CHAPTER XXXV

THE MASONS AND ODD FELLOWS

MASONRY IN MICHIGAN-MONROE'S FIRST GRAND LODGE-FIRST LOCAL LODGE-FIRST WORTHY MASTER, SENECA ALLEN-MONROE LODGE No. 27-DUNDEE LODGE NO. 74-MONROE COMMANDERY No. 5, No. 4 AND No. 19-ROYAL ARCH MASONS LODGES OUTSIDE THE CITY-HONORS TO MONROE MASONS-FIRST ODD FELLOWS LODGE-LINCOLN LODGE No. 190, I. O. O. F.

The full and exact number of the secret societies of Monroe is made up from the latest information received from the secretaries, up to the time of the publication of this history: Monroe Commandery of Knights Templar; Monroe Lodge of F. & A. M.; German Workingmen's Association; Knights of Pythias; Valentine Lodge No. 209, Knights of the Maccabees; Custer Tent No. 116, Catholic Knights and Ladies of America; Lotus Lodge; Degree of Honor; German Aid Society; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Monroe Lodge No. 19, German Beneficial Order; Monroe Council No. 1266, Knights of Columbus; St. Michael's Commandery No. 93; Knights of St. John, Monroe Camp No. 8066; Modern Woodmen of America; Royal Arch Masons, River Raisin Chapter No. 22; Order of Eastern Star, Monroe Chapter No. 266; Pythian Sisters, Monroe Temple No. 85; Ladies of the Maccabees, Floral City Hive No. 519; Ladies of the Maccabees, O. T. W. Lotus Monroe Hive No. 60; Ladies Catholic Benefit Association, Monroe Branch No. 587; all of these have well appointed lodge rooms either independently, or jointly with others.

MASONRY IN MICHIGAN.

Organized masonry has a history in Michigan dating back to the year 1764. Historical material accumulated around the mystic temple of the order, unfortunately not in a consecutive record, nor preserved in permanent forms, but it has existed in fragmentary papers and documents, which has necessitated, on the part of the historian, no little research and persistent labor to rescue the mass of material from permanent loss, and to prepare it in a form to establish facts, dates and historical landmarks in the true order of masonic chronology.

We have no written history of masonry in Michigan prior to 1826— and this record, covering the period from 1826 to 1844, is fragmentary, and much of it, not susceptible of verification. Indeed, it is not expected that any history of the early masonic proceedings and events, however complete and accurate, will change in any important particular the present masonic situation, but it must be peculiarly gratifying to those interested in this ancient order, to know something of the circumstances of their beginnings.

* Much of the following facts are furnished by Sir Knight Diffinbaugh, a prominent Mason of Monroe.

A man ignorant of his parentage, or of the claim of title by which he holds valuable property may not be greatly benefitted, nor need he be much disturbed if he does or does not possess the minutia of knowledge concerning it, but it is hardly conceivable that he will fail to be interested in some degree in his genealogy and in the right to hold his possessions undisturbed. Equally so, it must be conceded that resident Masons should feel interested in knowing the time and the circumstances of the first planting of masonry in our Commonwealth, and by what authority. We must go back to the year 1753 for this. In that year Hon. John Proby in the Kingdom of Ireland was the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. On June 9th of that year, Grand Master Proby appointed and commissioned George Harrison to be provincial Grand Master of the Province of New York. This appointment or "deputation" as it was then termed, was announced to the New York brethren, assembled in Grand Lodge on December 26, 1753.

Grand Master Harrison of New York issued a warrant on April 27, 1764, to Zion Lodge No. 1 of Detroit, by which name it was known and registered as No. 448, on the registry of England. This original warrant was afterwards found and is now preserved in the archives of the Grand Lodge of New York. The records of the Grand Lodge of New York of September 5, 1821, show that a warrant was granted to Detroit Lodge No. 337. March 7, 1822, a charter was granted to Oakland Lodge No. 343 of Pontiac, Michigan. September 1, 1824, a warrant was granted to Menominee No. 374 of Green Bay, Wisconsin Territory. On December 1, 1824, the same records furnish the following item: To Seneca Allen, and others to hold a lodge in the town of Monroe, Monroe county, Territory of Michigan, by the name of Monroe Lodge.

MICHIGAN'S FIRST GRAND Lodge

The movement which resulted in the formation of our first Grand Lodge was initiated by Zion Lodge No. 1 of Detroit (then No. 3) at a regular meeting held August 1, 1825, and soon thereafter, a call was made for a convention by a joint committee from Zion No. 1 and Detroit No. 337. This convention met in Detroit on June 24, 1826. The lodges represented were Zion by three delegates; Detroit, two delegates; Menominee, two proxies, and Monroe, one delegate, who was Colonel J. Anderson, all chartered by the Grand Lodge of New York as previously stated. June 11, 1827, at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of New York, a resolution was introduced, recognizing it as a Grand Lodge.

