John Thomas Harding, 33° PP
(Nov 15, 1866-Aug 22, 1946)
Past Master, Osage Masonic Lodge #303. Nevada, MO

1904 - 32° Consistory of Western MO, Kansas City
1906-07 - Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection
1907- Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
1909 - Coroneted 33° Inspector General Honorary

Past High Priest of Nevada Royal Arch Chapter #56
Past Eminent Commander of O'Sullivan Commandery #15

1912 - Potentate, Ararat Shrine Temple

Occupation: Attorney
Interred: Forest Hill Cemetery

Brother John Harding grew up and obtained his education in the public schools of Vernon County, Missouri and the University of Missouri. In addition to this training he studied law with the firm of Burton & Wight at Nevada, Missouri. He was admitted to the bar in May 1889 and thereafter practiced law with Judge Charles G. Burton until in 1899 when he relocated to Kansas City to become a member of the firm of Brown, Harding & Brown. The partnership was eventually merged into the firm of Harding, Deatherage, Murphy & Stinson, and was widely engaged in corporate practice.

For many years Brother Harding was an art collector, having purchased several canvases in Europe. His collection of oil paintings is among the best in the middle west. Among them are the names of some well known masters, notably Corot, Troyon, Diaz, Mauve, Jean Jacques Henner, Bouguereau and Rico. He has a large collection of landscapes, painted by American masters, and among them are some by George Inness, Winslow Homer, Wyant, Tryon, Hassan.

Brother Hardin was a trustee of the Kansas City Fine Arts Institute and of the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He also was a trustee of the' Liberty Memorial Association and acted as chairman of the legal organization. Mr. Harding has been active in Masonry and is Past Master of Osage Masonic Lodge, Past High Priest of Nevada, Royal Arch Chapter, Past Eminent Commander of O'Sullivan Commandery, past Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection, Valley of Kansas City Scottish Rite, and past Illustrious Potentate of Ararat Shrine Temple. In 1911, he was awarded the 33° at the Scottish Rite Temple in Washington DC. Although he had an inclination toward politics he never ran for office but did serve as City Counselor during Kansas City Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden's administration.