Major Edward N. Eubank
Back during one of my years as serving as Worshipful Master of Edward N. Eubank Lodge, I received a call from a Brother R. Lamar Brown who resided at 422 Fenton Mill Rd. in Williamsburg, Va. He said he was related to Major Eubank by marriage and that he had newspaper clippings of Major Eubank’s funeral. He wanted to know if I was interested in them, and of course I said “yes”.
ED N. EUBANK, 92, SUCCUMBS
The date of his death was January 14, 1946
Funeral services for Major Ed N. Eubank, 92, a Pioneer resident of Newport News, who died at 5:05 yesterday morning at his residence, 2401 Orcutt Ave., will be held at 8 tonight at the Rouse-Carper Funeral Chapel, 236 Twenty-Fifth Street. Chaplin Paul K. Buckles, D.D., pastor on military leave from the First Presbyterian church, will conduct the rites. Burial will take place at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon at Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg.
Masonic Rites will be conducted at the graveside by members of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
A native of Lynchburg, where he was born on July 17, 1853, Major Eubank had resided in Newport News since 1896. His father was a veteran of the War Between the States.
Major Eubank worked as a reporter for a Lynchburg newspaper in his youth. For several years after arriving in Newport News he was employed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company. He then entered the United States Custom Service, continuing in the local customs house until his retirement in 1929. At one time he was an acting special deputy collector with the customs office here and worked with the office for over 30 years. Though never in the nation’s regular armed service, Major Eubank was enrolled in the militia for many years, and when he retired from the service (about 1925) he was a captain. He was one of the first Virginia National Guard Officers to be promoted a grade in rank under the provisions of a law enacted by Governor Harry F. Bird’s administration. He was at one time, Captain of the Lynchburg Home Guard, Virginia National Guard, and was an honorary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Major Eubank was past adjutant of the Wilkins-Edwards Post No. 176, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was affiliated as an officer in the Huntington Rifles. He also served as secretary of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.
Masonic Leader
Active nearly all his life in the Masonic Order, Major Eubank at one time was Grand Master of Mason’s in Virginia in 1902-1903, and was well know throughout Masonry in America. He was also a Past Worshipful Master of Hill City Lodge No. 183 in Lynchburg and was an honorary member of 10 other Virginia Masonic Lodges. Seven of those Lodges being in the 14th Masonic District.
He was a Past District Deputy Grand Master of District 14 in 1892-1893. He was a Past Patron of Emera Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
Major Eubank was probably on of the most informed men in Virginia concerning history in general and especially in military history and affairs. He had accumulated through the years an extensive library on these subjects, and it was almost impossible to ask him a question concerning military matters which he could not answer immediately in full detail.
In addition to his books on history and military affairs, Major Eubank had an extensive library of religious works. Deeply interested in music and the fine arts, he had a large collection of musical scores and was pronounced in his taste for the classics. He arranged for the music to be played at his funeral, designing the selections and who should play them.
Major Eubank had lost his wife to death, 25 years prior to his. He had been confined to his home almost completely since about 1937. About this time he suffered a foot injury in an automobile accident. The injury stubbornly refused to heal for many months and he was seen on the streets only occasionally.
In 1939 he suffered an attack of the grip, which with advancing age, robbed him of his strength and from that time on he was barely able to move about his home.
There are those who use their talents for wealth and others who use theirs for power. There are in sterner individuals, who, possessed of higher intellect, use their broad understanding and their knowledge for the adornment of their lives and the lives of their friends in a different sense and with a different estimate of success. This was Major Edward N. Eubank, rich in possession of a store of knowledge gathered over the years from extensive and intelligent reading and meticulous cataloging of events in his most retentive mind. Newspaper man, railroad man, customs man, military man, and last but not least a Mason. A Mason worthy of our emulation and respect.
I received the following from the Allen E. Roberts Masonic Library and Museum of Virginia, Inc. supporting the information that I previously communicated.
At the Grand Lodge, an Emergency Communication was called by Most Worshipful Earl C. Cunningham on behalf of the death of Most Worshipful Edward N. Eubank to be held in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 16, 1956. It is interesting to note the following Brethren from this area who were present:
J.D. Oglesby – Hill City Lo. No. 183 – PM & Secretary
J.F. Reeves – Hill City Lo. No. 183
E.K. Riddle – Hill City Lo. No. 183
W.C. Staples – Hill City Lo. No. 183 – PM
J.A. Steagall – Hill City Lo. No. 183
T.O. Sterling – Hill City Lo. No. 183
B.L. Woody – Hill City Lo. No. 183
T.J. Sublett – Marshall Lo. No. 39
S.R. Weigand – Marshall Lo. No. 39
At the funeral in Lynchburg the following Mason’s representing the Grand Lodge of Virginia were present:
Most Worshipful Earl C. Laningham – GM
Right Worshipful T. Penn Coleman – DGM
Right Worshipful Harold R. Stephenson – GSW
Right Worshipful C.E. Webber – GJW
Worshipful Harry R. Brown (Marshall 39) – GT
Most Worshipful James N. Hillman – GS
Right Worshipful A. Douglas Smith, Jr. – GSD
Right Worshipful Sylvester C. Freeman – GJD
Bro. C. Gray Roberson (Hill City 183) Chaplain, pro-tem
Right Worshipful R. Sumter Griffith – GSS
Right Worshipful T.Y. Houchins – GJS
Right Worshipful William A. James – G Mar.
Worshipful Walter H. Mann – G Tiler
And the following local Brethren:
Harry R. Brown – Hill City 183 – Treasurer
C.C. Candler – Hill City 183
E.P. Cunningham – Hill City 183
R.C. Gordon – Hill City 183
S.N. Lichtenstein – Hill City 183
Charles L. Lovell – Hill City 183
L.G. Mauer – Hill City 183
T.C. Coleman – Marshall 39
A.R. Ely – Marshall 39
C. Allen Evans – Marshall 39 – Secretary
R.W. Kinerien – Marshall 39
A Masonic Patriarch
In the passing of MW Eubank, Virginia Freemasonry lost its oldest Past Grand Master at that time. He was one of the most beloved and outstanding Masonic leaders. To MW Eubank, Masonry was not a hobby, but a real vital force in the affairs of men, to keep in motion the development and advancement of moral and spiritual values that go to build a better humanity. His big human heart always proved to be a magnet to draw all fellow associates to him.
He was the dean of PGM’s and he presided over its committee with dignity and sincerity. He viewed the committee as the “Senate” and it never deliberated without first asking the blessings of deity. He was staunch in his views of what was right, yet he was kind and gentle and never was heard saying anything vindictive against his fellowman. He knew how to sympathize with men in their misfortunes, even in their sins. Poor of purse but rich in love, hope and faith, his life was devoted to unselfish service to his fellowman. In his face, was to be found the map of honor, truth and loyalty.
No figure in Virginia Masonry had more import of righteousness and mercy, brotherhood and tolerance than did the man for whom our Lodge in named, Most Worshipful Edward N. Eubank.
Presented to Edward N. Eubank Lodge No. 262 on their Stated Communication, Founders Day program on September 9, 2008.
RW Lonnie L. Godfrey