Page 187 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Walter H. Steffey: 1935-1936

Walter Harrison Steffey was born in Jefferson County, Kansas,
October 6, 1888, and passed on to the Celestial Grand Lodge in
Seattle, Washington, February 19, 1972.
He attended the State College at Manhattan, Kansas, where he met
Miss Lillian Clemmons, who became his wife in 1911. She survives
him in their home in Seattle, where they celebrated their 60th
Wedding Anniversary on July 8, 1971.

From this union his son Hugh carries on Walter's great Masonic
record, which has never been excelled in the Grand Jurisdiction of
Washington.

M⸫W⸫ Walter had a most distinguished and exceedingly active
fraternal life. From the time he was Raised to the degree of a Master
Mason in University Lodge, No. 141, August 5, 1912, then becoming
Master of his Lodge in 1919 until the time his spirit ascended to its eternal reward of all good men, Brother
Steffey lived and acted according to Masonic teachings. He was aptly referred to by all who knew him as
"Mr. Mason".

He believed that no man was indispensable but to every man he had a word of encouragement and was
quick to compliment those who presented good and square work.
Walter was a great believer that truth was a Divine attribute and his oft-used expression of, "That is right",
carried with it great conviction.

His willingness to help and advise, only ff he were asked, made all who worked with him his lifelong
friends. This habit of giving advice only if he were asked made him the loved and respected Secretary of
University Lodge for many years and, as he continued to follow this policy when he became Grand
Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Washington, his circle of friends extended over
the entire State of Washington.

Not only was Walter well known and thought a great deal of by Masons in Washington, but as Chairman
of the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance in 1967-1968 his friendly influence was felt and appreciated
by Masons in Alaska.

He was a member of all the York Rite Bodies, becoming a Companion in University Chapter of Royal
Arch Masons in 1917, and he was elected High Priest of that Chapter in 1920. From this start in Royal
Arch, the Companions elevated him to the top when he became Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons in 1936. This was the same year that he was completing a very successful year as
Grand Master.

P a ge | 186