MOGMJVincil

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JOHN DAVIS VINCIL 1830-1904

JVincil.jpg

Grand Master, 1866-1867; 1868-1869

BIOGRAPHY

From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:

Note: This biography was written when Brother Vincil was still alive. He died in 1904 and is buried in Columbia Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri.

Most Worshipful Brother John Davis Vincil appeared for the first time in the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication that opened May 23, 1859. He represented Spring Hill Lodge No. 155, Spring Hill, Livingston County, Missouri. He was appointed one of the Grand Chaplains and served until 1863, when he was elected Senior Grand Warden. In 1864 he was elected Deputy Grand Master and re-elected in 1865, and chosen Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1866, and served what was known as the "long" term, lasting nearly eighteen months; the change in holding Annual Communications then was made from May to October. At the close of his term as Grand Master he retired, but one year, however. In 1868 he was again called to the Grand East. During his first term as Grand Master, the Grand Secretary, Anthony O'Sullivan, suddenly died, when Geo. Frank Gouley was appointed Grand Secretary, which office he continued to hold until his tragic death in 1877. At the Annual Communication of that year, Brother Vincil was elected Grand Secretary, to which he has been re-elected continuously twenty-three times. He is now serving his twenty-fourth term.

Dr. Vincil was born in Tazwell County, Virginia, August 24, 1830. Served seven years in a cabinet shop. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844, at the age of fourteen years. He being left an orphan in childhood, he was deprived of an early education; this he acquired after reaching his majority. He became a teacher in the schools of that day, during which he was elected a member of the County Court and served four years. In 1854 he moved to Missouri and located in Albany, Gentry County, where he taught school, served as Deputy Circuit Clerk, and one term as Magistrate. In 1857 he entered the Ministry and followed that calling until 1877. During his active ministerial career he was stationed at Glasgow, Hannibal, Chillicothe, Macon, Columbia, Louisiana, and Mexico. In addition to the twenty years of active service, after removing to St. Louis in 1877, he regularly preached and had charge of a number of churches for several years until the duties of the Grand Secretary's office required all his time; he then reluctantly relinquished further stationary duties. He received the honorable title of D. D. from the University of the State of Missouri in June, 1873.

The Doctor's Masonic career commenced after coming to Missouri. He petitioned Athens Lodge No. 127, at Albany, Gentry County, was initiated in June, passed in July and raised August 12, 1854, which he served as Senior Deacon, Secretary and Master. Owing to the fact that ministers of the M. E. Church are regularly changed, Dr. VinciI being no exception, hence his affiliation with so many different Lodges as appear herewith will not be surprising. Having moved to Spring Hill he affiliated with Spring Hill Lodge No. 155, late in 1858. His removal to Glasgow, Missouri, in 1860, necessitated change in membership; he then affiliated with Livingston Lodge No. 51 at that place. In 1868 his residence in Hannibal, Missouri, required another change; he then affiliated with Hannibal Lodge No. 188 and served as Secretary two years. Later to Columbia, Missouri, there with Twilight Lodge No. 114; thence to Louisiana, Missouri, in 1873, he affiliated with Perseverance Lodge No. 92 and served as Senior Deacon. In 1875 he removed to Mexico, Missouri, and affiliated with Hebron Lodge No. 354.

Was District Deputy Grand Master two years until 1877, when he was elected Grand Secretary and moved to St. Louis. At that date it was a question — afterwards settled — as to whether a Grand officer could dimit while in office. Dr. Vincil retained membership in Hebron Lodge until 1884, when he dimitted and was elected May 6, 1884, to membership in Tuscan Lodge No. 360.

Brother Vincil was exalted in Lone Star Royal Arch Chapter No. 30, in Chillicothe in December, 1858. He dimitted and affiliated with Bellefontaine No. 25 in 1877, served as Excellent King, would have been High Priest, but declined on account of the location of the Chapter, and for that reason dimitted to St. Louis R. A. Chapter No. 8; later changed his membership to Kilwinning No. 50. He is now a member of St. Charles Chapter No. 111. In 1885 he was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Missouri.

Companion Vincil received the degrees of Royal and Select Master in the Council at Hannibal, Missouri, in 1864. He dimitted to Hiram No. 10 — now No. 1 — in St. Louis and served one term as Thrice Illustrious Master.

The Doctor received the Christian Orders of Knighthood in Excalibur Commandery No. 5, stationed at Hannibal, Missouri, in 1864; served as Prelate and Recorder two terms. In 1867 he assisted in organizing Emmanuel Commandery No. 7, at Macon City; was the first Eminent Commander and re,elected three times, serving four years. In 1873 he dimitted to Cyrene Commandery No. 13, then stationed at Louisiana, Missouri; was elected and re-elected Eminent Commander. In 1887 he assisted in forming Bernard de Tremelay Commandery No. 49 in St. Louis, and was Prelate two years. He dimitted and affiliated with St. Aldemar No. 18, December 24, 1889, where he retains his membership.

In the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Missouri, which he entered in 1865, he was elected Grand Prelate and re-elected in 1866, and again in 1871. He was Deputy Grand Commander in 1868 and re-elected in 1869, and Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Missouri in 1871.

Dr. Vincil was a member of the Eastern Star Chapter in Louisiana, and served as Worthy Patron in 1874. He assisted in forming the Grand Chapter O. E. S. of Missouri in 1875, and was the first Grand Patron. At the organization of the General Grand Chapter of the United States, in 1876, he was elected Most Worthy Grand Patron.

Dr. Vincil, as Fraternal Correspondent of the Grand Lodge, has acquired national fame as one of the most brilliant Masonic writers in the world. He is regarded as one of the finest orators Masonry has ever produced.

From Missouri Lodge of Research:

John Vincil was a native of Virginia born in Tazewell County, August 24, 1830. He died in St Louis, Mo, October 12, 1904 As an orphan boy he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker, with whom he worked for seven years. He moved to Missouri in 1854 locating in Albany where he taught school and served as deputy circuit clerk. in 1857 he joined the Missouri Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church devoting twenty years to active service

His Masonic life began with his initiation in Athens Lodge No 157, Albany Mo, August 12, 1854. From Albany he moved to Spring Hill Lodge No 155 in 1859. Due to his profession his membership was unstable.

He appeared at Grand Lodge in 1859 and was appointed Grand Chaplain. He was elected Grand Master and served 18 months due to a change in the time of holding Grand Lodge.

He was a member of the York Rite bodies and served as Grand Chaplin for the Grand Chapter, Grand Chaplin for the Grand Council and Grand Prelate for the Grand Commandery.

He was one of those who assisted in the formation of the Order of the Eastern Star in Missouri in 1875 and became their first Grand Patron. When the General Grand Chapter for the USA was organized in 1876, Brother Vincil was selected Most Worthy Grand Patron.


Missouri Grand Masters