Alfred Charles Finn, Jr.

Alfred Charles Finn, Jr., was born on August 14, 1911, the son of Alfred Charles Finn, Sr., and Mary Riley Finn. His father was also a member of Gray Lodge. After the public schools he completed his education at Rice and Texas A&M and became a registered architect. He married Virginia Barnard on March 7, 1936, and they had two daughters, Carol Lee and Virginia Ann. A member of St. Paul’s Methodist Church, he enjoyed photography and shooting and belonged to the National Rifle Association.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1945: the Entered Apprentice on March 12, the Fellowcraft on May 7, and the Master Mason degree on June 4. Appointed Junior Steward in 1947, he filled each place and station up the line. He was installed as the 82nd Master in 1953 by Past Master Wm. P. Wantzloeben, with Past Master C. Howard Phifer as Marshal, and Past Grand Master Albert J. DeLange was the principal speaker.

Early in his year the District Deputy Grand Master asked brethren with historical material to share it with the Texas Grand Lodge Library at Waco. The lodge began helping a brother through a long illness, and in September it made Joseph P. Veaner a life member, noting that over some 30 years he had probably taught the ritual to more Master Masons than any other living member. Petitions to form Bellaire Lodge and South Park Lodge were approved.

Twelve Past Masters attended Past Masters’ Night on November 11, 1953, when new life membership cards were presented. The violin of the late Brother D. W. Clink went to the Home for Aged Masons as he had wished, and Brother Olen C. Aldrich returned a copy of A History of Freemasonry first given to the lodge by A. K. Taylor in March 1872. Past Grand Master Claud Austin was invited to the East in February 1954. That spring Anson Jones Lodge invited Gray’s members to a picnic at the Masonic Oak near Brazoria, Holland Lodge No. 1 invited them to the cornerstone leveling of its new building, and the lodge gave $50 toward the Tri-Area Conclave of the Order of DeMolay in Houston.

Brother Finn was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Washington Chapter No. 2 on September 12, 1945, joined Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, and was created a Knight Templar in Ruthven Commandery No. 2 on October 19, 1945. He was a 32° Mason of the Houston Scottish Rite and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine, and he later served on the committee to find a new home for Gray Lodge.