Page 179 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Charles P. Kirtland: 1939-1940

Most Worshipful Charles Phelps Kirtland was born in Chicago,
Illinois on March 16, 1895, the son of Charles Bushnell Kirtland
and Grace Kirtland. His early schooling was obtained in Chicago.
In 1909, the family moved from Chicago to New Westminster,
British Columbia, and here Charles attended high school and in
1915 graduated from Columbian College.

His business career was begun as an accountant in the New
Westminster Branch of the Merchants' Bank of Canada. In June of
1917 he entered the service of the United States Army, which ended
in December, 1918. Upon his discharge from service, he entered the
employ of the First National Bank of Bellingham, Washington,
where he remained for eight years. At the end of that time he became
cashier and manager of the bank at Skagway, Alaska. This
connection continued for three years and he was then elected vice-
president and manager of the Bank of Alaska at Wrangell. He remained there for eight years and was then
elected senior vice-president and manager of the Anchorage Branch of the same firm, all of these banks
being branches of the Bank of Alaska.

Brother Kirtland was active in many phases of life. During his residence at Wrangell he was twice elected
Mayor; in addition to which he served as president of the School Board and president of the Chamber of
Commerce and was also active in the American Legion. He was a director and officer in several business
concerns in southeastern Alaska and gained a wide acquaintanceship and standing as a business executive
throughout the territory.

His Masonic connection began in 1922 at Bellingham, where in Whatcom Lodge No. 151, he was raised
to the sublime the degree of Master Mason. From the start Brother Kirtland took an active interest in
Masonic work and became proficient in the ritual to such an extent that he was elected Junior Warden in
Whatcom Lodge No. 151 in 1925. It was during his term in this station that he moved to Alaska,
whereupon he dimitted to White Pass Lodge No. 113. Here his interest in Masonry manifested itself and
he was elected Junior Warden of White Pass Lodge No. 113 in 1927, being advanced and becoming Master
in 1930.

He became a regular attendant at Grand Lodge sessions and when the District Deputy Grand Master
system was adopted by the Grand Lodge of Washington, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master
of District No. 3, which post he held for two years. In 1936 he was honored by election to the post of
Junior Grand Warden of Grand Lodge, being regularly chosen to a higher position each year and becoming
Grand Master in June, 1939. He would be the first member of an Alaskan Lodge to become Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge of Washington.

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