Most Worshipful
Brother Obed Vanderburg 33°

Obed E Vanderburg was born January 4,1888 in Edwardsville, Illinois son of John and Lula Vanderburg. At the age of two the family moved to Chicago, Illinois where he attended the Quinn Chapel Sunday School and graduated from Mosely Elementary School in 1903. Obed and his family moved Marquette, Michigan where he graduated from Marquette High School in 1907. He returned to Chicago, Il. where he took the Civil Service examination for the United States Post Office and in 1908 he was appointed a Clerk, a position he held for forty-five years and retired from in 1954.

In 1912, he became a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. In 1918 he was join in Holy Matrimony to Eugene Tabias a union that lasted fifty-six years until her death in 1974. He became a Mason with the organization of Fidelity Lodge No. 103 in 1922. He was their first Worshipful Master and served two years. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master by Grand Master John C. Ellis. He was appointed a member of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge Jurisprudence Committee, he was elected Grand Lecturer, Grand Junior Warden, Deputy Grand Master, then Most Worshipful Grand Master of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1955. He served as Grand Master for eight years. He joined the Order of the Eastern stars and served as Worthy Patron of Venus Chapter No. 69. He was a member of the Western Consistory No. 28, Scottish Rite Masonry and was Past Commander - in - Chief. He was elevated to the 33 degree in 1947 and crowned an active in 1950. He was the oldest 33 degree Mason in the State of Illinois.

He served on the Committee of Revision and Publication of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Grand Lodge of Illinois and the Committee of Revision and Publication and Distribution of the Constitution of the Statues of the United Supreme Council Scottish Rite Masonry Northern Jurisdiction. He was Past Potentate of the Arabic Temple No. 44, Past Imperial Potentate of the Imperial Council A.E.A.O.N.M.S. He revived the Order of the Junior Craftsmen. Established the Grand Relief Fund for assistance in burials. He served as Grand Master with four Grand Matrons of the Order of the Eastern Star State of Illinois, cementing closer relationship with the Sisterhood.

In the past he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Urban League and the Washington Park Y.M.C.A. Since serving as a Grand Master, he has served continuously as Chairman on the Committee of Foreign Correspondence. On Thursday, June 25 1987 Obed E. Vanderburg departed this life.