Page 181 - PGM Compendium

to Washington, D.C.

For the remainder of the war and for several years that followed, he served as a Special Assistant
to the Secretary of Agriculture. If the Department needed a "slick" trouble shooter, our Most
Worshipful Brother was called to assist. He was sent the world over, usually traveling by an Army
cargo plane equipped with no seats but only boxes to sit upon. His services proved vital to our
nation's concerns for getting foods safely to the fighting fronts and then to the world's hungry
nations.

While serving his country in Washington, D.C, and being our Grand Master at the time, he presided
over the Conference of Grand Masters in Washington, D.C, in 1943. It was the first time in the
history of the Conference that all Jurisdictions in the United States were represented.

The 1943 Grand Lodge as held in Wenatchee with Right Worshipful Brother Don E. Kizer, Deputy
Grand Master, presiding. Most Worshipful, from Washington, D.C, sent the following telegram,
in part: "It has been a matter of regret to me that I could not live in the Jurisdiction of our Grand
Lodge for the entire length of my time as your Grand Master. I sincerely feel that the work I was
called upon to do was necessary to the country and the affairs of our Grand Lodge were in good
hands."

After returning to Washington State in 1971, he resumed activities with local Masonic programs
and Grand Lodge appointments. He became a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees, serving that
group as Sovereign Master in 1980, and was appointed Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons of Washington in 1976.

He served as Grand Lodge's Fraternal Correspondent for eight years and was appointed Grand
Representative of the United Grand Lodge of England near the Grand Lodge of Washington, a
position he held for many years. He continued to serve our Grand Lodge, attending to as many
assignments as his failing health would allow. His participation was forever being requested and
he responded with suggestions that always seemed just the "right thing to do."

His work amongst us complete, and his days of toil on Earth being over, Most Worshipful Brother
James William (Bill) Joseph Stedman entered into eternal rest on September 22, 1990.