Page 194 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Walter H. Steffey

1935-1936

Walter Harrison Steffey was born in Jefferson County,
Kansas, October 6, 1888, and passed on to the Celestial Grand
Lodge in Seattle, Washington, February 19, 1972.

He attended the State College at Manhattan, Kansas, where he
met Miss Lillian Clemmons, who became his wife in 1911.
She survives him in their home in Seattle, where they
celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on July 8, 1971.

From this union his son Hugh carries on Walter's great
Masonic record, which has never been excelled in the Grand
Jurisdiction of Washington.

M⸫W⸫ Walter had a most distinguished and exceedingly active fraternal life. From the time he
was Raised to the degree of a Master Mason in University Lodge, No. 141, August 5, 1912, then
becoming Master of his Lodge in 1919 until the time his spirit ascended to its eternal reward of all
good men, Brother Steffey lived and acted according to Masonic teachings. He was aptly referred
to by all who knew him as "Mr. Mason".

He believed that no man was indispensable but to every man he had a word of encouragement and
was quick to compliment those who presented good and square work.

Walter was a great believer that truth was a Divine attribute and his oft-used expression of, "That
is right", carried with it great conviction.
His willingness to help and advise, only ff he were asked, made all who worked with him his
lifelong friends. This habit of giving advice only if he were asked made him the loved and
respected Secretary of University Lodge for many years and, as he continued to follow this policy
when he became Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Washington, his
circle of friends extended over the entire State of Washington.

Not only was Walter well known and thought a great deal of by Masons in Washington, but as
Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance in 1967-1968 his friendly influence was felt
and appreciated by Masons in Alaska.

He was a member of all the York Rite Bodies, becoming a Companion in University Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons in 1917, and he was elected High Priest of that Chapter in 1920. From this
start in Royal Arch, the Companions elevated him to the top when he became Grand High Priest
of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in 1936. This was the same year that he was
completing a very successful year as Grand Master.