Page 243 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Royal A. Gove

1908-1909

M⸫W⸫ Royal Amenzo Gove was born at Strafford,
th
Vermont, June 9 , 1856. The early days of his life saw him
moving Wisconsin, then to Minnesota where he remained
until 1881. His educational years saw him alternately
teaching school and studying medicine. He would graduate
in that profession at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1878. From 1881 to
1890 he practiced medicine at Millville, Minnesota,
eventually finding his way to Tacoma.

His Masonic history shows great zeal: He was raised May
th
16 , 1882, in Elgin Lodge, No. 115, Elgin, MN. He received
the Royal Arch and Council degrees, the 32d degree of the Scottish Rite, and was a Shriner. In
Tacoma his affiliation had been with Evergreen Lodge, No. 51, except during a short residence at
Enumclaw, where he organized and was first Master of Crescent Lodge, No. 109. On his return to
Tacoma and Evergreen Lodge, he was again made Master of that Lodge in 1901, having previously
held that position for two terms in 1897-98.

He began attending the Annual Communication in 1893, and was immediately pressed into service
on the Committee on Obituaries. In 1899 he was made Representative of the Grand Lodge of
Indian Territory near this Grand Lodge, and was also the Grand Representative of Utah. He was
acting Grand Orator in 1901 and served as Custodian of the Work from 1900 to 1905. It was in
this capacity that he rendered his most valuable work for the Grand Lodge. At the request of then
Grand Master, M⸫W⸫ Charles Atkins, he along with then Grand Lecturer David Prescott
undertook the revision of the esoteric work and sacrificed much valuable time and hard labor.
Their efforts made greater progress toward uniformity in the Standard Work than in all the years
before.

Our good Brother was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1905, and would be elevated to the rank &
station of Grand Master in 1908 – following in the footsteps of his father, M⸫W⸫ Royal Hatch
Gove, Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota in 1886.

The thoroughness and earnestness of his work in Grand Lodge was typical of his character; and
the same zeal has been displayed in local Masonic work, as well as in the practice of his profession.
The first Masonic school held in the State of Washington was convened and conducted for several
years by him at Tacoma; and the excellence of the work of the Lodges in that community was due