M.W. Arthur E. Johnson, Past Grand Master, 1936-2025
M.W. Arthur Eugene Johnson, the 82nd Grand Master of Masons of Massachusetts (1996-1998), passed to the Celestial Lodge above on May 15, 2024. He was 88.
Arthur was born and raised in Boston. He attended Boston University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He worked for National Shawmut Bank for 25 years, beginning as a teller. He entered the nascent computer field and rose to Director of Data Processing. He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School. Arthur formed his own real estate investment firm and finally served as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts between 2003 and 2007.
He was married to Barbara for 67 years. They settled in Hingham where they raised their daughter, Dawn. Arthur is survived by Barbara, Dawn and her husband, Stephen Megquier; his grandchildren, Sarah Megquier and Lauren and her husband, James Payne; his great-Grandchildren Genni, Umer, Damien and Calliope; and his grandchildren Caitlin and Scott who predeceased him. He was the son of the late George W. Johnson, Sr. and the brother of the late George W. Johnson, Jr. He was active with the Quincy Community United Methodist Church, serving as Chair of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee.
Arthur was raised in Macedonian Lodge, Milton in 1965. He served as Master in 1971, 1991, and 1992. In 1976 he affiliated with Wollaston Lodge (now Rural Lodge) and served as Master in 1989. For his service to the fraternity, we was nominated by Wollaston Lodge to receive the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal in 1994.
He began his affiliation with the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts when M.W. Edgard W. Darling, Grand Master, appointed him District Deputy Grand Master of the Quincy 26th District for 1991 and 1992. In 1995 he was elected Senior Grand Warden, the second-highest elected officer in the jurisdiction. That year he received the Henry Price Medal, the highest honor The following year he began serving the first of his three one-year terms as Grand Master. In doing so, he became the first presiding Senior Grand Warden to immediately advance to the East since John T. Heard was elected in 1856 to complete the third year of M.W. Winslow Lewis’s term due to his health. In 2003, M.W. Brother Johnson was named Grand Representative near the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
Active in many Masonic organizations, we was Past Monarch of Taleb Grotto, Quincy and Past Grand Monarch of the Grottoes International in 1986. In 2001, he served as Imperial Chaplain of the Shriners International. He belonged to Allepo Shriners, Wilmington; Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Boston; and York Rite’s Saint Andrew’s Royal Arch Chapter, Boston, Boston Council, and Saint Bernard Commandery, Knights Templar No. 12, Boston.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Deware Funeral Home, 576 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02170, followed by a funeral service from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM. There will not be a Masonic Memorial Service.
