RIGMMedley

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ARTHUR RAWNSLEY MEDLEY 1916-1996

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Grand Master 1971-1972

BIOGRAPHY

Arthur Rawnsley Medley of Washington Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M. of Warren, Rhode Island, was elected and installed the One Hundred and Sixteenth 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 Eightieth Annual Communication held at Freemasons Hall, Providence, Rhode Island, on May 17, 1971.

Most Worshipful Brother Medley was born in Warren, Rhode Island on July 18, 1916, son of Hubert and Edith (Rawnsley) Medley.

He was educated in the Warren Public Schools, and after graduation from Warren High in 1932 entered the Rhode Island School of Design, graduated in 1936 with a diploma in Architecture.

Upon graduation he entered the employ of Collins & Aikman Corporation in Bristol, Rhode Island in the Plant Engineers Department, and served in various capacities until October of 1942 when he enlisted in the U. S. Navy Construction Battalions (SeaBees), and served as a Chief Petty Officer in Camp Peary, Williamsburg, Virginia; Camp Endicott, Davisville, Rhode Island; U.S. Naval Air Stations in Argentina, Newfoundland, North Africa, and Marseille, Southern France.

He returned to the employ of Collins and Aikman Corporation upon discharge from the Navy until 1948 when he entered the employ of Berkshire Fine Spinning Association of Providence, Rhode Island. In 1959 he joined the Architectual Firm of Ira Rakatansky, Inc., as Mechanical Designer, where he is presently employed.

On April 26, 1941, he married Grace E. Bosworth, and this union has been blessed with two sons, Ray R. and Bruce G.

Most Worshipful Brother Medley has been a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church in Warren, Rhode Island, and has served in many capacities and is presently a member of the Board of Trustees, Pastor-Parish Relations Commission and is Head Usher.

Most Worshipful Brother Medley's Masonic Record began on September 10, 1940, when he was initiated an E. A. He was raised in Washington Lodge No. 3, Warren, Rhode Island on November 13, 1940. He was elected its Worshipful Master on December 27, 1953. He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master in the Seventh District in 1961, and served in each of the seven districts. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1968, Senior Grand Warden in 1969, Deputy Grand Master in 1970, and Grand Master in 1971. He was appointed Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand in 1962 and to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in 1971.

He holds membership in the four bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Providence, and for the past two years has been Captain of the Guard in Solomon's Lodge of Perfection.

He is a member and Past President of the Seventh District Past Masters Association.

On June 9, 1971, he was made a member of the Masonic Veteran's Association of Vermont, and on November 11, 1971 he was made a Member of the Rhode Island Masonic Veteran's Association. He was made an honorary member of Narragansett Bay Chapter No. 14, National Sojourners on June 25, 1971. He was presented the Erasmus J. Phiilips Medalion by the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia and on April 4, 1962 the Grand Lodge of Connecticut honored him with the Pierpoint Edwards Medal in Bronze for Distinguished Service.


Rhode Island People