Arthur N. McRae

Little is recorded of the early life of Arthur N. McRae. He received the Craft degrees in Franklin Lodge No. 57 at Franklin, Louisiana, in 1883: the Entered Apprentice on March 24, the Fellowcraft on April 3, and the Master Mason degree on May 24. He demitted from that lodge on April 5, 1890, and affiliated with Gray Lodge No. 329 on June 18, 1890.

After serving as Senior Steward and Senior Deacon, he was elected Junior Warden for 1893–1894 and Senior Warden for 1894–1895. He was installed as the 25th Worshipful Master by Past Master J. R. Cade, with Past Grand Master John Watson as Marshal.

His was one of the most eventful years in the lodge’s early history. Only days after his installation, Robert Burns, the lodge’s second Master and a charter member, died on June 29, 1895. On July 5 the lodge held a called meeting to mark its 25th anniversary. The minutes of the first meeting were read, and Past Grand Master A. S. Richardson, Past Grand Master Charles Stewart, Past Master W. H. Crank and Past Grand Master R. M. Elgin, who had helped constitute the lodge in 1870, all spoke. Two days later Past Master W. J. Settegast died, and in September the lodge buried Past Grand Master Charles Stewart. In January 1896 the lodge sat in judgment on the well-known Crutchfield ritual case, with 14 Past Masters in attendance.

Brother McRae continued to serve the lodge afterward. In 1896 he sat on the committee that worked with Holland Lodge on the location of the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home, and in 1901 he was one of three members Gray Lodge sent to Corsicana to protest moving the Grand Lodge out of Houston.

He was High Priest of Washington Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., in 1899–1900 and received the Order of High Priesthood on December 5, 1900. He was Eminent Commander of Ruthven Commandery No. 2, K. T., in 1909, and was also a member of the Woodmen of the World.

He died on April 2, 1912. After the ante-burial and an Episcopal service by the Rev. J. H. Brown, Brother J. T. Peyton accompanied his remains to Franklin, Louisiana, where Franklin Lodge No. 57, the lodge that had made him a Mason, buried him with Masonic ceremonies. He was survived by his widow and a niece.