Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-24
Fifty in This State.
LONG GRAND SECRETARY
 FOR MASONIC FRATERNITY.
Death of Frank w. Ravens of Hartford -Succeeded by George A. Kies.

Frank w. Ravens of Hartford, a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity in this state, where he was grand lodge secretary from 1909 to 1913, and a former well known life in surance agent died Tuesday afternoon at the home of his son, Dr. Frank Stu art Ravens, in West Philadelphia MT Ravens had been in failing health for about two years. About month ago he slipped and fell heavily on the hard wood floor of his bedroom. No bones were broken, but the shock was severe, and in Mir. Ravens enfeebled health it aggravated his condition and haStened his decease.
 Mr. Ravens was born in Wethers- field, December ?. 1S45. He was a son of Hiram and Mary (Welles) Ha- vens. His mother was 2. descendant of Governor Thomas Welles, one of the early governors of the colony of Connecticut. His great grandfather, Elijah Welles, was a soldier in the rev olution.
 When Mir. Havens was 2 years old his parents moved to Hartford, and with the exception of seven years in Manchester he had always lived in Hartford.
 He engaged in manufacturing for a while and later conducted an insurance agency.
 In 1887 he became connected with the Hartford Life Insurance company as agency inspector. Later he be- came editor and manager of the lit- erary bureau and had charge of the publication of the monthly bulletin of the company He continued with gae company for some time after his election as secretary of the Grand lodge of Masons. When he retired from the grand secretarY's office he was Inv Of city. who now resides in Hartford.
 Mr. Ravens had a long and honor able Masonic record. He was raised in Manchester lodge,F. and A. NJ. of Man chester. Mass. May 10, 1881 He vas worshipful master of the lodge in 1883, 1884 and 1886. He was appointed dis triet deputy for Hartford county in 1890 by Grand Master Clark Bucklng- ham In 1891 he was appointed grand junior steward of the grand lodge of Connecticut by Grand Master Hugh Stirling. He was regularly advanced in the grand lodge and in 1898 was grand master. He was appointed act ing grand secretary by Grand Master Edward E. Fuller, June s. 1908, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Grand Secretary John H. Barlow. At the annual grand lodge communication in January 1909, he was elected grand secretary and continued in that posi- ' annual grand lodge communication At the time the grand lodge. in apprecia- ton of his long and efficient services, voted that he be made grand secretary emeritus. and also voted him a salary of $1 900 annually during the remainder of his life.
 MT Ravens was one of the organ izers of the Actual Past Masters aSsO- citation of the Masonic districts of Hartford, September s, 1900. He was then elected president and held that office continually until the annual meeting, December 19, 1912. when he declined reelection.
 He was grand representative of the Grand lodge of England near the Grand lodge of Connecticut, and for nner grand representative for the Grand lodge of Victoria near the Grand lodge of Connecticut. He was a member of the Masonic Veterans association of Connecticut.
 Mir. Ravens was a member of Py- thagoras chapter. R. A. M; Wolcott council, R. & S. M: Washington com mande~y, K T.. Charter Oak lodge of Perfection; Hartford council. Princes Of Jerusalem. and Cyrus Goodell chap ter of Rose Crofx of Hartford. and the Connecticut consistory, s. P. R. &. Of Norwich. He was a member also of Sphinx temple of the Mystic Shrine, Hartford chapter, 0. F. S.. and the Col enet Jeremiah Wadsworth branch of the Connecticut society.