Page 188 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ W. Gale Matthews

1938-1939

Flashback Friday - The family of Most Worshipful Warren Gale
Matthews traces back its line across the nation to the eastern
seaboard, but he himself was born in Broken Bow, Nebraska on
May 9, 1887, the only son of Irving Weber Matthews and Arabella
Carpenter Matthews. The family moved to Waterville in 1890,
where he and his three sisters grew to maturity. There he received
his education in the public schools of Waterville, and for one year
he attended the University of Washington, intending later to enter
the law school. His father's untimely death caused him to return
home to assume charge of the Douglas County Title & Abstract
Company which his father had established. Douglas County was later divided, a part of which
formed Grant County, prompting a move to Ephrata and the establishment of the Grant County
Title & Abstract Company, and the eventual sale of the Waterville Office.
His personal supervision of this business interest was interrupted in 1918, when, for a time, he was
assigned to the Field Artillery Officers' Training Camp at Camp Zachary Taylor, near Louisville,
Kentucky. He is the first Grand Master of Masons in Washington to have worn a uniform during
the World War.

Gale (as he would be known) Matthews was made a Mason in Badger Mountain Lodge No. 57, on
July 1, 1909; passed on July 15, 1909; and raised on August 5, 1909. After moving to Ephrata he
affiliated with Ephrata Lodge No. 167, and served as Master in 1916. Subsequently he served as
Secretary for seventeen years. Both duties were carried out with distinction and great progress was
made under his capable leadership.

Other organizations were aware of his capabilities and they too carried on their roles this man who
was a shining light. The Scottish Rite honored him as a 33rd Degree, he was a member of the York
Rite and Knights Templar, the Shrine in Spokane, Eastern Star, American Legion, Red Cross of
Constantine, and many others.

His ability was recognized in Grand Lodge and he served on the Board of Custodians during 1926.
He was appointed Grand Lecturer in 1934, and in 1935 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, He
advanced through the chairs of Grand Lodge and served this Grand Jurisdiction as Grand Master
in 1938-1939.

Always active in the affairs of his community, he early became interested in the Columbia Basin
Reclamation Project. This project to irrigate large parts of the Columbia Basin in Eastern
Washington famously gave birth to Grand Coulee Dam, which opened in 1941. Matthews was one
of three key individuals who first advocated actively in favor of the project, and helped to secure