Page 106 - PGM Compendium

Grand Warden. He was subsequently advanced until June 23, 1977, when he was installed Grand
Master.

He continued with active service to his Lodge as a six-year Trustee for the Masonic Building
Corporation and as chairman of the Public School Awards Program. He also served as chairman
of the Mayor's Commission to evaluate citizen attitude toward the Public Schools in Renton
District No. 403.

He enjoyed his membership in several Masonic organizations, including Issaquah Chapter No. 39,
Royal Arch Masons; Seattle Council No. 6, Royal and Select Masters; Rainier Commandery No.
20, Knights Templar – serving as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery in 2004-2005;
Chinook Council No. 77, Allied Masonic Degrees; Seattle Scottish Rite, having been coroneted a
rd
33 Degree Inspector General Honorary in 1991; the Nile Shrine, of which he served as Potentate
in 1999; and the Royal Order of Scotland. He was elected an honorary member of the National
Sojourners and the "Heroes of'76”. He represented the Grand Lodges of Argentina and West
Virginia, as well as served as the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Colorado near the
Grand Lodge of Washington. He was an affiliated member of the Research Lodge of Colorado.
He served for a time as Associate Guardian of Bethel No. 45, International Order of Job's
Daughters, and immediately upon retiring as Grand Master, was again installed Associate
Guardian. His wife, Virginia, is a Past Guardian of the same Bethel.

Our Most Worshipful Brother exhibited an incredibly positive outlook on life. One time while
playing golf on the big Island of Hawaii it rained like you can’t believe. Later he would tell folks
that “we got a little wet”, but it really didn’t interrupt the game. It just gave him a momentary
pause to think about how to attack the next hole. He loved all living things – all of God’s creatures.
Jim & Virginia Wood raised tumbler pigeons, Tennessee Walking Horses, and three high
achieving daughters that matched the successes of their mother and dad.

Jim served as Fraternal Correspondent for over thirty years. He diligently read hundreds of Grand
Lodge Proceedings to find out what was happening in the world of Freemasonry. Then he reported
to us on the best practices so we might improve from their experiences. Occasionally he had to
report some bad news as well, as those are also learning experiences. But all that reading was not
a burden for him. It was in fact a welcome opportunity to explore the wider world of the Craft he
loved.

In addition to his service as Fraternal Correspondent, Most Worshipful Brother Jim was appointed
by Most Worshipful Brother Bill Miller (his Grand Marshal during his year as Grand Master) as
Chairman of the Committee tasked to examine the issue of Prince Hall Masonry in our jurisdiction.
The work of this committee was key in providing the brethren with factual information which led
to the eventual recognition of Prince Hall Masonry in Washington.