Page 28 - MFM MARCH 2015

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32nd Grand Master
Reid Gardiner (3)
Born in Kentucky March 20,
1862, Edward Carson Day lived
the life of a country boy in his President of the Rotary Club.
youth. He attended the schools
of Cynthiana and graduated
high school in 1878. He had
attended Lee University in
Lexington, VA, graduating in
1880 with a Bachelor of Arts
and and Bachelor of Laws in
1883. He was admitted to the to
the Bar in Kentucky in 1882 and
the Ohio Bar in 1884. From 1887 to 1890 worked with
the editorial board of a law publisher in Minnesota.
Desiring to enter active practice, E. C. Day moved to
Livingston, MT in 1890, where he became associated
with Judge Savage under the firm name Savage and
Day. He was admitted to the Montana bar in 1890
practicing law in Livingston until 1896.
In 1897, E. C. Day moved to Helena, associating
himself with William Cullen. The “copper war”
came on, and many great cases were fought out in
district and supreme courts in which Cullen & Day
participated. Day was personal attorney for many
prominent Montana industrialists as well as some of
the state’s first corporations.
An ardent supporter of the public schools, for 24
consecutive years a member of the board of trustees
of the Helena school district and chairman of that
body for 23 of those years.
He was elected as a member of Montana state house
of representatives, 1899, 1913-15. In 1918 he was
appointed the United States attorney for the District
of Montana by Presidnet Wilson, serving in that
position until 1920. He served as Helena City Attorney
from 1905 to 1907 and 1919-1920.
An outstanding leader he also served as President
of the Helena YMCA, member of the board of St.
Peter’s Hospital, on the Board of the Montana Club,
he was a member of St Peter’s Episcopal Church and
chancellor of the diocese of the Episcopal church of
Montana.
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He was a member, American Bar Association; Chi
Phi; past Exalted Ruler for the Livingston Elks; and
During the war he served as state chairman of the
Red Cross, YMCA and United War Work drives, and
chairman of the state speakers bureau of the Council
of Defese.
He receivied this degrees in Livingston Lodge #32:
Initiated on August 15, 1891; Passed September 5, 1891
and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason
on September 19, 1891. He was appointed Senior
Deacon four months later, and elected Worshipful
Master two years after that. He first appeared on the
floor of the Grand Lodge of Montana in 1894, and
was there unanimously elected Junior Grand Warden.
He became Grand Master in 1897.
He was a member of the York Rite bodies, and served
Grand Commander of Knight Templar in 1900; and
Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch 1909. He was
also a member Algeria Shrine and served as Potentate.
E. C. Day was also president of the Masonic Home
board of trustees for 25 years. He went on to become
Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Orient of
Montana in the Scottish Rite in 1915.
A few minutes after the opening of the 6th Conclave
on February 1, 1929, the whole assembly arose in one
tremendous burst of applause as down the center
aisle, escorted by Honorable Edward C. Day of
Helena, walked the Founder of the Order of DeMolay,
Honorable Brother and Dad to millions of DeMolays
across the country, Frank Sherman Land of Kansas
City, Missouri. After being introduced, Dad Land
gave a very inspirational talk on the possibilities of
the Order and about his dream for this organization.
E. C. Day Chapter in Helena, Montana was named
after Edward Carson Day when it was constituted on
March 2, 1922.
M.W. Brother Day died on June 7, 1936 in San Diego,
California. He was interred in Battle Grove Cemetery,
Cynthiana, Kentucky.