandery No. 26, remaining a member until 1895. He assisted in forming Neosho Commandery No. 57, at Neosho, Missouri, which he served as Eminent Commander. In the Grand Commandery K. T. of Missouri in 1886 he was within a few votes of election to the office of Grand Captain,General, but declined to accept the office to which he undoubtedly would have been elected on the next ballot. He was elected Grand Prelate in 1884 and re-elected twelve consecutive times, serving thirteen years; declining further election. He was Grand Warder in 1897, and Grand Sword Bearer in 1898.

His popularity in the office of Chaplain could never be disputed, including Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, Grand Council and Grand Commandery. Including Lodge, Chapter and Commandery he was at one period serving all the seven bodies as Chaplain or Prelate.

Brother Woods has ever been an advocate of the Masonic Home. When Grand Master, in his address to the Grand Lodge he strongly urged the building of a Masonic Home in Missouri. Two years later he was appointed chairman of the committee to visit and investigate Masonic Homes in other jurisdictions and report to the Grand Lodge. When the Grand Lodge authorized the organization of a Board of Directors he was unanimously selected to preside as President, which he positively declined. He served, however, as a Director from the organization until he was chosen Superintendent of the Home in 1898.

Brother Woods has served a lifetime in ministerial work, the greater portion of which was in Warrensburg, Boonville, Springfield, Jefferson City and Kansas City. For eight years he was President of Scarritt College at Neosho (a church school). He is in robust health, and continues to fill the pulpit on frequent occasions.

Brother Woods was for several years a member of the first Chapter O. E. S. instituted in Kansas City, Missouri. He severed his connection on leaving Kansas City to reside elsewhere.

From Missouri Lodge of Research:

Charles C. Woods was born at Rocky Mount, Va., July 4, 1838 He came to Missouri in 1855 locating in Morgan County. Previous to his arrival in Missouri he attended Trinity College N.C. receiving the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

The minute of Arrow Rock Lodge No 55 show that he petitioned the lodge during Civil War times but because of the violent feeling at that time he was not permitted to become a member.He petitioned Hickory Hill Lodge No 211, was elected, but was unable to be present for initiation. Having taken up residence in Warrensburg, Hickory Hill Lodge waived jurisdiction and his degrees were conferred in December 1868 by Corinthian Lodge No 265.

Woods served the Grand Lodge as Chaplin in 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878 and was appointed Senior Grand Deacon in 1879. In 1880 he was elected Grand Master.

He was a member of the York Rite bodies,

Brother Woods was Superintendent of the Masonic Home of Missouri from 1898 to 1901.

In 1920 he wrote a prayer, which is optional in the conferral of the third degree of Freemasonry.

His death occurred Thursday May 12, 1927 at his home in Sarasota, FL. His remains were brought to Marshall Missouri where an impressive service was conducted by the Grand Lodge of Missouri. He was laid to rest at Arrow Rock, Mo.


Missouri Grand Masters