The Newtown bee., 1902-05-30
HOME NEWS.
JOHN HENRY BARLOW.

JOHN HENRY BARLOW.
 GRAND SECRETARY OF THE MOST WOI
 SHIP GRAND LODGE, F. < A., M., o
 THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
 No man in Connecticut in MaSOni
 circles is more highly esteemed thal
 John H. Barlow, the secretary of tn
 grand lodge. He might almost called Newtown man, for his frs wife was a Newtown lady.
 MT Barlow was born in the town o Ridgeteld, Conn.,, November ', lS32 and there spent the days of his child hood and received his early education His ancestry is traced to one of tive brothers who came from Englaud tc America, settling in Connecticut dur. ing the early part of the eighteenth century, one of them locating in the town of Bedding, from whom descend ed the celebrated poet and politician: the other located in Fairfield, and it is to him that the subject of this sketch traces his descent. MT Barlow comes from honorable Masonic stock, both his father and grandfather having been FreemasOns, and the latter was one of the signers of the famous de- claration of Masonic principles, is- sued in 1882. At the age of seventeen MT Barlow removed to Birmingham, and there engaged in grocery and hardware store as clerk, serving four years. In April 1854, he entered the employ of the Shelton company, manu- lecturers of tacks, as superintendent of the packing and shipping depart ment, and remained in their establish ment until July, 1891.
 The Masonic career of Mir Barlow has been an active and earnest one, for he has entered into the labors of the craft with zeal. He became member of King Hiram Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M., in 1858, being initiated Septem- Der 2S, passed October 5, and raised October F, of that year. Possessed of a wonderful memory, he soon acquired a perfect knowledge of lodge work and ritual, and was made senior deacon of the lodge in 1850, serving in that capa- city three years. From this position he was advanced to juniorwarden, then to senior warden, and in 1865 he was elected worshipful master, and served two years On April 25, 1859, he was exalted to. 8 Royal Arch Mason in Solomon Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M., and and there also his capabilities as workman were quickly recognized; he was elected High Priest of the Chap ter in 1864, serving three years, and was again elected in 1870, serving two years more. On January 26, 1860, he was received and greeted in Union Council, No. 27, R. & s. M., was its Thrice Illustrious Master from 1864 to 1868, and on August 5, 1863, he was knighted in New Haven Commandery, Knights Templar of New Haven.
 Brother Barlow's first appearance in the Grand Lodge was in 1863, and since then an annual communication has rarely passed without his being present. In 1871 he was elected grand junior deacon, passing regularly through the chairs; in 1879 he was elected deputy grand master under Israel M. Bullock, and on account of his death was called to fill the chair of grand master for the remainder of the term. He was elected grand master in 1880. MT Bar low has also served in subordinate posi- tions in the Grand Chapter and Grand Council, and has regularly advanced to the highest station, having served in 1870 and 1871 as Grand High Priest, and in 1874 as M. P. Grand Master of the Grand Council. He held the office of secretary of his lodge from 1868 to 1S99(when he was compelled to decline further service), and has done much to place the history of this lodge on per- manent record, besides serving for nine years as the head of the Grand Convention of the Order of High Priesthood. In 1894, on the death of Joseph K. Wheeler, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, he was appointed to fill the vacancy by Grand Master H. o. Warner of New Milford. At the session of the Grand Lodge in January, 1895, he was elected Grand Secretary and has been re-elect- ed annually ever since. He is a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason, and is a member of the Lafayette Consistory of Bridgeport. MT Barlow is one of the managers of the Masonic Home, which is located at Wallingford, and is sec ofo nf has become widely known as corre- spondent of the Grand Chapter of Connecticut, which office he has held since 1879, and in the Grand Lodge and Grand Council since 1894, and he has won the re- spect and confidence of the craft at large for the terseness and practical common sense of his reports. As a man he is courteous and unassuming, with a quiet demeanor and yet with a determined will, which, combined with good judgment, helps to mold a character noted for it's infiexibfiity and tenacity of purpose in the cause of right and justice. Having many friends and scarcely an enemy, he fully enjoys the confidence of the fra ternity of Connecticut.
 John Henry Barlow is son of Dav i'd Scott Barlow, who was born May g. 1908, in Ridgefield, and a grandson ot John Barlow, who was born in the year ITS in Fairfield. John Barlow the grandfather of our subject, had