MOGMJBradford

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JAMES M. BRADFORD 1880-1975

JBradford.jpg

Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive

Grand Master, 1949-1950

BIOGRAPHY

From Missouri Lodge of Research:

James Bradford was born in Keokuk, Iowa on June 26. He was a decendent of Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. He attended public schools in Keokuk until the age of thirteen when it became necessary for him to become a wage earner. He came to St Louis at about the age of fourteen and remained a resident of the city.

He studied law at home for thirteen months and with forty-four others, all of whom were college graduates, to the examination for admission to the bar. He was only one of eight in that group that passed the examination. He never entered private practice preferring Business and Corporate Law. He connected with Acolian Company of Missouri in 1913, when he assumed the position of Credit Manager. A few years later he became Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors.

Brother Bradford was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Keystone Lodge No 243 in St Louis, on September 22, 1917 and in December of that year was appointed Junior Steward. After serving as Junior and Senior Steward he resigned because of business duties which compelled him to reside in Cleveland and New York City. He returned to St Louis in 1921 and was appointed Junior Deacon of the Lodge. He presided over Keystone Lodge as Master in 1928. It was in that year the Keystone Lodge member Charles A. Lindbergh, after returnind from a good-will tour of South America made a visit to the Lodge. Colonel Lindbergh was presented with a Gold Life Membership Card bearing the name of James Bradford as Worshipful Master.

He was a member of the Scottish Rite, Missouri Chaper No 1, Royal Arch Masons, Kilwinning Council No 19, Allied Masonic Degrees, Charter member of the Missouri Lodge of Research and a member of the Missouri State Historical Society.

Brother Bradford was appointed DDGM of the 33rd Masonic District in 1938 and in 1940 Grand Master Harry Truman appointed him to the Office of Grand Pursuivant. He advanced through the line and was elected Grand Master in 1949. He was installed Grand Master by a Past Grand Master of Missouri and President of the United States, Harry S. Truman.

Grand Master Bradford passed to the Grand Lodge of Rest and Refreshment on May 19, 1975. Masonic Services were conducted by Past Grand Master George F. Morrison. Attending the funeral among others were Herman A. Orlick Grand Master, Past Grand Master Harold O. Grauel, Past Grand Master Elvis A. Mooney, Grand Secretary Frank A. Arnold, Rev, Cecil Hurt, Grand Chaplain, George Spindler, Grand Tiler and Elmer Wagner, Past Grand Secretary.


Missouri Grand Masters