Most Worshipful Brother
John Arthur Carruthers, PGM
Grand Lodge of
Prince Edward Island, A.F. & A.M.;
Grand Master 1966 – 1967

Born at Montague, P.E.J., February 1917, the son of the late J. W. Carruthers, P.M. and Mrs. Carruthers, who still resides at Montague.

He received his early education at Montague and worked in his father s drug store as a drug clerk for several years.

He joined the R.C.A.F, in the summer of 1940 and, after training in Canada, was posted overseas as a Sergeant Wireless Air Gunner in August, 1941. He arrived in Scotland, with a two week stop over in Iceland, in September 1941. After advanced training and operational experience in England, he was posted to Middle East Command, arriving at Suez, via a two month sea voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, in March 1942.

He served with the R.A.F. ground forces during the British retreat to Alemain, and then was posted to Kenya for operational training with the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force Squadron. He served with this Squadron in Iraq, Palestine, Cyprus, Egypt, Libia and Tunisia. During this period he was commissioned, promoted to Flight Lieutenant, became Squadron Gunnery Leader and was officially credited with destroying two German ME 109 fighters in combat. On completion of his operational tour he served as an instructor at an R.A.F. Gunnery School on the Suez Canal.

He returned to England in September 1944 and was repatriated to Canada in January 1945. He was trained as a Flying Control Officer at Victoria, B.C. and served in this capacity at Gander. Newfoundland, Summerside, P.E.I., Fort Nelson, B.C. and Whitehorse, Yukon.

Prior to leaving the service he was married in Edmonton to the former Gladys Baker of Kensington, P.E.J., in June 1946. They have two sons now in Junior High School.

After discharge from the Air Force he furthered his education at the University of Toronto and the Ontario College of Optometry, graduating in 1950. He has been practicing as an Optometrist in Charlottetown since that time.

He is a member of Trinity United Church, Charlottetown Rotary Club, Charlottetown Board of Trade, Canadian Legion, Past President of the R.C.A.F. Association and United Services Officers Club.

He was raised in Saint Andrew s Lodge No. 13, Montague, in 1939. Affiliated with Saint John s Lodge No. 1, Charlottetown, and became its Worshipful Master in 1955.

He served on various Grand Lodge Committees and filled number of offices. June, 1966, he was elected and installed as the Grand Master of Masons in Prince Edward Island.

In the York Rite, he is a member of Alexandra Chapter, R. A. M., Garden of the Gulf Council, R. and S. M. and Prince Edward Preceptory, No. 35, K. T.

In the Scottish Rite he is a P. T. P. G, M. of Albert Edward Lodge of Perfection

and a member of Saint Lawrence Chapter Rose Croix.

His elder brother H. Randolph Carruthers, P. G. M. preceded him as Grand Master in 1950.

From the Proceedings of the 91st Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island A.F. & A. M. (1966).