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h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h
Byron F. Gaither

Grand Master 1945-1946

Grand Secretary 1954-1964

MWGM Byron Fawcett Gaither was born also for the funeral of P.G.M. Francis D.
November 1, 1890, in Martin County, Indiana. Jones. He presided over the 82nd Annual
He attended schools in Indiana and Missouri Communication held in Butte, August 20-21,
and graduated from DePauw University in 1946.
1913. After graduating from university, he
worked at banks in Indiana and Missouri for In 1946, there were 135 active charted Lodges
four years. He served in the U.S. Army during with 20,647 members. Currently, in 2024,
the First World War. there are 3,208 members and 77 chartered
lodges.
On returning to civilian life, he entered the
fi eld of education and taught in schools He later served as Assistant Grand Secretary
in Cisco, Texas, and Rawlins, Wyoming. from 1951-1954 and Grand Secretary from
In 1925, he moved to Huntley Project, 1954 to 1964.
Montana, and served as Principal of Huntley
Project High School. In 1927, he was elected He was Initiated into Jeptha Chapter No.237,
Superintendent of the Huntley Project School System, O.E.S., in Montrose, MO., on November
a position he held for twenty-four years. His ability as 19, 1915, and affi liated with Jephthah Chapter No. 116
an educator, his leadership, and the respect with which in Worden on October 21, 1933, where he served as
he was held in the community and by his students Worthy Patron of that Chapter in 1935-1936. He was also
contributed immensely to developing that school a member of the York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite, and a
system into an excellent educational facility. He was a member of Shrine Karem Temple in Rawlins, Wyoming.
brilliant public speaker with a marvelous command of
the English language. For many years, he was the teacher He retired to his home in Ballantine, Montana. On May 19,
of adult Bible classes in the Worden Methodist Church. 1972, Brother Byron F . Gaither, Past Grand Master and
In his chosen profession, he was a leader for many Past Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of A.F.&A.M.
years and served as President of the Eastern Division of Montana, was called by the Grand Architect of the
of the Montana Education Association in 1934. The Universe “To that undiscovered country from whose
infl uence of his Christian character was refl ected in the bourne no traveler returns.” Funeral Services were
lives of hundreds of young men and women who passed conducted at the Ballantine Congregational Church on
through the schools under his supervision. Because of May 22, 1972, with Masonic graveside services by Huntley
his oratorical ability, he was in demand as a speaker at Project Lodge No. 144 at Pleasantview Cemetery,
Masonic gatherings throughout Montana for many years. Ballantine, Montana.

Brother Gaither was always seeking knowledge; he
received his Entered Apprentice degree in Temple Lodge
No. 47, Greencastle, Indiana, on September 20, 1912;
was Passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on October 19,
1912, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason
November 21, 1912. He was a Past Master of Montrose
Lodge No. 408 in Missouri and affi liated with Huntley
Project Lodge No. 144 in May of 1926 to become a charter
member and served as the fi rst Master of the Lodge. He
also served as Worship Master of his Lodge in 1926 and
1927 and again in 1929. From 1930 to 1944, he served as
his Lodge Secretary. He was proud of his 50-year Masonic
membership award presented on November 20, 1962.

In 1945, Brother Gaither was elected and installed
as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in
Montana. Grand Master Gaither conducted four Special
Communications to constitute Jordan Lodge 148,
Belfry Lodge No.138, and Stillwater Lodge No. 62; and