MOGMJMitchell
JAMES WARD S. MITCHELL 1800-1873
Grand Master, 1844-1846
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Most Worshipful Brother James W. S. Mitchell appeared in the Grand Lodge at the adjourned session April, 1842, representing Fayette Lodge No. 47. At the Annual Communication October, 1843, he was elected Senior Grand Warden; one year later he was elected Grand Master and re-elected in 1845, thereby serving two years. He was succeeded by Brother John Ralls.
On his retirement the Grand Lodge tendered him a vote of thanks for "the able, zealous, dignified and impartial manner in which he had discharged the duties of Grand Master." A committee was appointed to procure a jewel to be presented to him. In October, 1847, Brother Mitchell was elected Grand Secretary and re-elected in 1848, serving two years.
Our distinguished brother was born in the State of Kentucky, February 22, 1800. He was self-educated, but being full of energy and determination he succeeded in making a reputation that placed him in the front ranks of the fraternity. Early in manhood he entered politics in his native State and served several terms in the House of Representatives and one term as Senator. He was an eloquent and effective speaker.
Entering Masonry in 1826 he became infatuated with the beauty of its symbolisms and the solemn mysteries unfolded. He removed to Missouri about 1837, and served one term in the Legislature. For a number of years he held the position of Land Office Receiver at Fayette, Missouri.
He assisted in organizing the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Missouri in 1846, and was unanimously selected the first Grand High Priest, and was re-elected in 1846, serving thereby two years. He assisted in forming St. Louis Commandery No. 1 in 1846.
In 1848 Brother Mitchell commenced the publication in St. Louis of the Masonic Signet, one of the best conducted Masonic magazines that has ever been published. His decisions as editor were accepted as law in the Grand Lodge of Missouri.
His death occurred in Griffin, Georgia, November 4, 1873. The Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Missouri erected a fine monument at his grave, an engraving of which appears in the Grand Chapter Proceedings of 1899, and in the Grand Lodge Journal of Missouri of 1900.
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
Dr. James Ward S. Mitchell (1800- ) GM 1844 & 1845 Grand Secretary 1847 & 1848
Mitchell was born in Kentucky Feburary 16, 1800
He joined Masonry at Port Williams, Ky. at the age of 21. He served several terms in the House of Representatives in Kentucky and one term in the State Senate. He served as Master of Hart Lodge No 61 at Nicholsonville Ky in 1827.
He moved from Illinois to Clark County MO and laid out the plans for the town of Alexandria to the mouth of the Des Moines River.
He was elected a member of the Missouri Legislature in 1840. In 1842 he was appointed Receiver of Public Monies in the land office of Fayette, Mo.
His first attendance at the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1843 and was elected Senior Grand Warden. During his term as Grand Master the Grand Lodge purchases the Marion College property, preparatory to establishing a Masonic College.
Mitchell wrote Common Law of Masonry and History of Masonry which were standard works of the day.
He was the first Grand Master to read an address before the Grand Lodge in 1845.
