Ray Vaughn Denslow, 33° PGM
(Mar 6, 1885-Sep 10, 1960)
Initiated & Passed, Censer Lodge #172, Macon, MO
1906 - Raised, Twilight Lodge #114, Columbia, MO for Censer Lodge
Member, Trenton Lodge #111, Trenton, MO
1912 - Master, Trenton Lodge #111, Trenton, MO
1919 - Appointed DDGM & DDGL 4th District
1931-32 - Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Missouri
Chairman of the Foreign Relief Committee, Masonic Service Association

1919 - 32° Consistory of Western MO, Kansas City
1925 - Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
1935 - Coroneted 33° Inspector General Honorary

1906 - Member, Macon Chapter #22, RAM
1909 - Member, Trenton Chapter #66 RAM, Trenton, MO
1909 - High Priest, Trenton Chapter #66 RAM, Trenton, MO
1919-20 - Grand High Priest, Missouri Grand Chapter, RAM
Solomon Council #26, Milan, MO
Trenton Council #37, Trenton, MO
Past Grand Recorder, Grand Council of Missouri
Immanuel Commandery #7, KT, Macon, MO
Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery #24, Trenton, MO
Red Cross of Constantine, St Joseph Conclave #9, St Joseph, MO

Alumnus: University of Missouri, Columbia
Interred: Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Trenton, Missouri

Brother Denslow was a true star of Missouri Masonry. As a co-publisher with his father of the Trenton Daily News, he left to become Assistant Postmaster in Trenton, MO until 1921. After this, he devoted his entire time to Masonic work, serving as Grand Master of the State of Missouri in 1931. His permanent contribution in the Masonic world was the creation of 'The Royal Arch Magazine' when he was General Grand High Priest of that organization in 1942. He was the editor from the beginning until 1946 when his son, William, became business manager. He and his son William, are only the 4th father and son combination to hold the office of Grand Master of Masons in Missouri and Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in Missouri.

RW Brother Denslow acted in his capacity as Chairman of the Foreign Relief Committee of the Masonic Service Association, in improving communications between Grand Lodges all over the world. He took an active part after WWII to investigate various reactivated Grand Lodges and helped establish their regularity, traveling to Europe in 1945 and in 1949 and reporting on post-war conditions there.

Most Worshipful Brother Denslow was also a prolific writer. Among the many writings he authored are the following books: Territorial Masonry, a Missouri Frontier Lodge, The Masonic Conservators, Royal Arch Masonry in Missouri, York Rite Encyclopedia, Freemasonry and the Presidency, The last days of the Grand Lodge of Austria, Where North meets South: A story of Freemasonry in Central America, Below the border: Royal Arch Masonry in Mexico, The story of Missouri councils-1949, Freemasonry in the Western Hemisphere-1953, Through Masonic windows: A review of Masonry for Missouri Masons-1961 and many more.

He was the first Grand Master of Missouri to open the Lodge out of state when he presided over a meeting at the dedication of the George Washington National Memorial on Wednesday May 11, 1932.