MOGMJPickard
JOHN PICKARD 1858-1937
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 1926-1927
BIOGRAPHY
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
John Pickard was born October 12, 1858 at Penacook, N.H. The Pickard family was a Huguenot family, The Pickard family, who, fleeing religious persecution found temporary settlement in the southwest of England and eventually coming to New England. He attended public school and later New England College in Dartmouth N.H. graduating in 1883. After graduation he spent four year as principle of the high school in Portsmouth N.H. Desiring to continue his education he attended the University of Munich, Berlin and Leipsic and the American schools in Athens and Rome. From the University of Munich he received his Ph.D. in 1892. In the fall of that year he came to the University of Missouri as an assistant professor of Greek and Classical Archaeology and Art. In 1889-90 he served as Dean of the academic facility and acting Dean in 1904-05. In appreciation of his splendid work as an instructor and particularly for his work in connection with the decoration of the Missouri State Capitol he was the recipient of the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts conferred upon him by Chancellor Hadley of Washington Unversity in St Louis. His reputation for scholarship is evident by his election to Phi Beta Kappa
Elected in 1914 as president of the College Art Association, he served continously five years; he was the president of the Missouri Society of the Archaeological Institute. One of his greatest services he rendered to his adopted State was his work in connection with the Capitol Decoration Commission . That Commission had complete charge of the decoration of the State Capitol.
In 1889 he married Miss Jeanie A Gerish and they were the parents of one daughter, Caroline.
Dr. Pickard had a very complete Masonic career, and his activity is shown by the positions he held in each body with which he was connected. He was initiated in Acacia Lodge No 602, Columbia, Mo., February 8, 1909, passed February 24 and raised March 3. 1909.He served as Master in 1912. During that year he was appointed DDGM and served until1917 at which time he was appointed Grand Pursuivant in the Grand Lodge; he regularly advanced and became Grand Master in 1926
He received the degree of Royal Arch Masonry in Columbia Chapter No 17 in March and April of 1909 and in 1911 becoming High Priest. In 1913 he was elected Grand Master of the First Veil and became Grand High Priest in 1923.
Dr Pickard received the Cryptic Degees in Centralia Council No 34, March 20, 1911 and served as Master in 1913, 1914 and 1915. He was named Grand Principal Conductor of the Work in the Grand Council in 1916 and advanced to Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1918.
He received the Chivalric Orders in the asylum of St Graal Commandery No 12, Knights Templar, Columbia, being knighted May 7, 1909 and served as Commander in 1911 and 1912.
Dr Pickard attained high honors in the Red Cross of Constantine, being a charter member of St. Chrysostom Conclave No 36, Columbia, Mo. and was its Sovereign in 1919. He accepted appointment in the Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine U.S.A. and was elected Grand Sovereign in 1932.
He was active with the Acacia Fraternity, Order of Demolay, Order of the Eastern Star where he servied as Grand Patron, the Mystic Shrine and the Scottish Rite in which he received the degrees 4-32 November 22-25, 1909 and coroneted 33rd degree October 19. 1917.
His death occurred in the early afternoon of Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1937, while seated in his chair listening to the Missouri-Kansas football game. Funeral services were held on Sunday November 28th at the First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, Mo. attended by officers of the Grand Lodge and a Templar escort accompanied the body to the train for final interment in the family lot in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth, N.H.
