Page 175 - PGM Compendium

Secretary of Agriculture. If the Department needed a "slick" trouble shooter, our Most Worshipful Brother
was called to assist. He was sent the world over, usually traveling by an Army cargo plane equipped with
no seats but only boxes to sit upon. His services proved vital to our nation's concerns for getting foods
safely to the fighting fronts and then to the world's hungry nations.

While serving his country in Washington, D.C, and being our Grand Master at the time, he presided over
the Conference of Grand Masters in Washington, D.C, in 1943. It was the first time in the history of the
Conference that all Jurisdictions in the United States were represented.

The 1943 Grand Lodge as held in Wenatchee with Right Worshipful Brother Don E. Kizer, Deputy Grand
Master, presiding. Most Worshipful, from Washington, D.C, sent the following telegram, in part: "It has
been a matter of regret to me that I could not live in the Jurisdiction of our Grand Lodge for the entire
length of my time as your Grand Master. I sincerely feel that the work I was called upon to do was
necessary to the country and the affairs of our Grand Lodge were in good hands."

After returning to Washington State in 1971, he resumed activities with local Masonic programs and
Grand Lodge appointments. He became a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees, serving that group as
Sovereign Master in 1980, and was appointed Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons
of Washington in 1976.

He served as Grand Lodge's Fraternal Correspondent for eight years and was appointed Grand
Representative of the United Grand Lodge of England near the Grand Lodge of Washington, a position
he held for many years. He continued to serve our Grand Lodge, attending to as many assignments as his
failing health would allow. His participation was forever being requested and he responded with
suggestions that always seemed just the "right thing to do."

His work amongst us complete, and his days of toil on Earth being over, Most Worshipful Brother James
William (Bill) Joseph Stedman entered into eternal rest on September 22, 1990.

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