MOGMTReady

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THOMAS C. READY 1828-1883

TReady.jpg

Grand Master, 1877-1878

BIOGRAPHY

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

Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Ready as by the Grand Lodge records first appeared at the Annual Communication of 1869 as Senior Warden of George Washington Lodge No. 9. His later appearance was in 1871, and again in 1873, as Master of Tuscan Lodge No. 360. In 1874 he was elected Junior Grand Warden; 1875, Senior Grand Warden; 1876, Deputy Grand Master, and in 1877 Most Worshipful Grand Master. He was succeeded by Brother Noah M. Givan.

Brother Ready was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, July 11, 1828. His mother died while he was an infant. His father removed to Columbia, Missouri, where young Thomas received his education in the Missouri University. He then attended Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, where he graduated in medicine with honor and distinction at the age of twenty-one. Returning to Missouri he located in Independence, entered his profession and was married there on December 27, 1849. He abandoned the profession after a trial of two years and in 1852 removed to St. Louis, where he lived for nearly thirty years. In 1882 he located in Mexico, Missouri, and remained but a short period, when he returned to St. Louis.

His death occurred July 31, 1883. His funeral, from 2305 Pine street, was conducted by the Grand Lodge; interment in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Recently his widow had the remains transferred to the cemetery in Mexico, Missouri.

The Grand Lodge at the session in October, 1883, through an able committee, submitted a lengthy memorial, which appears in the printed Proceedings of that year. Brother Ready's early Masonic record we have been unable to secure. We find, however, that he held membership in George Washington Lodge No. 9, in St. Louis, in 1867; he was Senior Deacon in 1868, and Senior Warden in 1869. In 1870 he organized Tuscan Lodge No. 360, and appears as No. 1 in the list of charter members thereof. He was the first Master under Dispensation and Charter in 1870 and 1871, and again in 1873. He dimitted January 3, 1882, to unite with a Lodge in Mexico, Missouri, where he then resided.

Apparently his deep interest centered in the Lodge; however, he was identified with other Masonic bodies. He was a member of St. Louis Royal Arch Chapter No. 8, St. Louis Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, and the St. Louis bodies of the A. & A. Scottish Rite. He was Knighted in St. Louis Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, March 29, 1872, served as Prelate in 1874, Captain,General in 1875, and Generalissimo in 1878. At the Convention called October 13, 1875, to organize a Grand Chapter Order Eastern Star, he presided as Provisional Grand Patron.

We excerpt from the memorial of the Grand Lodge: "Thomas C. Ready was an honest man, which ideal is truly characterized as the noblest work of God. What more can any man ever be? He found the work he could best do, and did it to the best of his ability."


Missouri Grand Masters