Past Grand High Priest
Heritage Jewel
MEC Milton Ray Benson, GHP, 1985-1986
MEC Rabi Kanoa Peifer, GHP, 2024-2025
After serving his term in office as Grand High Priest, MEC Rabi Peifer was honored to be presented with the PGHP jewel of MEC Milton Benson on May 9th, 2025 at the Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Washington.
The following history is from the Freemasons of Washington Facebook site posted on April 29, 2016.
Most Worshipful Grand Master Milton Ray Benson was born August 31, 1926, in Seattle. In 1933, his family moved to Tacoma where he attended school until 1944, when his family moved to Bremerton. He graduated from Bremerton High School and enlisted in the Navy but a childhood ear infection had left with a punctured eardrum from the then current treatment for mastoiditis and the Navy turned him down. He thereupon enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine and sailed the North Pacific and Alaska waters for the next three years, serving as a radio operator.
When his tour of duty in the Merchant Marine ended. Brother Benson returned to the Kitsap Peninsula area where he attended Olympic College in Bremerton before transferring to the University of Washington, He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1951. The young engineer was hired by Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company and spent the next three years working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In J 954, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and began a career with the Boeing Aircraft Company which lasted thirty-three years. Following his retirement from Boeing in 1989, he founded a successful engineering consulting firm.
In 1946, Brother Benson met Lyla Carlson and they were married in August of 1947. Milton and Lyla Benson became the parents for three girls and two boys. The family was always involved with Masonry.
Most Worshipful Brother Benson became a Master Mason on June 7, 1962, in Ark Lodge, No, 126, and served as its Worshipful Master in 1971. He received his first Grand Lodge appointment in 1972 as Senior Grand Steward and has served as a Grand Lodge officer, Deputy of the Grand Master, or Committeeman for the next eighteen years. His service included one year each as Grand Lecturer and Grand Historian and two years as Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 6.
Testimony to Most Worshipful Brother Benson's Masonic accomplishments were the numerous responsibilities he took on and the honors the Grand Lodge and Concordant Bodies have showered upon him. He became a Royal Arch Mason in Amity Chapter, No. 53, on March 23, 1972. He served as High Priest of that Chapter in 1976. Thereafter he held a number of appointive offices in Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Washington including that of District Deputy for the Grand High Priest. He served as the Most Excellent High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Washington in 1985-86. He was also a Past Illustrious Master of Seattle Council No. 6, Royal and Select Masters of Washington, Past Eminent Commander of Rainier Commandery No. 28, Knight Templar of Washington; Past Sovereign Master, Chinook Council No. 77, Allied Masonic Degrees; Past Father Noah, Puget Sound Lodge No 5, Royal Ark Mariners; Past Governor, Rainier College No. 54, Sovereign York Rite College of North America; Knight Regent and Purple Cross, York Rite Sovereign College of North America; Knight Commander, KCCH, Valley of Tacoma, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; Afifi Temple, Ancient Arabic Nobles of the Order of the Mystic Shrine; a member of the Afifi Shrine Brass Band, and Royal Order of Jesters, Court No. 104.
Brother Benson was also a member of the Missouri Lodge of Research; Southern California Lodge of Research; Thistle Clan, Royal Order of Scotland; St Alban's Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine; Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research, No. 281; Meriweather Lewis Chapter, National Sojourners; the Heroes of
'76, and the Philatethes Society.
Most Worshipful Brother Milton Ray Benson was a man who truly lives his Masonry and has served the Craft with devotion and honor. He was called from labor on December 12, 2011.
