MOGMJMitchell
JAMES WYLIE 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.
