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ROGER S. BROWN 1893-1979
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1952-1953
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 176:
Roger S. Brown, the seventy-ninth Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota was born August 25, 1893, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated from the Sioux Falls schools and from South Dakota State College in Brookings.
He is married and has one daughter, Mary Eloise, who is married and resides in Sioux Falls His church affiliation 1s United Church of Christ.
From 1912 to 1916 he worked with the credit department of the New England Furniture and Carpet Company in Minneapolis. He associated with the Argus-Leader in 1922, the leading newspaper in Sioux Falls, and is now retired.
He was made a Mason on December 14, 1915, in Minnesota Lodge No. 234, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He demitted on December 4, 1917, and affiliated with Unity Lodge No. 130, Sioux Falls.
He was exalted to the sublime degree of a Royal Arch Mason on April 16, 1919 in Sioux Falls Chapter No. 2. He served as Grand High Priest in 1934. He was knighted a Knight Templar in Cyrene Commandery No. 2 Sioux Falls, November 4, 1919. He was greeted in Alpha Council No. 1 on October 31, 1929. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1935. He is a member of El Riad Shrine, Sioux Falls.
1953
"Our unending responsibility is to ourselves as Masons. The profane world is constantly watching us to determine what Masonry is. The World evaluates Masonry by our conduct and acts outside the lodge room. The good name and reputation of Masonry is constantly within our keeping. Our everyday life as Masons is either an incentive for men of good character to seek membership with us or it stifles that desire." So spoke Grand Master Roger Brown as he opened the seventy-ninth Annual Communication at Watertown in 1953.
During the year two occasional Grand Lodge Communications had been held for the purpose of laying cornerstones at Garretson and Lake Andes. Five dedication ceremonies had been held for Masonic Temples at Garretson, Mission, Armour, Gettysburg, and Miller. Two special Communications had been held, one for constituting the Masonic Lodge of Research and the other for the institution of a new lodge under dispensation at Rapid City.
Brother John D. Cunningham, Chief Field Agent for the Masonic Ser.:ice Association·of Washington, D.C., brought a stone from the original White House. These stones bearing Masonic markings or symbols were found m the rubble when the White House was remodeled. President Truman had the best specimens saved and presented one to each of the 49 Grand Jurisdictions. The stone is 7" by 7" x 4" with a bronze plate attached reading, "Original White House Material. Removed in 1950." The stone along with a letter from President Truman was gratefully received by Grand Master Brown.
During the year 333 Brother Masons had answered the summons of the Supreme Architect of the Universe and had gone to the Lodge on High. Among the departed brethren were Past Grand Master Sanford G. Donaldson and the Reverend Rudolf Hertz, Past Grand Chaplain.
Two proposals for the establishment of a Masonic Home were rejected. One was the appropriation of $24,000.00 as an endowment to the Jenkins Memorial Home in Watertown to endow four apartments. The other had to do with a gift of property and a home on the shore of Big Stone Lake from the estate of Frank Douthitt.
The Jurisprudence Committee ruled that citizenship in the United States is not a prerequisite to membership tn Freemasonry in South Dakota.
