Page 98 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Herbert M. Edman

1981-1982

Most Worshipful Brother Herbert M. Edman was born in the now non-
existent mining community of Franklin on January 12, 1916. In 1921,
the family moved to Enumclaw where attended the public schools and
graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1934. He would find his way
to Kelso in 1940 where he met and subsequently married Elwanda
(Wanda) Parsons, and the union produced two children, Sandra Lee and
Jerry Sue. Herb & Wanda were blessed with six grandchildren.

In 1948, our brother relocated to Renton where he joined the Renton
Police Department serving first as a patrolman. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1962, and elevated
to Lieutenant in charge of Records and Communication in 1966. An early retirement was granted
in 1970 as a result of a leg injury suffered in a patrol car accident occurring during the chase and
apprehension of a fleeing suspect who was later convicted.

He received the Degrees of Masonry in Tyee Lodge No. 115, being raised to the Sublime Degree
of Master Mason on July 3, 1958. He was appointed Junior Steward in 1959, and was elevated by
appointment and election becoming Master of the Lodge in 1963. His dedication to good ritual
was evidenced by passing the examination and securing a Three Year Certificate of Proficiency
from the Grand Lodge.

His competency well established, Herbert Edman was appointed as Deputy of the Grand Master
in District No. 13, 1969-1971. He was appointed Grand Chaplain in 1972, Grand Marshal in 1973,
Grand Lecturer in 1974, and Grand Historian in 1975. In 1975 the Brethren of Grand Lodge elected
him to be their Junior Grand Warden and from there he advanced through the chairs until he was
elected Grand Master in June of 1981.

Other Masonic organizations to which our Grand Master belonged included a dual membership in
Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281, Scottish Rite Bodies of Seattle, Issaquah Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons in Renton, DeMolay, Tyee Chapter No. 122 Order of the Eastern Star, and the
Goose and Gridiron.

In his report to the Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful Brother Edman shared these words: “The
principles of Masonry are as old as the history of mankind. They will never be forgotten by men
of character. Living by those principles one becomes a true representative of the Fraternity, and
those with a wish to emulate these representatives will inquire and thus petition for membership.
Quantity with quality should be the aim and will be as long as we exemplify the tenets that have
made this Fraternity a part of so many lives through history.”

Most Worshipful Brother Herbert M. Edman passed to eternal rest on May 16, 1998.