RIGMMarkham
ROBERT WILSON MARKHAM, JR. 1914-1990
Grand Master 1967-1968
BIOGRAPHY
Robert Wilson Markham, Jr. of Doric Lodge No. 38, A. F. & A. M., Cranston, Rhode Island was elected and installed the One Hundred Twelfth Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the One Hundred and Seventy Sixth Annual Communication held at Freemasons Hall, Providence, Rhode Island on May 15, 1967.
Brother Markham was born in Providence, Rhode Island on June 5, 1914 the son of Robert Wilson and Hattic Mae (Coombs) Markham. He was educated in the Providence Public School system graduating from Technical High School in 1932 after which he attended Rhode Island State College — now the University of Rhode Island — for 2 years as a member of the class of 1936. As a freshman he won his numerals as a member of the track team running the mile and 2 mile.
Brother Markham has been employed by the United States Post Office Department for the past 28 years and is presently Superintendent of the Garden City Branch Post Office in Cranston, Rhode Island.
On September 8, 1940 he was married to the former Virginia Colwell Dyer, of Cranston, Rhode Island and they have two children — Robert Wilson, 3rd, who is now married and a second year student at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania and Judith Ann, wife of Brother Dennis G. Yeaw, the son of M. W. Gardner M. Yeaw and Mrs. Yeaw.
Brother Markham has been very active in church work having served as chairman of the Board of Deacons, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Vice President and three years as President of Peoples Baptist Church, Cranston, Rhode Island and is presently a Life Deacon. He has served as Teacher, Department Superintendent, Assistant General Superintendent and General Superintendent of the Church School for a period of about 35 years. He has also served on a district and state level as Treasurer of the Roger Williams Association and Chairman of the Social Action Committee and member of the Board of Managers of the Rhode Island Baptist State Convention and as a delegate and fund raising captain for the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. For the past 11 years he and Mrs. Markham have been the advisors to the Youth Fellowships of Peoples Baptist Church.
In World War II Brother Markham graduated from the U. S. Army Postal School, Camp Lee, Virginia and served at the New York Port of Embarkation in the Postal Unit. He has been a member of Auburn Post No. 20, American Legion since 1946.
Hu Masonic record started in September 1935 when he was initiated in Doric Lodge No. 38, Cranston, Rhode Island. He was initiated November 1935, passed November 1935 and Admitted December 1935. His class instructor was M. W. Albert P. Ruerat. He was appointed Sentinel of Doric Lodge No. 38 in December 1936 by the R. W. Ralph Worrell and was elected and installed as Worshipful Master on December 13, 1943. He later served his Lodge as Secretary for 6 1/2 years and also was Secretary of the Masonic Secretaries Guild of Rhode Island.
Brother Markham was first appointed in Grand Lodge as Assistant Grand Lecturer for the Third Masonic District by M. W. Howard B. Rice on May 16, 1949 and served for 2 years. The following year he became Grand Master of Ceremonies for R. W. Bertram Clarke and on May 21, 1956 became R. W. Grand Marshal. At the annual communication on May 19, 1958 he was appointed R. W. Seventh District Deputy Grand Master by M. W. Henry J. Cooper. He was appointed to succeeding positions through the districts serving all of the Districts except his own "The Friendly Fifth" and was elected Junior Grand Warden on May 18, 1964, Senior Grand Warden on May 17, 1965, Deputy Grand Master on May 16, 1966 and Grand Master May 15, 1967. He is presently the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina near the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island.
Brother Markham holds membership in the following Masonic organizations: Harmony Chapter, No. 15, R. A. M.; Doric Council, No. 7 R. & S. M.; Calvary Commandery No. 13, K.T.; Palestine Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. and its Legion of Honor; Solomon's Lodge of Perfection, 14', A. A. S. R. of which he is Thrice Potent Master; R. I. Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16°, R. I. Chapter of Rose Croix 18° and Rhode Consistory. 32°; Plantations Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine he has served as sentinel for three years. He is also a member of Pawtuxet Chapter, O. E. S.; Educational Lodge No. 1002, Minneapolis, Minnesota; R. I. Correspondence Circle of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, London, England: Past President, Past Masters Association of Doric Lodge No. 38; the Masonic Veterans Association of R. I.; The Masonic Veterans Association of Vermont. He was made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33° and Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, A. A. S. R. for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction on September 29, 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Brother Markham has been active in youth work having served as Assistant Scout Master, Advisor of Boy Rangers and of Royal Ambassadors. In 1950 he was Master of Ceremonies "Dad" of Cranston No. 2 Order of the Rainbow for Girls. His work in the Order of DeMolay started when he became a member of the Advisory Council of Fidelity Chapter in 1951 later becoming District Deputy and in 1955 a Deputy of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay. He received his gold collar as an Active Member of the Order of DeMolay at Reno, Nevada on March 9, 1956 with the investiture being made by Dad Frank Sherman Land, the Founder of the Order. In 1961 at Victoria. British Columbia he was appointed Grand Seventh Preceptor of the International Supreme Council by the then Grand Master Willard P Lombard of Boston, Massachusetts and moved up the ladder each year until 1966 serving as Grand Fourth Preceptor, Grand Junior Steward, Grand Senior Steward and Grand Junior Deacon (2 years), in 1968 he was appointed Grand Marshal. He was elected to a 2 year term on the Executive Committee of the International Supreme Council in 1960 and to a 3 year term in 1968. He holds Honorary Memberships in Doric Chapter and John Clarke Chapter, Order of DeMolay and the Grand Assembly of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and was awarded the Medal of Appreciation and the Cross of Honor of the Order of DeMolay and the Grand Cross of Color of the Order of Rainbow. He was presented with the Exemplary Service Medal of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island on May 20, 1957.
During the past year he was made an Honorary Member of Narragansett Bay Chapter, No. 14, National Sojumers and a Prophet at Sight by Ill. Brother Carl R. Mitchell, Past Grand Monarch of the Supreme Council of the International Grotto of North America and at the same time was presented with a Life Membership in Moslem Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R.
