Page 170 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Ford Q. Elvidge: 1944-1946

Most Worshipful Brother Ford Quint Elvidge was born in
Oakland, California on November 30, 1892. His early years were
spent in Oakland before moving with his parents and brother in
1911 to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

He took a business course there and then later became an articled
student-at-law and entered upon the study of law in Vancouver,
B. C. Uninterested in joining the Canadian bar, he moved to
Seattle in 1916 and entered the University of Washington. He
was studying law there when the United States entered World
War I in 1917. Elvidge enlisted in the US Army Reserve Corps.
He was commissioned and sent to training as part of the US
Medical Corps, making it as far as Camp Mills in New York before the armistice ending the war went into
effect.

In March of 1918 he was called into active service, in August was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of
Infantry (13th Inf., 8th Div.) and in November of the same year was commissioned 1st Lieutenant. He did
not get "across" during the War. On February 28, 1919, he was honorably discharged from the Army at
Hoboken, N. J. In 1918 he was admitted to the Bar of the State of Washington and began working with
the law offices of Tucker and Hyland in Seattle. Eventually he founded Elvidge, Watt, Veblen & Tewell,
remaining there until his retirement in 1974.

Ford is a Past Master of Arcana Lodge, No. 87, of Seattle. He was Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of
Washington for the year 1940-1941, being elected Junior Grand Warden in 1941, and advanced
successively for meritorious service, culminating in his election as Grand Master in 1944. On his journey
to the Grand East, our Most Worshipful Brother found himself in the position of “Acting as Grand Master”
due to the untimely death of his predecessor, Most Worshipful Brother Donald Franklin Kizer.

He is a Past Wise Master of Washington Chapter of Rose Croix, Past Commander of Seattle Consistory,
A. A. S. R. S. J., U. S. A. In December of 1943 the Thirty-third Degree of Scottish Rite Masonry was
conferred upon him. Ford is a Past President of the Seattle High Twelve Club; a member of Nile Temple,
A. A. O. N. M. S.; member of the National Sojourners and Heroes of 76 (Puget Sound Chapter, No. 40);
Second Viceroy of St- Alban's Conclave, No. 18 (Knights of Red Cross of Constantine) and a member of
the Legion of Honor (Order of DeMolay). He is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Phi,
American Legion, American Bar Association, a Past President of the College Club of Seattle, a past

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