1884 Masonic Morgan Dollar Portrait Token

ORITUARY. Page 341

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
SUPREME COUNCIL
OF SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTORS-
GENERAL OF THE THIRTY -THIRD
AND LAST DEGREE O,F THE ANCIENT
ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE
OF FREEMASONRY FOR THE
NORTHERN MASONIC JURISDICTION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT THE
CITY OF DETROIT, STATE OF MICHIGAN
COMMENCING ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH ELLUL, A. M.,
FIFTY-SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY, SEPTEMBER
TWENTIETH, A. D , NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN
GRAND EAST, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
N. LATITUDE. 42* 81' 22' E. LONGITUDE. 5° 59 18-

J. EDWARD SIMMONS, 33°.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE DEPUTY GRAND MASTER: "
J. EDWARD SIMMONS, Past Grand Master, departed this life at
Lake Mohonk, Friday, the fifth day of August, 1910, at one o'clock
in the morning. His obsequies were held in St. Thomas' Church,
Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, Sunday afternoon, the seventh day
of August, at three o'clock. Kane Lodge, No. 454, of which he
was the Senior Past Master, accompanied the remains to Wood-
lawn, there performing the last rites of the fraternity. "
JOSEPH EDWARD SIMMONS was a man of exalted character; cultured
and scholarly. After his graduation from William College
he chose the law as a profession, but on his removal to New York,
entered the banking business. To him came the distinction of having
filled three of the highest offices that can be conferred upon a
New York business man,—viz: President of the Stock Exchange.
President of the Clearing House, and President of the
Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he filled other offices of responsibility
and trust, discharging the duties of all with absolute
fidelity and the highest intelligence. As President of the Board
of Education his thorough knowledge of our public school system
brought about many changes for the better. To him may be attributed
the advancement of higher educational interests and the
collegiate standing of the normal college. As President of the
Fourth National Bank, he was a tower of strength in the financial
world."

FROM THE MASONIC STANDARD:

"M.'. W.'.J. EDWARD SIMMONS of Kane Lodge, No. 454, President
of the Chamber of Commerce and one of the leading financiers of
this city, died at 1:30 a. m.. Friday, August 5th, at Lake Mohonk.
He had been ill for about ten days, following a period of a year
or more of impaired health. Brother SIMMONS would have been
69 years old on the 9th of next month. "
Funeral services were held last Sunday afternoon at St. Thomas'
Church, Fifth Avenue and Fifty-third Street. Rev. ERNEST M. STIRES.
Rector of the Church and Chaplain of Kane Lodge, gave the
Episcopal service, and at the grave in Woodlawn the burial service
was given by W. FREDERICK MEACHAM. Master of Kane Lodge.
There was a large representation of Grand Lodge officers and mem-

bers of Kane Lodge at the funeral. There were present also delegations
from the Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange, Fourth
National Bank, the Clearing House and representatives from the
New York Hospital and Sailors' Snug Harbor. "
Brother SIMMONS was made a Mason in Mount Zion Lodge. No.
311, Troy, in 1864. He removed to New York in 1867, and In 1874
he affiliated with Kane Lodge, No. 454. He served as Master of the
Lodge in 1877 and 1878. He served as District Deputy Grand
Master of the Sixth district in 1877, and as Grand Marshal, under
the administration of M.'. W.'. CHARLES ROOME, in 1879. He followed
the late M.'.W.'. JAMES TEN EYCK in that office. His successor
was M.'. W.'. EDWARD M. L. EHLERS. He was elected Deputy
Grand Master in 1882, and Grand Master the following year. He
presided over the Grand Lodge at the annual communication in 1884,
and declined a re-election. "
Brother SIMMONS was a member of Jerusalem Chapter No. 8,
Adelphlc Council No. 7, the Masonic Veterans and Coeur de Lion
Commandery, No. 23. He served as Commander of the Commandery
in 1881. He was a member of the Scottish Rite bodies of New York
City, N. M. J., and in September, 1885, was crowned an Honorary
member of the Supreme Council, Thirty-third degree. After his
retirement from the Grand East Brother SIMMONS was attentive to
his Masonic duties, and for many years it was his custom to install
the officers of Kane Lodge, at each annual election, assisted by R.'.
W.'. ROLLIN M. MORGAN as Grand Marshal. "
JOSEPH EDWARD SIMMONS had the distinction of having filled
three of the highest offices that can be conferred upon a New York
business man as such. He served as President of the Stock Exchange.
President of the Clearing House and President of the
Chamber of Commerce. The high place he attained in the business
world came as the result of hard and continuous work. "
He was born in Troy, N. Y., September 9, 1841. His education
was begun at the Troy Academy, and continued at a boarding
school at Sand Lake, near Troy. He was graduated from Williams
College in 1862, and from the Albany Law School in 1863. He practiced
his profession in Troy until 1867, when he removed to New
York and entered the banking and brokerage business. "
The story of his successful business career is well-known to the
public. He had been President of the Fourth National Bank since
1888, and President of the Chamber of Commerce since 1907. He
was elected President of the Stock Exchange in 1884 and was twice
re-elected. He served with distinction as President of the Board

of Education, and it was due to his efforts that the national flag
was placed in the school rooms, and instruction was given calculated
to inspire the pupils with sentiments of patriotism and loyalty. He
was a member of Metropolitan, University, St. Nicholas and other
clubs, was a Trustee of the New York Hospital and a Manager of
the New York Infant Asylum."

A special "Thanks" to marygrace10 on eBay for sharing her pictures of this most wonderful coin with us! We would also like to Thank Brother David Price, a Past Master of Oklahoma City Lodge #36, AFAM who was the first person to identify Grand Master Simmons on the token.

Remarkable Portrait Engraving

on 1884 Morgan Dollar