Page 181 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ W. Gale Matthews: 1938-1939

Flashback Friday - The family of Most Worshipful Warren Gale
Matthews traces back its line across the nation to the eastern seaboard,
but he himself was born in Broken Bow, Nebraska on May 9, 1887, the
only son of Irving Weber Matthews and Arabella Carpenter Matthews.
The family moved to Waterville in 1890, where he and his three sisters
grew to maturity. There he received his education in the public schools
of Waterville, and for one year he attended the University of Washington,
intending later to enter the law school. His father's untimely death caused
him to return home to assume charge of the Douglas County Title &
Abstract Company which his father had established. Douglas County was
later divided, a part of which formed Grant County, prompting a move to
Ephrata and the establishment of the Grant County Title & Abstract
Company, and the eventual sale of the Waterville Office.

His personal supervision of this business interest was interrupted in 1918, when, for a time, he was
assigned to the Field Artillery Officers' Training Camp at Camp Zachary Taylor, near Louisville,
Kentucky. He is the first Grand Master of Masons in Washington to have worn a uniform during the World
War.

Gale (as he would be known) Matthews was made a Mason in Badger Mountain Lodge No. 57, on July 1,
1909; passed on July 15, 1909; and raised on August 5, 1909. After moving to Ephrata he affiliated with
Ephrata Lodge No. 167, and served as Master in 1916. Subsequently he served as Secretary for seventeen
years. Both duties were carried out with distinction and great progress was made under his capable
leadership.

Other organizations were aware of his capabilities and they too carried on their roles this man who was a
shining light. The Scottish Rite honored him as a 33rd Degree, he was a member of the York Rite and
Knights Templar, the Shrine in Spokane, Eastern Star, American Legion, Red Cross of Constantine, and
many others.

His ability was recognized in Grand Lodge and he served on the Board of Custodians during 1926. He
was appointed Grand Lecturer in 1934, and in 1935 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, He advanced
through the chairs of Grand Lodge and served this Grand Jurisdiction as Grand Master in 1938-1939.

Always active in the affairs of his community, he early became interested in the Columbia Basin
Reclamation Project. This project to irrigate large parts of the Columbia Basin in Eastern Washington
famously gave birth to Grand Coulee Dam, which opened in 1941. Matthews was one of three key
individuals who first advocated actively in favor of the project, and helped to secure its eventual
realization.

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