William A. Brodie (1841–1917) was a Scots-American businessman and
Freemason
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
. He was Grand Master of Masons in the state of
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
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in 1884 and in that capacity was the man who laid the foundation stone of the
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty (''Liberty Enlightening the World''; French: ''La Liberté éclairant le monde'') is a List of colossal sculpture in situ, colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, in the U ...
on August 5 of that year.
Early life
Brodie was born in village of
Kilbarchan, Scotland on August 9, 1841.
When he was two years old his parents emigrated to America to begin a new life. They settled in the State of New York. William became a successful businessman. He died on May 9, 1917 .
Activities
Brodie was the county treasurer of
Livingston County for fifteen years.
Brodie was additionally the President of the Geneseo Gas Company and of the Geneseo Electric Company.
He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Geneseo from 1868 until his death in 1917.
Freemasonry and the Statue of Liberty
Brodie was a dedicated Mason, as his work craft exhibits:
:Raised November 9, 1863, Genesee Lodge No. 214, (
Genesee, New York)
:Junior Warden, 1867, Genesee Lodge No 214
:Senior Warden, 1868, Genesee Lodge N0 214
:Master, 1869-1871, 1875-1877, 1880, Genesee Lodge No 214
:Knights Templar, 1873, Monroe Commandery No. 12
:Scottish Rite 33 degree, Rochester Consistory
:Sovereign Grand Inspector General; September 25, 1885
:Royal Arch, 1867
Affiliated to Lodge St Barchan No 156 Grand Lodge of Scotland 20,July 1888
During his term as Grand Master of New York in 1884 he laid the foundation stone of the Statue of Liberty. When asked why the Freemasons would be asked to place the foundation stone he replied "No other organization has done more to promote liberty and to liberate men from the chains of ignorance and tyranny than Freemasonry."
State University of New York
William Brodie was also influential in having the Geneseo College established in Geneseo, Livingston County, New York, which is now known as S.U.N.Y. - State University of New York. The Brodie Fine Arts building, which was named after William Brodie was constructed on the S.U.N.Y. campus in 1967.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brodie, William
Masonic Grand Masters
American Freemasons
1841 births
1917 deaths