Flushing Masonic Temple
349 S. Seymour Rd.
Flushing, MI 48433-2619

Email: secretary@genesee174.org

Under the Jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Michigan

A Brief History of the Grand Lodge of Michigan

Freemasonry in Michigan was organized in 1826 and was operating several years before our State was admitted to the Union. However, Freemasonry, as we know it today, dates its formal beginnings to the 17th century.

Therefore if you petition, and are accepted, you will become a member of the oldest fraternity in the world.

While we cannot claim that Freemasonry came to the Great Lakes area on any specific date, we know that it was first brought to the area by the French at a time when it was Indian territory. The earliest documented Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains was warranted in Detroit on April 27, 1764, by George Harison, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York, with Lt. John Christie of the 2nd Battalion, 60th Royal American Foot Regiment (British) as Worshipful Master. By 1772, there were at least three Lodges functioning at Detroit: Lodge No. 1 and two Irish Military Lodges, Nos. 299 and 378, warranted to Masons of the 10th Regiment, then stationed at Detroit. The next three Lodges warranted for work in Michigan were also started by members of the visiting military. These were Harmony Lodge in Detroit, St. Johns Lodge No. 15 on the island of Mackinac and Zion Lodge No. 10 (now No. 1) warranted in 1794 for work in Detroit.

BRIEF HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN MICHIGAN

A. EARLY MICHIGAN MASONRY

Freemasonry in Michigan had its genesis on April 27, 1764, when a warrant was issued for the first Masonic lodge in the territory of Michigan by Provincial Grand Master George Harison of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York (English Modems) to a group of Military Masons of the 60th Foot Regiment headed by Lieutenant John Christie, Worshipful Master; Samuel Fleming, Senior Warden and Josias Harper, Junior Warden. Provincial Grand Master Harison was Deputized by the Right Worshipful John Probyd, the Grand Master of England, Baron of Carysford, in the County of Wicklow, in the Kingdom of Ireland. The deputation was dated 9 June, 1753, in London, England. The meetings of Detroit's first Lodge were held in the old blockhouse. Our pioneer Brethren improvised such crude, scanty furniture as was necessary to the proper functioning of the Lodge. The room was poorly lighted by a few small windows. There were no luxurious seats or richly carpeted floors, no mural decorations nor expensive organ. Like so many of the world's old Lodges, the only items extant today of the existence of Lodge No. 1 are the original Warrant, a copy of a Masonic certificate and a few old letters, from which we must piece together the story of the first thirty years of Freemasonry in this vast wilderness, then known as the Michigan Territories. For example, on 18 August, 1767, a Masonic certificate attesting to the initiation, passing and raising of Brother Thomas Robinson and recommending him to "any community" was issued by Union Lodge of Detroit, No. 1, and signed by Samuel Fleming, W.M.; Richard McNeall and William Edgar, Wardens and sealed by Ben. James, Secretary. (Thomas Robinson was a Captain in the British Navy and carried this certificate to his death on Mar. 27, 1806.) From this certificate we learn that the name of the first lodge in Detroit was Union Lodge and Samuel Fleming succeeded John Christie as W.M.

The Irish Influence By 1772, there were at least two other lodges functioning at Detroit, both Irish Military Lodges: No. 299 was warranted August 3, 1756, by the Grand Lodge of Ireland to Richard Withers, Lieutenant John Luke, Sergeant Robert McCutchin and six others. It was in America from 1767 to 1778 and in Detroit from 1771 to 1775. This Lodge registered 54 new members with the Grand Lodge of Ireland up to 1803. The Warrant was cancelled in 1818. No. 378 received its Warrant from Ireland November 5, 1761, and the grantees were Thomas Grubb, John Hutton and Thomas Milligan. Twenty-seven new members were registered up to 1765. The Warrant was cancelled in 1815. As we will see below, the first five Lodges of our Grand Lodge were given life by the Grand Lodge of New York which is of Antient origin. In spite of this, the drama of our Master Mason Degree definitely has an Irish flavor, and we can only conclude that the short visitations of these Irish Military Lodges left an indelible imprint on our Masonic ceremonies.

