ARTHUR M. HUME, GRAND MASTER. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., of Michigan, for 1909, is to the manner born, and one of the finest products of Michigan manhood. He was born in the village of Medina, Lenawee County, Michigan, July 16, 1859, the youngest of a family of nine children. Alonzo S. Hume, the father of our Grand Master, emigrated from Monroe County, New York, to Lenawee County, Michigan, in 1836. Martha Elizabeth Hopkins (Hume) the mother of our Grand Master, came from Berkshire, England; the Hume ancestors were of Berkshire, Massachusetts. Arthur M. Hume was educated in district schools and later in Oak Grove Academy, at Medina, Michigan, and the High School at Hudson, Michigan. He taught country schools and thus earned the money to attend High School and to take up his chosen profession of medicine, with the additional assistance obtained by doing farm work and acting as an assistant in a physician's office. He graduated from Detroit Medical College in 1881, with the degree of M. D. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Bennington, Mich. In October, 1883, he became the junior partner of the firm of Perkins & Hume, at Owosso, Mich., which partnership was continued until terminated by the death of Dr. Perkins in November, 1907. On the first day of June, 1909, he formed a partnership with his son, the present firm being styled Drs. A. M. and H. A. Hume. Dr. Hume has always been active in local, state and national Medical Associations, and this year was one of the four delegates from Michigan to the American Medical Association at Atlantic City. He was Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon of Third Infantry, Michigan National Guard, from 1892 to 1899seven years. Dr. Hume has also been a prominent factor in politics. He was a member of the Board of Education of Owosso from 1893 to 1903, and for three years was President of the Board. He was Mayor of the city of Owosso for the years 1899 and 1900. His Masonic career is also a brilliant one, and for many years he has been one of the most honored Masons of this Grand Jurisdiction. He was initiated in Owosso lodge, No. 81, March 3, 1886, passed March 15, 1887, and raised June 24, 1887; he was elected the Junior Warden of his lodge the following election, elected Senior Warden the next year, and Worshipful Master in 1889, serving in that position for the years 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893. He received the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry in Owosso chapter, No. 89, being exalted June 14, 1889, and became an active worker in that body. He was Knighted in Corunna Commandery, February 5, 1895. He is also a member of Corunna Council, R. & S. M., Bay City Consistory, 32° Scottish Rite, Moslem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and is a Past Worthy Patron of Abigal Chapter, O. E. S. He was elected Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Michigan, at the Annual Communication in 1904, and has been steadily promoted each year, going from Junior Grand Deacon to Junior Grand Warden in 1906, by reason of the death of Brother Thomas Reardon, who immediately preceded him, and would have gone from Junior Grand Warden to Deputy Grand Master in 1907, on account of the death of Brother Erastus Stone, had it not been for his own earnest importuning to Grand Lodge to elect Brother Herbert Montague to the position of Deputy Grand Master and allow him to simply advance to the position of Senior Grand Warden. On account of his genial good nature and his ever-happy disposition, it falls to the lot of but few men to so endear themselves to all with whom they come in contact, and this, together with his love and devotion for the Masonic Institution, cannot fail but to make him one of the most popular Grand Masters in Michigan Masonic history. |