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History

William Moore Cunningham Biographical Information

William Moore Cunningham was born in Newark, Ohio, March 9, 1829. He received his early schooling in Newark and later he attended Harvard College.

The greater portion of his life was spent in Newark. In his earlier days he was engaged in the book business. For four years he resided in Columbus where he served as statistician in the office of the Secretary of State. Later he conducted an insurance business in Newark.

He was twice married. First, to Miss Mary Reese who died in 1898. A son, Sanford Cunningham who died in 1880, was born of this marriage. In May, 1906, he married Miss Mary Williams of Newark, who survived him.

In his early life Companion Cunningham embraced the Swedenborgian faith which remained his religious belief throughout his lifetime.

He was made a Master Mason in Newark Lodge No. 97, May 25, 1850, and served as Master in 1859 and 1860. He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1877 and 1878. He was also a charter member of the Masonic Veterans Association, of which he was President at the time of his death.

The Chapter degrees were received in Warren Chapter No. 6, Newark, Ohio, where he was exalted on April 8, 1854. He was High Priest 1855 to 1858, 1860 to 1865, and 1868. He was elected Grand Scribe and advanced through the stations until elected Grand High Priest in 1900. He was made an Anointed High Priest in 1856.

The Council degrees, R. and S. M., were conferred upon him in Bigelow Council No. 7, Newark, Ohio, April 28, 1854, and the Super Excellent Master Degree in 1860. He served Bigelow Council as Illustrious Master from 1855 to 1876, and the Grand Council of Ohio as Puissant Grand Master in 1864.

It was during his term as Grand Master that the Grand Council took action on the proposal to surrender the Council degrees to the Grand Chapter. This proposal had been supported by Companion Cunningham's predecessor, Timothy Fisher of Marion. The question was referred to the thirty-two chartered Councils with this result: Nine voted "aye"; ten voted "nay"; and thirteen failed to vote. This inconclusive result was considered by Companion Cunningham, who declared the attempt to dissolve the Grand Council of Ohio and to surrender jurisdiction over its degrees to the Grand Chapter, lost. He further asserted that so long as there remained three or more active Councils in Ohio, as members of the Grand Council, said Grand Council could not be disbanded. Thus was the historic position of Cryptic Masons in Ohio proclaimed and from this position the Grand Council of Ohio has never deviated.

His Templar honors were received in Clinton Commandery No. 5, K. T., Mt. Vernon, Ohio, October 17, 1855. Thence he demitted on September 5, 1862, and became a member of Mt. Vernon Commandery No. 1 in Columbus. He was a charter member of St. Lukes's Commandery No. 34, in Newark, in 1886. This commandery was organized to succeed Newark Commandery No. 34, who charter was arrested in 1886. He served St. Luke's Commandery as Commander in 1887.

The grades of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite were taken in the Valley of Cincinnati, Lodge of Perfection, January 28, 1856, Council, Princes of Jerusalem, February 19, 1857, Chapter of Rose Croix, February 20, 1857, Consistory, February 16, 1862.

He was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Honorary 33°, Supreme Council, N.M.J.U.S.A., May 20, 1865.

Companion Cunningham's greatest fame was as a Masonic writer and reviewer. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence in the Grand Lodge from 1885 to 1909; in the Grand Chapter, 1863-65-69, and from 1904 to 1909; in the Grand Council, from 1873 to 1881, and from 1899 to 1905.

As a reviewer his writings were considered accurate, forceful, and fair. He wrote a number of Masonic textbooks and was the author of the first Volume of the History of Freemasonry in Ohio, published by the Grand Lodge in 1909, and a History of the Grand Chapter of Ohio 1816-1841, which appears in the Grand Chapter Code published in 1921. It was a boast of Companion Cunningham that he knew personally such early figures in the Grand Chapter as James Gates, William J. Reese, William B. Thrall, William B. Hubbard, and Jacob Graff.

He performed valuable service to all three Grand Bodies in revising their rituals.

An unusual occurrance in Newark Lodge was the initiation of Sanford Cunningham in 1873. Present was his father, William M., initiated in 1850, and his grandfather, John Cunningham, initiated in 1840. Thus three generations of Cunninghams knew each other as brothers in the same lodge. A picture memorializing this event appears in Vol. I, History of Freemasonry in Ohio.

Companion Cunningham died at Newark, August 16, 1909. His funeral was conducted by the Grand Lodge and his remains rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark.

--From The Sesquicentennial History of Royal Arch Freemasonry in Ohio 1816-1966, Vol. I (1816-1911), pages 259-260, by Edward M. Selby and Harvey Walker, published by The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, 1965.

See also:
Early History of Cunningham Chapter No. 187 R. A. M.
Charter Members of Cunningham Chapter