M.W. Arthur Morton Brown 1923

Arthur Morton Brown

Born September 24, .1877 Died June 12, 1949

It was a shock to every member of the Masonic Fraternity in Connecticut, to learn of the death of Most Worshipful Brother Arthur M. Brown who died at the W. W. Backus Hospital in Norwich after a brief illness. He was a symbol of that rugged New England character which makes its way against heavy odds.

He was born in Jewett City, Connecticut, September 24, 1877, the son of George W. and Sarah (Young) Brown. After attending the public schools of Jewett City and Norwich Free Academy, he prepared for the legal profession in the office of Solomon Lucas, Esq., at Norwich and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in January, 1901. He was associated with Mr. Lucas until the latter's death in March of 1906. For several years thereafter he followed his profession independently. Since 1915, he had been associated with Charles V. James, Esq., under the firm name of Brown and James.• He served as Prosecuting Attorney for the Town Court of Griswold from 1903 to 1915, and then he presided as Judge of the same court until 1923. One of the outstanding events of his legal career occurred in 1924 when he was appointed State's Attorney for New London County. He continued in this important position until his retirement in 1947, due to the statutory age limit. He was the recognized leader and one of the most active members of the New London County Bar, and for many years an Officer of that Bar Association. He was also an Officer of the County Law Library Association. Throughout his career, he followed his creed that he was duty bound to protect the innocent as well as to prosecute the guilty. He was referred to as "the most humane State's Attorney in Connecticut." He had served as President of the State Bar Association; a member of the State Judicial Council; Treasurer of New London County for twenty-three years; Warden of the Borough of Jewett City from 1914 to 1916; and Health Officer for New London County from 1905 to 1922. In 1901-1903, he represented the Town of Griswold in the Connecticut General Assembly; was its Representative in the Connecticut Constitutional Convention in 1902; and was Senator in the State Senate from 1903 to 1905. In 1936, the Republicans overwhelmingly nominated him for Governor but he lost in that election to the then presiding Democratic Governor.

M. W. Brother Brown was also a leader in the fields of business and finance. He served as President of the Jewett City Savings Bank; Vice-President of the Thames Bank and Trust Company; Director and Vice-President of the Chelsea Savings Bank; President of the New

London County Mutual Fire Insurance Company; President of the New London Northern Railroad Company; and also served on the boards of other outstanding corporations in Eastern Connecticut.

Likewise, he gave unstintingly of his time and ability to the civic life of the communities of Norwich and Griswold. He was one of the most 'ardent supporters of the Boy Scouts of America of Eastern Connecticut, and a very active member of the Norwich Rotary Club. He was a member and Trustee of the Jewett City Baptist Church.

On October 1, 1901, he married Gertrude E. Sanderson, who survives him together with two sons; Francis Y. Brown of Moosup and Morton H. Brown of Hartford, several grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Albert C. Brewster.

His Masonic record is as follows:

Symbolic-He was Raised in Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 75 of Jewett City, April 1, 1901; served as Worshipful Master in 1908-1909; and presided as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut in 1923. In 1941 he was awarded the Pierpont Edwards Medal for Distinguished Masonic Service by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Connecticut and in 1949 the Pierpont Edwards Medal for Eminent Masonic Service.

Capitular-He was Exalted in" Franklin Chapter No.4, R.A.M. of Norwich May 31, 1906.

Cryptic-He was Greeted in Franklin Council No.3, R. & S. M. of Norwich June 14, 1906.

Chivalric-He was Knighted in Columbian Commandery No.4, of Norwich, December 13, 1907.

Scottish Rite-He received the degrees from the Fourth to Thirty-second, inclusive, at Norwich in May, 1916; and served as Commander-in-Chief of his Consistory from 1924-1925. He was created an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council 33 0, September 17, 1918, and crowned an Active Member on January 7, 1937, and Deputy for the State of Connecticut December 3, 1940. In the Supreme Council, he served on the following Committees: Jurisprudence, 1937-1944, 1945-1949; Constitution and Laws, 1944.

Masonic Temple Corporation of Norwich: Incorporator 1919-1949; Director 1923-1949; Counsel 1923-1949.

The funeral services were held at the Gilbert and Olsen Funeral Home in Jewett City on Tuesday, June 14, at three o'clock, Reverend David A. Pitt, D.D., of Woodstock, former Pastor of the Central Baptist Church, officiating. The committal service at the Jewett City Cemetery was given by Reverend William H. Talbot, Pastor of the Jewett City Baptist Church. The Supreme Council was represented by Ill. Chauncey H. Clements 33 0, Active Member for Connecticut; Ill. Norris G. Abbott 33°, Deputy for the District of Rhode Island and the following Honorary Members: E. Allen Bidwell 33°, Clayton W. Rowley 33°, T. Frank Cassidy 33°, Herbert M. Lerou 33°, Phillip J. Jones 33°, Lawrence G. Drescher 33°, Kenneth W. Fox 33°, Albert S. Anderson 33°, Irving E. Partridge, Jr. 33°, William M. Wyman 33°, Thomas E. Troland 33°, William A. Gallup 33°, and William E. Hanmer 33°. The following Past Grand Masters of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Connecticut were present: Ernest L. Prann, William E. Hanmer, Earle K. Haling and Louis S. Thomas.

The Honorary Bearers and the organizations which they represented were: Dr. Charles H. Osgood, New London Northern Railway; David L. Mullaney, Norwich Rotary Club; Charles V. James, Law Partner; George P. Goodrich, Boy Scouts of America; Herbert M. Lerou 33°, Masonic Temple Corporation, A. James Crawford 32°, Commander-in-Chief of Lafayette Consistory; Irving E. Partridge, Jr. 33°, Commander-in-Chief of Connecticut Consistory; Norris G. Abbott 33°, Deputy for Rhode Island; Robert Wilbur, Jewett City Baptist Church; Judge Thomas E. Trolland 33°, Connecticut Bar Association; Rear Admiral James Fife 32°, U.S.N.

The Active Bearers were: Walter A. Hyde 32°, Jewett City Savings Bank and Mt. Vernon Lodge; Kenneth W. Fox 33°, Chelsea Savings Bank, George R. Fellows, Hartford-Connecticut Trust Company and New London County Mutual; William Avery Gallup 33°; Phillip J. Jones 33°, Mast Worshipful Grand Master, State of Connecticut; Leon J. Bascom 32°, President New London County Bar Association.