Dr Walter M Fleming He Saved One Commandery – Maybe Hundreds
By James A. Marples alter Millard Fleming was born in Portland, Maine, in 1838. When he was a child, the family moved to Rochester, New York, so his father could practice medicine. In due course, young Walter decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor. During the civil war, he served with the Thirteenth New York Infantry Brigade. After receiving a medical discharge, he returned to Albany College and received his medical degree. He practiced medicine in Rochester until 1868, when he moved to New York and became one of the city’s foremost physicians. His practice lasted almost forty years. Fleming is probably best remembered for being a co-founder of the Mystic Shriners in North America in 1872, along with his good friend, the renowned actor, William J. “Billy” Florence.1 Among other endeavors impacting the fraternity, Dr. Fleming literally saved at least Library of Congress: Fleming and Paterson, Ancient Arabic Order of the one Commandery of Knights Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, (New York: 1894), ix. Templar – and possibly saved (or, at least boosted) hundreds of other Commanderies. His zeal for Freemasonry inspired a hope for 1. “Walter M. Fleming: Cofounder of Shriners a Masonic organization – the Shrine – where International,” Shriners International Website, up- members could relax and share good cheer dated May 24, 2022, https://www.shrinersinterwith one another. To maintain the good charnational.org/en/news-and-events/news/2022/05/ acter of the members, the Shrine required its walter-m-fleming-cofounder.
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