Harry R. Virgin


Harry Rust Virgin was an American politician and freemason from Maine. Virgin, a Republican Party|Republican], served three terms in the Maine Legislature, including a term as the List of Presidents of the [Maine Senate|Maine Senate President]. He was the son of Colonel William Wirt Virgin of Rumford and Sarah Hall Cole from Norway, Maine. He lived in Portland, Maine, while serving in the legislature.

Political career

Virgin was first elected to Portland City Council. In 1898, he was elected to the Maine [House of Representatives]. Two years later, he was elected to the Maine Senate. Following re-election to that body in 1902, he was chosen Senate President for his third and final term. His father also had served as Senate President. William and Henry Virgin are the only father-son duo to both hold that position in Maine history.

Freemasonry

Virgin was heavily involved in Freemasonry, Knights [Templar (Freemasonry)], and Scottish Rite. He became a master mason at the Ancient Land-Mark Lodge No. 17 in Portland, Maine on January 13, 1888. He served as the Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Maine, Knights Templar (Freemasonry), in 1909. He received the 32° as a Scottish Rite mason on January 31, 1889. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Maine Sovereign Consistory from 1919 to 1922. He was crowned an active member of the Supreme Council, [Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction, USA|Supreme Council, Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction], on September 22, 1921 and served as the Deputy for Maine from 1925 to 1930.