Companion Ellis was born September 24th, 1841, in Bellevue, Mich., and died at his home in Lebanon, MO., June 26th, 1900. He came to Missouri in 1869, and engaged in the fire insurance business with the American Central Insurance Company of St. Louis, MO., as one of its adjusters, which position he held at the time of his death.
He was made a Master Mason at Marshall, Mich., in 1862; a Royal Arch Mason at Stanford, Ky., in 1863; was knighted in Marshall commandery, K.T., in Marshall, Mich., in 1866, and received the Council Degrees at that place in the same year.
After serving as High Priest of Lebanon Chapter, No. 64, Royal Arch Masons, of Lebanon, Mo., in 1880 he was elected Grand King of the Grand Chapter. In 1881 he was elected Deputy Grand High Priest, and Grand High Priest in 1882. No words of eulogy are needed. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Frank, generous, brave and true, and loyal to what he conceived to be right, he has left us an example of unswerving allegiance to duty.
William E. Brenneman
Grand High Priest
of
Royal Arch Masons
of Missouri
1996
Our Most Excellent Grand High Priest was born in Cortland, Ohio on October 19, 1923 and attended school in Cortland and Plainfield, Ohio. He graduated from High School in Coshocton, Ohio. On January 28, 1956 he married Pauline Emmogene Renner of Lebanon, Missouri. They are the parents of Nancy Ann Ellingboe who resides in Lebanon and Jay Walter who makes his home in Springfield, Mo. They have lived at many locations throughout the world as our Most Excellent Grand High Priest was in the Military service for 24 years, retiring in November 1966. They now reside at 541 S. Adams St. in Lebanon, Mo. where they maintain a church affiliation with Southern Heights Christian Church, an Independent Church.
While in the service, Our Most Excellent Companion served in many areas and attended several military schools: Medical Corpsman; Medical Supply; Air Transportation; Guided Missile School, (where he served as Senior Enlisted Instructor for 2 years); Atomic Warhead School; Ordinance Demolition School, and the 7th Army N.C.O. Academy. He spent 14 years in the Medical Corps, from Corpsman to Medical Supply sergeant, 10 years in a Corporal Missile as Instructor and Platoon Sgt. He served in the South Pacific, New Guinea, Philippines, and Japan from 1944-1946, Alaska 1947, Korea 1952-53, Germany 1957-59, 1962-63, and Vietnam 1965-66. He is a Life Member of the Retired Enlisted Association and a member of the A.A.R.P.
His Masonic history began August 12, 1948 when he was initiated an Entered Apprentice, on Oct. 7, 1948, he was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, and on Nov. 4, 1948, he was raised to the degree of Master Mason in Union Lodge No. 7 Junction City, Kansas. He transferred his membership to Laclede Lodge No. 83, Lebanon in October of 1967, and became Master of that Lodge in 1972. He is now a dual member with Conway Lodge No. 528, Conway, Mo. During the past 27 years he has conferred all three degrees, has given the lectures and charges in all three degrees. He holds Gold Proficiency Cards in Sub. 1 and 3 (the opening and closing of a chapter), and can give all the lectures in the chapter degrees. He has worked in all the positions in the Shrine Cast except those of Prologue and Inspired Charge. He is well versed in the Council and Commandery and has been the presiding officer of those three bodies. He has also served as District Deputy Grand Master from 1980-1984, and as District Deputy Grand Lecturer from 1989-1991, for the Grand Lodge.
Companion Brenneman’s Masonic history includes: Past Master, Laclede Lodge No. 83; Past High Priest, Lebanon Chapter No. 64; Past Illustrious Master, Zabud Council No. 25; Past Commander, No. 33; Past Sovereign, St. Christopher Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine; Past President and Secretary of the 38th Masonic District Ritual Club; District Deputy Grand Lecturer from 1987-1989 and 1996-1998; Secretary-Recorder, Lebanon York Rite Bodies; He is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Joplin; Abu Ben Adhem Shrine, Member of Shrine Cast, Springfield, Missouri; Missouri Lodge of Research, Allied Masonic Degrees; Ozark Council No. 240; House of Lord’s LXXII; Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest; Ali Ozark Grotto; Order of the High Priest; Order of Silver Trowel; Past Commanders Association; Sword of Bunker Hill, Order No. 109; Life Member, Grand Chapter and Grand Council; Life Member of Lebanon Commandery No. 33; Grand Representative for Grand Chapter at Alberta, Canada;Grand Representative for Grand Council at Maryland; Past Regional Grand Commander, Region 7, 1993-1995.
