Most Worshipful Brother
Thomas Gordon Ives, PGM
Grand Lodge of
Prince Edward Island, A.F. & A.M.;
Grand Master 1937 – 1938

In that very picturesque and charming section of Prince Edward Island known as Tryon on May 28, 1885, was born the subject of this sketch, Thomas Gordon Ives, who was destined in after years to become favorably familiar to a great number of his fellow Islanders and to achieve well merited recognition and honour in our beloved order.

Our Brother, after receiving, his early education at the district schools of Searletown and Montague, followed this up with a commercial course in 1905 at that favorably known institution The Charlottetown Business College.

It was in the year 1899 that he removed from Searletown to Montague. Being possessed of a keen aptitude for business our future Grand Master in 1911 opened a general store in that thriving town, which business he successfully conducted for twenty years or until 1931.

In the meantime, in 1928 his natural ambition lead him to look around for wider scope and we find him opening an automobile business at Charlottetown, capital of the Province. In August 1930, he removed to that city disposing subsequently of the business in Montague. In Charlottetown he now successfully carries on the agency for Studebaker and Willys automobiles and is widely known in the Province as a very energetic and popular salesman.

As to Brother Ives Masonic career, he was initiated in St. Andrews Lodge, Montague as Entered Apprentice, November 1st, 1909. He passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on January 3, 1910, and was raised to the Sublime

Degree of Master Mason on February 7, 1910. He became Worshipful Master of St. Andrews Lodge in 1918, and Senior Deacon of Grand Lodge in 1919. The following year he became Senior Grand Warden, and in 1921 Deputy Grand Master, He was again elected to the last named office at Hunter River in 1936, and became Grand Master in 1937. He was made Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario in 1936.

Other steps in his Masonic career may be summarized as follows:

Joined Royal Arch Masonry, Alexandria Chapter, Charlottetown, Mark Master, May 7, 1914; Past Master, Most Excellent Master June 4, 1914; Royal Arch Degree, August 5, 1914.

Successively he demitted Alexandria Chapter, Charlottetown, in 1919 and became Charter Member and High Priest, Mount Akron Chapter, Montague; Grand District Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons, 193536 and Grand King in 1937.

He joined the Prince Edward Preceptory, Charlottetown on August 6, 1914, was Chaplain from 1931 to 1934, Marshall from 1934 to 1935, Constable in 1936 and Presiding Preceptor in 1937.

He became a member of Philae Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., Halifax, on June 21, 1915.

That he may long be spared to further serve and exemplify the high principles of the Masonic fraternity in his native Province is the sincere wish of the brethren.

From the Proceedings of the 62th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island A.F. & A. M. (1937).