M.W. George Gordon McNall 1899

George Gordon McNall

Brother McNall was born in Utica, New York, June 2, 1847. When he was nine years of age the family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he received his education in the public schools. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1882.

His civic career was an active one and full of honors at the hands of his fellow citizens. Among the offices held were the' following: Judge of the Probate Court of Greenwich, Presidential Elector, Judge of the Greenwich Borough Court, and Counsel for the Borough of Greenwich.

In his religious life he was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and honorary counsel of the parish. He had read widely along the line of the history of religion.

Having been made a Master Mason in Acacia Lodge No. 85, July 23, 1878, he eventually became its Worshipful Master in 1883 and served for three years. Fairfield County had hill as its District Deputy for one year, 1891. The next year he was appointed Grand Junior Steward and from this office he progressed until he sat in the Grand East in 1899. It was during his term, that the practice of appointing Associate Grand Chaplains was begun.

Brother McNall was a member of Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., and Washington Council, No.6, R. & S. M., of Stamford, and of Lafayette Consistory, A. A. S. R., of Bridgeport. He belonged to Palestine Commandery, Knights Templar, and Mecca Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of New York City.

Most Worshipful Brother McNall was a man of dignified and commanding presence with an enviable record for squareness and fair dealing. He was a charming conversationalist with a rare memory of all his wide reading. What he himself wrote concerning a past grand officer might well be spoken concerning him: "As a man and Mason he left a name and reputation worthy of our best emulation."

He died March 31, 1929, at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York, following an attack of pneumonia. The funeral was held in Christ Church on the afternoon of April 2, the Rev. Dr. M. George Thompson officiating. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York.

Brother McNall's picture can be found in the Proceedings of 1930.