Most Worshipful Brother
James Robert Murphy, PGM
Grand Lodge of
Prince Edward Island, A.F. & A.M.;
Grand Master 1956 – 1957

The subject of this article was born on February 19, 1907 in Somerville, Mass. U.S.A., the son of Jean Bell Weeks and the late Edwin Murphy, and he removed with his family to Prince Edward Island when he was four years old.

He attended the Public School at Sea View and Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown.

Like many of his age he took up teaching and he has been in this profession for over thirty years. Part of this time was spent as a Supervisor of Schools in the province.

Associating himself with teachers organizations, he eventually became a director of the Canadian Teachers and he is a Past President of the Prince Edward Island Teachers Federation.

He married Theresa Meek, French River, and they have two children, Robert a medical interne in Saint John, N.B. and Dorothy R.N., the wife of Rev. Eric Ingraham, rector of New London Parish, Kensington.

He spends his summer vacation on his small farm in Sea View, among the boys and girls of his early boy hood.

He is vice-president of the North Shore Packing Co. Ltd., one of the largest canneries in P.E.I.

As a member of St. Marys Church, Summerside he has been a member of the Vestry and he is also Past President of the Laymen s Association in this parish.

Realizing that every community needs a service club, he became a member of the Summerside Ys Mens Club and lie is a Past President of this organization.

During the Second World War he joined one of the reserve units in this province and rose to the rank of Major.

Brother Murphy was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason June 28, 1928, in King Edward Lodge No. 16, Malpeque and elected in 1931 as Worshipful Master. He was appointed Grand Historian in the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island in 1952. It was soon noted that he possessed the necessary qualification required by a Grand Master and in June 1956 was elected to that high office.

He was exalted to the Holy Royal Arch in Prince Edward Chapter No. 12, Kensington, and is a member of Albert Edward Lodge of Perfection 140, A. & A. S. R., Valley of Summerside and at the present time is the T. P. G. M.

From the Proceedings of the 81st Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island A.F. & A. M. (1956).