Page 192 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Ralph E. Tieje

1936-1937

Dr. and Most Worshipful Brother Ralph Earl Tieje was born on
January 24, 1887, in Dayton, Ohio, to Henry A. Tieje, of German
descent, and Katherine (Bell) Tieje. He was educated in the
public schools of Dayton, and the University of Illinois, from
which he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1910, Master’s
degree in 1912, and Ph.D. in 1917.

He served Illinois University as assistant instructor in English
from 1910-1912; he was instructor in English and Debate at
Oklahoma A. & M. College from 1912-1913; instructor in
English and Debate at Washington State College from 1913-
1914; instructor in English at his Alma Mater from 1914-1916, as well as a Fellow in English at
the same university from 1916-1917. A Shakespearean scholar and actor, he became Head of the
Department of Language and Literature at the Eastern Washington College of Education in 1917,
and its President – the first to have a Ph.D. – in 1939, from which position he retired in 1945.

Presently, the English Department at Eastern Washington University offers a scholarship in his
name for upcoming seniors and English majors.

After his retirement from Eastern, he taught at the New York State College at Champlain, and also
at the College of the Ozarks, in Arkansas. Later he spent 11 years in England.

Dr. Tieje came to his Masonic ideals and purposes, in part, through inheritance. His great
grandfather, John N. Bell and his grandfather, John H. Bell, were prominent in Masonic circles, as
well as in political and business circles in Montgomery County, Ohio.

He was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Temple Lodge No. 42, receiving his degree of Master
Mason on May 21st, 1921, and was installed as Master of Temple Lodge in 1926, afterwards
serving as Secretary of Temple Lodge from 1927 until June, 1936.

He served the Grand Lodge of Washington as Junior Grand Steward, 1926-27; Committee on
Charity, 1929; Committee on Credentials, 1931; Junior Grand Warden, 1933; Senior Grand
Warden, 1934; Deputy Grand Master, 1935, and was installed as Grand Master in 1936.
It is said that his scholarly attainments were manifest in his presentation of the purposes and
principles of our Craft, in his profound understanding of Masonic philosophy. His thorough
training in speech was shown in his inspirational interpretations of the meanings and values of
Masonic living, as his experience as head of a department for twenty years in one of our State
Colleges prepared him as a successful administrator of the affairs of the Grand Lodge of
Washington.