William Caleb Loring illustrated envelope collection, 1861-1898

William Caleb Loring, 33°, (1925 - 2011) was a distinguished Freemason who served as a trustee for several institutions, including the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, which was then known as the National Heritage Museum. Loring was born on June 25, 1925, in his family’s home at Pride’s Crossing, a neighborhood in Beverly, Massachusetts, to Augustus Peabody Loring, Jr., (1883 - 1951) and Rosamond (Bowditch) Loring (1889 - 1950). He attended the Dexter School of Brookline, Massachusetts, and continued his secondary education at the Groton School. While at Groton, Loring excelled in academics and sports, notably football, baseball, hockey, and skiing. In Loring’s final year at Groton, he was drafted into the United States Coast Guard and served until late 1946, after which he was honorably discharged. In December of 1946, he married Agnes Waller (1925 - 2020) and began his undergraduate studies at Harvard College.

After graduating from Harvard in 1950, Loring worked as a trustee for three organizations: State Street Bank (1950-1971), the Boston law firm of Choat, Hall, and Stewart (1971-1977), and the Naumkeag Bank & Trust of Salem, Massachusetts (1978-1981). A member of the United States Naval Reserves, he was called away from his professional duties to serve in the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1952, when for the second time he was honorably discharged from the military. Upon his return from Korea, Loring served as an alderman for the City of Beverly from 1954 to 1956 and became the chairperson of its finance committee. In retirement, Loring continued to serve on the boards of several institutions, including the Salem Athenaeum, the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, and the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library (previously named the National Heritage Museum). He was a congregant of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he served as a lay reader.

Loring was raised a Master Mason in the Lodge of St. Andrew in Boston on September 23, 1954, and served as its Worshipful Master from 1961 to 1964 and again from 1972 to 1973. He also was affiliated with Manchester Lodge in Manchester, Massachusetts, as well. Loring served as the Deputy District Grand Master for the First Masonic District of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1975 and 1976. He was elected as the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1982. Loring became a member of St. Paul Chapter, Royal Arch Chapter, on January 17, 1961; a member of Boston Council, Royal & Select Masters, on February 25, 1982; and knighted in St. Bernard Commandery, No. 12, Knights Templar, on April 12, 1961. He served as Commander of St. Bernard Commandery in 1988. In addition to these many Masonic honors, he was a member of Aleppo Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., Royal Order of Jesters, and the Societas Rosicruciana.

On September 3, 2002, William Caleb Loring, 33°, was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.