The first Grand Master to die in office Clark James, the twenty-sixth Grand Master, was the first to die in office. James was a law graduate of Baylor University at Waco, Texas, but when he came to the Philippines in 1904 at the age of 34, he chose to be a teacher. After three years, however, he transferred to the treasury service in the Philippine Government, where he remained until his retirement 32 years later. In 1910, Clark knocked at the portals of the Fraternity and was made a Master Mason in Manila Lodge No.372. When he was transferred to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office in Malolos, Bulacan in 1918, he demitted from Manila Lodge and became a charter member of Malolos Lodge No. 46. He was again re-assigned the following year, this time as Provincial Treasurer of Pangasinan. He demitted from Malolos Lodge and helped organise Pangasinan Lodge No.50, becoming its first Senior Warden. Later, that is, in 1922, 1923, and 1927, he became Worshipful Master of the Lodge. In the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands in 1936, James was elected Junior Grand Warden. In 1937, 1938, and 1939, he was elected Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master, and Grand Master, respectively. Clark was born in McKinley, Collin County, Texas on December 1, 1870. In 1896, he was graduated at Baylor University at Waco, Texas. After graduation, he turned into school teaching and law practice in the United States. In 1909, he was admitted to the Philippine Bar, but he was not able to practice law because of his work in the Treasury Department. In June 1939, after serving as Provincial Treasurer of Pangasinan for 21 years, James retired from government service. He had the distinction of having been the last American to serve as Provincial Treasurer in this country. Clark died, after a lingering illness, on July 29, 1939, midway through his term as Grand Master. He was 69.