Biography
He was born June 26th 1843 in Paisley Scotland.
He was the 7th child of a family of 12.
He attended the private school of Dr. Thomas Moore until the age of twelve.
He immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 choosing to settle in Dewart, Kent County, Canada, West where he lived with his Uncle.
He was married to Elizabeth Anne Crisp and had two daughters Elizabeth “Lizzie” in 1869, Bethia or “Beth”, son Jessie 1875 and a son named Hugh II 1877.
Milestones
- Initiated into Acacia Lodge No. 61 Hamilton 1865 and became Worshipful Master in 1871
- DDGM 1877
- Served as Grand Treasurer of Grand Lodge from 1891 – 1893
- Grand Master in the Province of Ontario 1884 – 1886
- Was also made Hon. Past Grand First Principal in 1903
- Held a Scottish Rite 33rd degree
- Secretary General of the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite
- Provincial Grand Master, Royal Order of Scotland
- Was still Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge at the time of his death
- Was a business man, partnered in a grocery store named Murphy & Murray near James St. on the north side of King St. Hamilton
- Some believe that he was a lawyer. (unconfirmed)
- Was the Chief Customs Clerk, in Hamilton
- Was the Honorary President of the Hamilton Tigers Football Club
- Passed away November 28th 1907 of Apoplexy, known these days as a “stroke”
Lodges Named For Him
- Murray lodge No. 408 of Beaverton Ontario on February 19th 1885
- Hugh Murray Lodge No. 602 on February 21st 1922
Lodge Locations
- The Masonic Hall, 90 James N. until a fire demolished the hall in September 1968
- The Beach Masonic Temple on Beach Boulevard from 1968 to March 1971
- The Dundas Masonic Temple from 1971 to 1976
- Central Masonic Temple, 910 Main St E. Hamilton from January 20th 1976 to June 17th 2003
- The Hamilton Masonic Centre, 4 Queen St. S. (The Scottish Rite) September 16th 2003 until the present
83 different Brothers have served as Master of the Lodge from 1922 until today,
10 Brothers having served more than once