FIRST LOCAL LODGE

It is established by the records that the first Masonic lodge organized in Monroe, was Monroe Lodge No. 375, the officers of which were publicly installed on St. John the Baptist's day, June 24, 1825. The only public hall in which these exercises could be held, in the village, at that time, was the court room of the first court house built in the county, after its organization in 1817. This was a building constructed of hewn logs clapboarded and painted yellow, which stood on the southwestern quarter of the public square, near the present site of the First Presbyterian church. On the celebration of this public service the veteran Reverend Noah Wells, a Presbyterian minister of Monroe, officiated as chaplain. He was at the time of his death the oldest living minister of that denomination in America, at the age of nearly one hundred years. In this meeting were many of the prominent men of the city and county, which gave the old lodge a high standing for its personnel, such as Colonel John Anderson, Hiram Brown, Dr. Conant, Charles Noble, A. C.

Chapman, Isaac Lewis and others.

A banquet was served after the installation, at the Exchange Hotel, by its proprietor Mr. Chapman. The Exchange at that time was a noted hotel in Michigan-which was destroyed by fire, in 1852. The following officers were duly installed: Seneca Allen, W. M.; Hiram Brown, S. W.; Harry Conant, J. W.; John Anderson, treasurer; Chas. Noble, secretary.

FIRST WORTHY MASTER, SENECA ALLEN

Seneca ·Allen left several children. A son, Harmon Allen, was a member of Milan Lodge No. 323, in 1891. He was a surveyor from 1827 until his death. He surveyed and platted the City of Toledo, Ohio, in 1831, also the villages of Trenton and Flat Rock in Wayne county, Michigan. He was for some years clerk of the Territorial Council of Michigan. In 1826, Mr. Allen was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge and reelected to the same office in 1827.

On the 17th of September, 1844, pursuant to a resolution of the first Grand Lodge of Michigan, acting under new charters received from the Grand Lodge of New York for the subordinate lodges in Michigan Territory, was organized the present Grand Lodge of Michigan, re-electing General Lewis Cass Grand Master; the Grand Lodge of New York having refused to recognize the organization under and by virtue of what she pleased to denominate "The defunct lodges of Michigan Territory."

MONROE LODGE No. 27

On the 5th of July, 1848, Monroe Lodge, No. 27, was organized by authority of a dispensation issued by Judge E. Smith Lee, Grand Master to Brother Isaac Lewis, Worshipful Master; Brother John Burch, Senior Warden; Brother George Kirkland, Junior Warden, and Brothers Walter P. Clark, George W. Crispin, Thomas Leonard, James Q. Adams, Jefferson G. Thurber, Daniel B. Miller and Riley Ingersoll.

After opening they held an election with the following result, viz.: Brother Isaac Lewis, Worshipful Master; Brother John Burch, Senior Warden; Brother George Kirkland, Junior Warden; Brother Daniel B. Miller, Treasurer; Brother Jefferson G. Thurber, Secretary; Brother Geo. W. Crispin, Tyler.

They convened in what was then known as "Odd Fellows Hall,' but subsequently, and for many years, Zion church (Lutheran), southwest corner of First and Cass streets, which has since given way to Zion church school building. At this meeting Jefferson G. Thurber was appointed to draft a set of by-laws for the lodge, and Brothers Isaac Lewis, John Burch and George Kirkland to negotiate for a suitable hall in which to meet.

The first applicant for membership in Monroe Lodge No. 27 was Walter W. Prentice on July 12, 1848. At the same time Past Master H. W. Campbell was admitted by demit. The corner stone of the first Union school was laid by this lodge in 1858, which was the first ceremony of this kind in Monroe.

Eureka Lodge No. 107 was organized in 1858, and was granted a charter at a meeting of the Grand Lodge January 14, 1858. Its first lodge room was in the Main Singer building, southwest corner of First and Monroe streets. On January 12, 1892, it surrendered its charter and consolidated with Monroe Lodge No. 27.

The several homes of No. 27 have been as follows: Its first home or lodge room was at the corner of First and Cass streets where it remained until January, 1853, when the lodge moved to a building upon the site now occupied by the Enteman building at the head of Washington street.

The next move was to a hall in the S. B. Wakefield building now occupied by J. L. Hofman; this was in April, 1859. The lodge remained in this building until January, 1873, when they moved into the Sill building, now occupied by the Monroe laundry. This was occupied by Eureka Lodge No. 107, the Monroe Lodge renting jointly with them; the next and final move was to the present quarters, which occurred in April, 1881. Monroe Lodge, by reason of the prestige of her early organization, long and honorable career, the high character of her membership and the excellent record which she has maintained for upholding all the virtues for which masonry stands, has been the rallying body for the craft in the county; so it has been active and judicious in its fraternal capacity in organizing other lodges in the city and county, and establishing a standard that has drawn to the order many of the most substantial and worthy men of the community.

The first death in the ranks of Monroe Lodge, was that of Dan B. Miller on January 11, 1853. None of those who took part in that, the first masonic funeral in Monroe, is now living. Mr. Miller was a prominent man in the business circles of the city, and one of the founders of Trinity Episcopal church.

