RIGMBarrows
FRED HOWARD BARROWS 1875-
Grand Master 1938-1939
BIOGRAPHY
Fred Howard Barrows, elected and installed Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at the One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Annual Communication, held at Freemasons Hall, Providence, Monday, May 16, 1938, was horn in Bristol, Rhode Island, on February 2, 1875. He is the eighty-fourth incumbent of that exalted office and the seventh member of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 4, to become the official head of the Craft in this jurisdiction.
Brother Harrows traces his ancestry to the earliest days of New England, being a lineal descendant from John Harrows, one of the proprietors of Salem, Mass., and from Roger Williams, the founder of Providence. His progenitor in this country on his father's side, John Barrows, was born in England and sailed to New England from Yarmouth, about May 10, 1637. lie was one of the proprietors of Salem, removing later to Plymouth, where he died in 1092. On his mother's side Brother Harrows is in the tenth generation from Hoger Williams, and is also descended from Rev. Chad Brown, who was ordained in 1642 as the hist settled pastor of the First Baptist Church at Providence.
His father, Ozro Carey Barrows, was at one time bookkeeper at the National India Rubber Company, in Bristol, R. I., and subsequently superintendent of the Peckham Manufacturing Company, at Oneco, Connecticut. His mother's maiden name was Helen Amelia Alverson. Brother Barrows attended the public schools in Bristol until the family removed to Providence when he completed his education at the old Bridgham Street Grammar School and Mowry & Goff School. When he left school in 1890, he became connected with the Gibson Stores, of which he is now President, Treasurer and owner. In politics he is a member of the Republican Party, but never aspired to any political position.
Brother Barrows was married on January 19, 1898, to Blanche Harris Ingraham. daughter of George F. Ingraham and Lydia C. (Harris) Ingraham. The union has been blessed with two children: Pauline Alverson Barrows, horn December 6 1898, married September 8, 1923, to William Newton Hughes, M. D.; and Fred H. Barrows, Jr., born June 30, 1901, married September 21, 1929, to Martha Weeks, daugher of Edward II. and Edith (Vincent) Weeks. Brother Barrows is an attendant at the Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence, but in his early days attended the Broadway Baptist Church, which his grandparents helped to organize.
Brother Barrows received the symbolic degrees in Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 4, Providence, as follows: E. A., Deeamber 10, 1913; F. C., January 1, 1914; M. M., February .ri, 1914, and signed the by-Iaws on Feliruary 17. 1914. He was elected Worshipful Master at the Annual Communication, February 22, 1925, and served one year. In Grand Lodge, he was appointed Fifth District Deputy Grand Master on May 19, 1980, by Most Worshipful Grand Master Henry Smith See, and by annual advancement became Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Rhode Island jurisdiction on May 16, 1938. He is the official representative of the Grand Lodge of Scotland near the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. He is also a member of the Past Masters Association, and of the Masonic Veterans' Association of Rhode Island.
He received the Capitular Degrees in Providence Chapter, No. 1, as follows: M. M., March 18, 1915; P. M.. April 13, 1915; M. E. M., April 15, 1915; R. A. M., May 20, 1916, and served as Excellent High Priest in 1929. In Grand Royal Arch Chapter he was appointed Grand Junior Steward in 1935, and now occupies the position of Grand Master of the Third Veil. He is a member of Rhode Island Convention of Anointed High Priests.
He received the Cryptic Degrees in Providence Council, No. 1, as follows: R. M., June 11, 1915; S. M., December 10, 1915, and S. E. M., December 29, 1915.
In Templar Masonry he received degrees m Saint John's Commandery. No 1, as follows: R. C. and Malta. February 4. 1918; K. T., March 4. 1918, and served as Eminent Commander in 1936.
Brother Barrows received the degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the bodies of the Rhode Island Consistory, in the Valley of Providence, as follows. 14° September 24, 1919; 16°, November 28, 1919; 18°, December 22, 1919; 32°, May 25, 1920, and is Most Wise Master of Rhode Island Chapter of Rose Croix, 18°.
He is a trustee of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences, and holds membership in Rhode Island Historical Society, Rotary Club of Providence. Rhode Island Philatelic Society. American Philatelic' Society and Collectors' Club of New York. He is interested as a hobbyist in antiques and philately.
