panion Bates, T. I. M., removing to Seattle two weeks after election, Companion McCloud served as Thrice Illustrious Master during that year, and in 1903 was elected Thrice Illustrious Master. In 1903 he was elected Grand Conductor of the Council of the Grand Council R. & S. M., of Michigan and has been successfully advanced until in 1906 he was elected Most Illustrious Grand Master. During his administration the Grand Council made larger gains than at any time in its history. Companion McCloud is thoroughly imbued with the beauties and importance of the Cryptic degrees and his heart is always in the work. At the annual assembly in 1907 he was elected to the responsible position of Grand Lecturer of Grand Council. In the March class 1893 he became a member of Michigan Sovereign Consistory A. A. S. R., and a member of Moslem Temple, Mystic Shrine, March 17th of that year. At the annual meeting of the Supreme Council A. A. S. Rite, held in Boston, September 17, 1907, Companion McCloud was elected to receive the 33d and last degree in Masonry. FRANK O. GILBERT. GRAND MASTER, 1907. (For portrait, see frontispiece.) The subject of this sketch was a native of Canada, being born in Norfolk, Ontario, on September 4, 1854. His parents were farmers and he remained on the farm until he was eighteen years old when he removed to Bay City where he has since resided. He became interested in the science and took up the study of Dentistry, graduating from the Dental Department of the University of Michigan in 1880, and established himself in the practice of his chosen profession in his home city, where he continued until failing health a few years ago caused him to discontinue his practice. He was married in 1884 to Miss Carrie Van Campen who died three years later leaving him one son, now a student at the Michigan university. His political affiliations have been with the Republican party. The Masonic life of Companion Gilbert has been a particularly brilliant one, and he has enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his associates in that Grand Body of men, and few have been honored as he has at the hands of his brothers. His Masonic record opened when he was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry in Bay City Lodge, No. 129, F. & A. M., and he was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on May 18th, 1882. He was elected and served as Worshipful Master of his lodge in 1887, 1888 and 1893. In the semi-centennial year of the history of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Michigan, Companion Gilbert was elected Grand Marshal and thus started on a pilgrimage whose ultimate goal was the chair of the Grand Master of all Masons of the State of Michigan. He reached this goal in 1901 where in the city of Detroit he was elected to that most exalted station and presided over the Craft for one year. In 1907 at the Grand Lodge meeting in Bay City, he was elected to the important and responsible position of Grand Lecturer and has made the enviable record of meeting with some representatives of every lodge in the state during the year and of holding more schools of instruction than have ever been held in any one year. In Capitular Masonry he received the degrees of Mark Master, March 15, 1883, Past Master, March 22, 1883, Most Excellent Master, March 29, 1883, and Royal Arch, April 12, 1883 in Blanchard Chapter, No. 59, of Bay City. He was elected High Priest in 1888 serving one year. He dimitted January 7, 1897. When a charter was granted to Bay City Chapter, No. 136, on January 20, 1897, Frank O. Gilbert was named as the first High Priest. He has been a regular attendant at the Grand Chapter convocations, and served for several years on the Finance Committee. On April 1, 1884, he passed the Circle of Perfection in Ancient Masonry by receiving the degrees of Royal and Select Master in Bay City Council, No. 53, and two years later was elected Thrice Illustrious Master. In 1903 he started in the lines in the Grand Council of Michigan and on this the Semi-centennial year of that Grand Body he presides over the Royal Craft, closing a very successful year. Companion Gilbert received the Orders of Knighthood in Bay City Commandery, No. 26, K. T., where he was dubbed January 4, 1884. He was elected and served as Eminent Commander in 1894. In the Scottish Rite he has also achieved distinction being created a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret on March 25, 1884, in Michigan Sovereign Consistory of Detroit, and on September 18, 1884 he was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the 33d and last degree, and honorary member of the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America. He has crossed the hot sands of the desert and made the journey to Mecca under the scorching rays of a tropical sun and after a difficult and dangerous journey with the caravan arrived at the oasis in the valley of Detroit and in Moslem Temple. The weary travelers were resuscitated with zem zemn water and tea biscuit. |