MOGMGHunt
GEORGE ROSSELIE HUNT 1826-1897
Grand Master, 1886-1887
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Most Worshipful Brother George Rosellie Hunt seems to have first received recognition by the Grand Lodge in 1861 by appointment as District Deputy Grand Master for the then Fourteenth District. In 1869 it appears he was returned as Master of his Lodge, Corinthian No. 265. In 1869 he was appointed and until 1882 served as District Deputy Grand Master; in the latter year of the Forty-fourth District. In 1883 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, 1884 Senior Grand Warden, 1885 Deputy Grand Master, and in 1886 Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Missouri. Brother William M. Williams was his successor.
Brother Hunt was born in Clark County, Ohio, November 28, 1826. In early manhood he moved to Warrensburg, Missouri, and entered upon the practice of medicine. Soon after he located in California, Missouri, but returned in 1850 to Warrensburg.
He made his entry in Masonry in Johnson Lodge No. 85, July 8, 1850; was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft July 19, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in the evening of the same day. July 12, 1852, he was elected Master and served one year. After October 15, 1885, his name does not appear as a member of Johnson Lodge No. 85. Further search reveals his name at the head of a list of thirty-six petitioners, praying for a Charter, which was granted Corinthian Lodge No. 265, and set to work October 15, 1868, of which he was Master. He served the Lodge as Master continuously eight years, and again in 1877, 1879, 1880 and 1882. He was a regular attendant of the Lodge as long as his health permitted.
The old records of De Molay Royal Arch Chapter, disclose his election as High Priest November 9, 1859, and re-election in 18B0 and 1861, when, in consequence of the war of the rebellion, the Chapter ceased to work. September 25, 1867, the Chapter was reorganized under the same name and numbered 26, when Companion Hunt was elected High Priest; and re-elected four years in succession, serving until 1872, and again elected in 1880, also 1883. He received the Order of High Priesthood May 22, 1859. In the Grand Chapter he held the office of Grand Scribe in 1860 and Grand King in 1861. Companion Hunt received the Cryptic degrees in Cryptic Council No. 11, and served as Thrice Illustrious Master. The Charter was subsequently surrendered. He received the Orders of Knighthood in St. Omer Commandery No. 11, at Sedalia, and assisted in organizing Mary Commandery No. 19, at Warrensburg, October 26, 1872; was the first Eminent Commander, and re-elected continuously until 1880, and again elected in 1883.
His death occurred October 3, 1897, at Montrose, Missouri. The brethren of Montrose Lodge No. 408, in charge of his remains, conveyed them to Warrensburg. Corinthian Lodge No. 265 conducted the funeral, escorted by Mary Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar. Past Grand Master Ingram, as Worshipful Master, presided.
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
Dr. George R. Hunt was born in Clark County, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, November 28, 1826. He was educated in Cincinnati and graduated from the Ohio Medical College. In 1848 he came to Lexington, Mo. to visit a friend and relative. He stayed in Missouri and practiced medicine in Johnson County.He made a brief trip to California during the gold rush but returned to Missouri and settled in Warrensburg.
Brother Hunt was made a Freemason in Johnson Lodge No 85 on July 8, 1850. On July 12, 1852 he was elected Master and served one term. He was one of the thirty-six petitioners seeking a charter for Corinthian Lodge No 265 in Warrensburg and was named Master and served eight consecutive years.
He was appointed Grand Senior Deacon in 1882 and regularly advanced and became Grand Master in 1886.
He was a member of the York Rite and served in many positions in the several bodies.
The Grand Lodge session in which he presided was one of the most important and tense sessions in the history of the Grand Lodge. The situation was brought about as a result of the prohibition movement. Grand Master Hunt had issued a circular letter to lodges in reference to the question of saloon keeping and insisting that Grand Lodge law be strictly enforced.
Dr. Hunt died Sunday morning October 5, 1897 and was buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Warrensburg Mo. by his brethren of Corinthian Lodge No 265 escorted by Mary Commandery No, 19.
