MOGMWWilliams
WILLIAM MUIR WILLIAMS 1850-1916
Grand Master, 1887-1888
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Note: This biography was written when Brother Williams was still alive. He died in 1916 and is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Boonville, Missouri.
Most Worshipful Brother William Muir Williams entered the Grand Lodge of Missouri at the Annual Communication of 1875, appearing as Worshipful Master of Cooper Lodge No. 36, of Boonville, Missouri. Two years later, in 1877, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the Twenty-third District, and reappointed in 1878. At the Annual Session of 1882 he received the appointment of Grand Orator. The year following he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon, and in 1884 was elected Junior Grand Warden, in 1885 Senior Grand Warden, in 1886 Deputy Grand Master, and in 1887 was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master. On retiring he was made Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence.
Brother Williams was born in Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri, February 4, 1850, and was named after his relative, M. W. Brother William D. Muir, who was Grand Master in 1869. Brother Williams received his education in Kemper College at Boonville. After graduation, he applied himself to the study of law, and commenced practice at the age of twenty,three, in the year 1873, and has attained very high rank as an attorney. He always protested against entering politics or offering himself for official preferment. Albeit he was a few years since induced to accept a seat on the Supreme Court bench, which he filled to the utmost satisfaction.
He was made a Mason in Cooper Lodge No. 36, at Boonville, in 1872, and was the last person upon whom P. G. Master Muir conferred the degrees. Brother Williams was chosen Senior Warden of his Lodge within a year after becoming a member, and was elected Worshipful Master one year thereafter. He received the Capitular degrees in Boonville Royal Arch Chapter No. 60, at Boonville, and served for several terms as Excellent High Priest. At the formation of Temple Commandery Mo. 38, Knights Templar, stationed at Fayette, Missouri, he received the Orders of Knighthood. When Olivet Commandery No. 53 was organized at Boonville he was chosen Eminent Commander, and several times re-elected. He was for many years a Director of the Masonic Home, but declined further election.
