MOGMWKuhn
WILLIAM FREDERICK KUHN 1849-1924
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 1903-1904
BIOGRAPHY
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
No man ever rendered greater service to the Masonic Fraternity in Missouri that did Dr. William F. Kuhn. His activity in all branches of Masonry made an impress which has not been forgotten, even to this day.
William Frederick Kuhn was born near Lyons, N.Y., April 15, 1949. They moved to Kalamazoo County, Mich., in 1858 and settled on a farm near Mendon. He attended public school and in due time entered Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio, graduating in 1875, After graduation he entered Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, graduating in 1884. He moved to El Dorado, Ks., where he practiced medicine for four years before moving to Kansas City in the fall of 1888.
Teaching was a second nature to him, as he had been a professor of materia medica and therapeutics for two years, professor of physiology fifteen years in the University Medical College, president of the Kansas City College of Pharmacy eight years, special lecturer on nervous diseases in the Medical Deptartment of the University of Kansas.
On December 25, 1877, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Willson of Belle Center Ohio.
Dr. Kuhn was made a Master Mason in Belle Center Lodge No 347 (Ohio) April 30, 1877. In 1884 he affiliated with Patmos Lodge No 97, El Dorado, Ks. where he served as Master three years. When he moved to Kansas City he affiliated with Temple Lodge No 299 and was involved in the formation of York Lodge No 563 and served as its first Master.
In 1900 he was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge and elected Grand Master in 1903, serving as Acting Grand Master due to the death of Grand Master Yocum. For twenty years he served the Grand Lodge on the committee on foreign relations and for five years he was a Director of the Masonic Home. He was appointed one the first members of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial and was responsible for the development of interest in that project in Missouri.
He was a member of the York Rite bodies and was advanced to the position of Grand High Priest in 1897. In the year he began his assent in the chairs of the General Grand Chapter becoming General Grand High Priest at Asheville N.C.in 1921.
He was equally at home in the Grand Council, being elected Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1893. He served as chairman of the ritual committee for the General Grand Council and was largely responsible for the revised ritual of the Super-Excellent Master degree adopted in 1912.
The Orders of Christian Knighthood were conferred in El Dorado Ks and when he affiliated with Oriental Commandery No 35, Kansas City he served as Commander in 1893. He was elected Grand Commander of Missouri in 1911.
He became a member of the Red Cross of Constantine March 17, 1898 as was the first Sovereign of Mary Conclave No 5 and became Grand Sovereign of the Grand Imperial Council in 1902.
He was a member of the Scottish Rite in Kansas City and Ararat Shrine. He served as Grand Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Missouri and Most Worthy Grand Patron of the General Grand Chapter O.E.S in 1904
Dr Kuhn's death occurred September 1, 1924 and funeral services were conducted September 4, 1924 at the Masonic Temple in Kansas City under the direction of the Grand Lodge, all Masonic bodies were present. Interment was in Mt Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, where, in the beautiful mausoleum, exercises were held.