DUNDEE Lodge No. 74

A petition for the organization of a lodge at Dundee was presented November 1, 1854, and two weeks later Dundee Lodge No. 74 was organized in that village, being the second in the county.

Washington's birthday in 1856 was observed by Monroe Lodge by a banquet, and by a masonic address by Rev. R. Blinn. They were joined in this celebration of the day by the Cass Guards and Germania Fire Company, both organizations parading with full ranks and in full uniform. The lodge had removed from the building on the corner of Cass and First streets for a few years, afterwards removing to the second floor of James Armitage's store on Front street.

MONROE COMMANDERIES No. 5, No. 4 And No. 19

This commandery was organized under a charter from the Grand Commandery of New York, and remained in that number and under that authority until April 5, 1857, when the Grand Commandery of Michigan was formed, at which time its former number was changed to No. 4, and its records surrendered at a special session of the Grand Commandery held January, 1860, a resolution was adopted authorizing No. 4 to hold special meetings at Adrian, Michigan, and from this time forth no meetings were held in Monroe as nearly all of its members were serving in the Union army in the Civil war.

During the spring of 1860, the old Masonic Hall on Washington street, was destroyed by fire, and with it was lost all their property and effects, except such as were in Adrian. This was a severe loss to the commandery as well as to many of the Sir Knights, personally. At a session of Grand Commandery, on June 3, 1863, a resolution was passed, providing that the location of the Monroe Commandery No. 4 be removed to Adrian and its name and number changed to Adrian No. 4.

Strenuous efforts were now made to procure a dispensation constituting our present Commandery No. 19, which were successful, and on June 30, 1868, a charter was granted to Monroe Commandery No. 19.

At the regular session of Grand Commandery, held June 5, 1860, the dues of Monroe No. 4 were remitted on account of the above mentioned fire. This was probably somewhere near the date of the death of Monroe No. 4, as I find that they were not represented in Grand Com

mandery, although Rev. D. B. Tracy, of New Baltimore, was elected Grand Captain General, and was at the time a member of Monroe No. 4.

At session of Grand Commandery in June, 1862, No. 4 was represented by W. F. King, of Adrian, as proxy for Commandery. At this session, it was "Resolved, That in the event of Monroe Commandery, No. 4, failing to recover their charter, a new one be granted free of charge. The old charter was not burned at Masonic Hall, as it was found several years afterwards at the house of S. G. Clark, while looking over the effects of James Darrah, his brother-in-law, who had died in the army, and was by him given to Thos. Norman, who sent it to Adrian.

On June 3, 1863, at 10:00 A. M., the following resolution was passed in Grand Commandery: "Resolved, That the location of Monroe Commandery, No. 4, be removed to the city of Adrian and the name changed to Adrian Commandery, No. 4." This was the burial of knightly hopes in this city for the time being.

After much labor on the part of a few Sir Knights of Monroe, a dispensation was procured December 16, 1867, for our present commandery, and D. B. Tracy was named therein as the first eminent commander under dispensation, and on the 3d day of June, 1868, a charter was granted Monroe, No. 19.

On the 23d of December, 1867, the first conclave of Monroe Commandery, No. 19, was held in old Masonic Hall, over F. S. Sill's store, with D. B. Tracy as eminent commander and Chas. Toll as recorder, The next conclave was held February 6, 1868, and several companions elected to take the orders. On February 20, 1868, the orders were conferred on Companions Frank Raleigh, Geo. R. Hurd, W. J. Manning and A. F. Eiseman in the order named, constituting them the first who received the orders in Monroe, No. 19.

September 3, 1868, the first meeting was held under the present number charter, and officers elected as follows: A. I. Sawyer, eminent commander; H. Shaw Noble, generalissimo; Frank Raleigh, captain general; G. R. Hurd, prelate; Thos. Norman, senior warden; Geo. Spalding, junior warden; Chas. Toll, recorder; Constant Luce, treasurer; R. W. Figg, standard bearer; John Lane, sword bearer; Joseph Waltman, warder; A. F. Eiseman, sentinel. These officers were duly installed on November 5, 1868.

The next election and installation of officers was held March 4, 1869, and regularly on the first Thursday of the month next preceding Good Friday from that date to this.

ROYAL ARCH MASONS

River Raisin Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., was instituted March 18, 1859, under a dispensation by Salathiel C. Coffinbury, M. E. Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of R. A. M., of the State of Michigan, dated March 7, 1859, to the following named companions as charter members: James Darrah, D. B. Tracy, B. J. Thayer, W. Corbin, Thomas Norman, Constant Luce, John H. Wolcott, B. H. Curtis, and W. P. Christianey; with James Darrah, first M. E. H. P.; D. B. Tracy, first M. E. King, and B. J. Thayer, first E. Scribe.

The records show that Lewis Friedenberg was the first to make application for the degrees of the chapter, on March 18, 1859, and Companions Dansard, Friedenberg and Meyerfeld the first team exalted, and Butts, Wakefield and Eiseman the second, both being exalted on same date, April 22, 1859. May 13th Companion Dansard was appointed the first regular secretary.