3 minute read
Honoring A Legacy
from OMN - 2024 June
The Journey of M.W.B. Wolverton’s P.G.M. Apron
by W.B. Johnny J. Edwards, Grand Historian
In February 2024, our Grand Master Craig A. Sipp attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Alaska. During this event, M.W.B. Johnnie Wallace, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Alaska, requested a moment of our Grand Master’s time to present a significant piece of Masonic history: the Past Grand Master apron of M.W.B. Charles Edwin Wolverton, Grand Master of Oregon from 1910 to 1911. Th is treasured apron was generously donated by Harold Wolverton of Anchorage, Alaska, who has carefully preserved it since inheriting it from his father. The apron symbolizes arich Masonic heritage and honors the distinguished service of Past Grand Master Wolverton.
Charles E. Wolverton’s remarkable career began when he was admitted to the bar in 1874 at the age of 23. He practiced law until 1905, when President Theodore Roosevelt sought a qualified individual to fi ll a vacancy in the District Court of the United States for Oregon. M.W.B. Wolverton was appointed to this esteemed position and served with distinction until his passing in 1926.
M.W.B. Wolverton’s Masonic journey started in St. Johns Lodge in Albany, Ore., where he was raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason. His dedication and leadership were quickly recognized, leading to his appointment as Senior Grand Deacon in 1906, marking the beginning of his significant contributions to the Grand Lodge of Oregon. Born on May 16, 1851, in Des Moines, Iowa, M.W.B. Wolverton’s life was marked by service and dedication. He passed away on September 21, 1926. His Masonic funeral was held on September 27, 1926, at 1:30 p.m., conducted by the Grand Master and the officers of the Grand Lodge of Oregon at the Multnomah Hotel in Portland, Ore.
The Grand Lodge members proceeded in unity to the First Presbyterian Church for the funeral service, and afterward, to Riverview Cemetery, where M.W.B. David P. Mason, P.G.M. conducted the traditional Masonic rites.
M.W.B. Wolverton’s Past Grand Master apron is now permanently housed in the M.W.B. Robert M. Richmond Memorial Library and Museum archive room, ensuring that his legacy and contributions to Masonry are preserved for future generations.
