Dr. and Most Worshipful Brother Ralph Earl Tiejewas born on January 24, 1887, in Dayton, Ohio, to Henry A. Tieje, of German descent, and Katherine (Bell)Tieje. He was educated in the public schools of Dayton, and the University of Illinois, from which he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1910, Master’s degree in 1912, and Ph.D. in 1917.
He served Illinois University as assistant instructor in English from 1910-1912; he was instructor in English and Debate at Oklahoma A. & M. College from 1912-1913; instructor in English and Debate at Washington State College from 1913-1914; instructor in English at his Alma Mater from 1914-1916, as well as a Fellow in English at the same university from 1916-1917. A Shakespearean scholar and actor, he became Head of the Department of Language and Literature at the Eastern Washington College of Education in 1917, and its President – the first to have a Ph.D. – in 1939, from which position he retired in 1945.
Presently, the English Department at Eastern Washington University offers a scholarship in his name for upcoming seniors and English majors.
After his retirement from Eastern, he taught at the New York State College at Champlain, and also at the College of the Ozarks, in Arkansas. Later he spent 11 years in England.
Dr. Tieje came to his Masonic ideals and purposes, in part, through inheritance. His great grandfather, John N. Bell and his grandfather, John H. Bell, were prominent in Masonic circles, as well as in political and business circles in Montgomery County, Ohio.
He was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Temple Lodge No. 42, receiving his degree of Master Mason on May 21st, 1921, and was installed as Master of Temple Lodge in 1926, afterwards serving as Secretary of Temple Lodge from 1927 until June, 1936.
He served the Grand Lodge of Washington as Junior Grand Steward, 1926-27;Committee on Charity, 1929; Committee on Credentials, 1931; Junior Grand Warden, 1933; Senior Grand Warden, 1934; Deputy Grand Master, 1935, and was installed as Grand Master in 1936.
It is said that his scholarly attainments were manifest in his presentation of the purposes and principles of our Craft, in his profound understanding of Masonic philosophy. His thorough training in speech was shown in his inspirational interpretations of the meanings and values of Masonic living, as his experience as head of a department for twenty years in one of our State Colleges prepared him as a successful administrator of the affairs of the Grand Lodge of Washington.
Dr. and Most Worshipful Brother Ralph Earl Tieje passed this Earth, September 11, 1971, after an extended illness, at the age of 84 years, at Forest Grove, Oregon.