Most Worshipful Brother Matthew W Hill was born on June 26, I898, in Bozeman, Montana, the only child of Saxton and Mary Elma (Noe) Hill. When the family moved to Lester, Washington, in 1907, he attended a two-room school, later being graduated from Stadium High School, Tacoma. Enjoying the mental exhilaration of school and learning, his post-secondary education was at the University of Washington.His record at the UW was extensive. He was a member of the debating team, and Vice-President of the Associated Students. He was made a member of the Oval Club and Fir Tree, the upper class honorary societies; as well as being a member of Delta Upsilon, Phi Alpha Delta, and a number of other honorary fraternities. He graduated cum laude from the University of Washington in 1917 with a Bachelors of Law degree. He would receive his Juris Doctor from Seattle Pacific College.
It is said that our Most Worshipful Brother was one of those rare individuals who rose to the top or leadership of every group with whom he was associated. He was awarded the University of Washington Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1979; he was President of the University of Washington Alumni Association; he was a member of several honor societies, including the Order of the Coif; he was a Superior Court Judge. On January 13, 1947, he was appointed to serve on the State Supreme Court. He was Chief Justice of the Court from January 1957 to January 1959. He would retire from the Court on December 31, 1969.
Endowed with an inquisitive mind and a belief in the brotherhood of man, he was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason on September 9, 1924. He passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft Mason on January 22, 1925, and was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Meison on April 25 of the same year in St. John's Lodge No. 9. He served as Master of his Lodge in 1933.
Brother Hill served as Grand Orator in 1933-1934,and was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1937, advancing each year until being elected Grand Master in 1940. After serving as Grand Master, he was immediately appointed to the Jurisprudence Committee. During the following years, fifteen other Grand Masters would appoint or reappoint him to this important committee, many times as Chairman.
Outside of the Blue Lodge, he was honored by Masonic affiliated groups with the Thirty-third Degree, Scottish Rite, and membership in the Red Cross of Constantine by the Royal Arch. He was also a holder of the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope from the Boy Scouts of America and was honored by many other groups.
Most Worshipful Brother Matthew Hill was called from labor on February 28, 1989