Zion Lodge No. 10 (now No. 1).  Zion Lodge No. 10 secured its warrant from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lower Canada (English Antients) on September 7, 1794, at which time Detroit was still an important British Military Post. It was the Masons of the 4th Battalion, Royal Artillery, who sought and received this warrant. There is no evidence of any continuity from the earlier Lodges - these men had been residents of Detroit only a few short months and apparently there were no joining members who were ever on the roster of a former Detroit Lodge. The records of Zion Lodge begin December 19, 1794 and are virtually continuous thereafter. Zion transferred its allegiance to the independent Grand Lodge of New York (Antients origin) July 7, 1807, and became dormant during the war of 1812, and renewed its charter with New York on April 9, 1816. Through the years, Zion Lodge mothered Lodges at River La Tranche and Amherstburgh in Upper Canada and encouraged the establishment of a Royal Arch Chapter, Monroe Chapter No. 1, R.A.M. which was organized April 21, 1818. By 1821, the influx of new settlers to the Territory of Michigan created a larger demand for Freemasonry, and Zion Lodge supported petitions from four new Lodges in rapid succession.

Detroit Lodge No. 337 (now No. 2) On August 17, 1821, Zion Lodge supported a petition to the Grand Lodge of New York from Brothers to form a neighboring Lodge in Detroit, and on September 5, 1821, the Grand Lodge of New York granted a warrant to the petitioners under the name of Detroit Lodge No. 337. For the subsequent thirty years, these two Lodges shared Freemasonry in Detroit.

Oakland Lodge No. 343 (now No. 3) On February 7, 1822, a petition was forwarded together with support from Zion Lodge from Brothers in Oakland County to receive a warrant for a Lodge in Pontiac. On March 7, 1822, a warrant was granted by the Grand Lodge of New York to form Oakland Lodge No. 343, and the Lodge was instituted on July 16, 1822. The early days of Oakland Lodge were rather difficult ones since the county was sparsely populated and considerable poverty could be seen on all sides. On several occasions, the Grand Lodge of New York was moved by several appeals to remit the Lodge's dues, even as late as 1825.

Menomanie Lodge No. 374 First Lodge West of the Great Lakes On the first Monday of May, 1824, Zion Lodge cordially supported a petition from several Brothers stationed with the Army in Green Bay, (now Wisconsin) for a warrant. Again, this was granted on September 1, 1824, for Menomanie Lodge No. 374 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of New York. By the close of 1825, twenty-seven new members were reported. The Lodge was kept alive until 1830, when because of the removal of the regiment stationed at Fort Howard, whose officers were the main support of the Lodge, it was compelled to discontinue working and finally disappeared from the Masonic scene.

Monroe Lodge No. 375 On December 4, 1824, the Grand Lodge of New York issued a warrant, following receipt of a petition and letters of support from both Zion and Detroit Lodges, for Monroe Lodge No. 375 to operate in the town of Monroe. This Lodge, which assisted in the formation of the Grand Lodge of Michigan in 1826, suspended its labors in 1829 during the anti-Masonic period and never again took up its working tools.

B. FORMATION OF FIRST GRAND LODGE

Sixty-two years were to pass from the formation of the first Lodge in Michigan before any action was taken to form a Grand Lodge in the vast Territory of Michigan. (There simply were not enough Lodges to warrant it.) It was during a meeting of Detroit Lodge No. 337, held on July 26, 1825, that a discussion was had regarding unifying the Lodges then in operation in the Territory. Zion No. 10, Detroit No. 337, Oakland No. 343, Menomanie No. 374 and Monroe No. 375 (all constituents of the Grand Lodge of New York) met on June 13, 1826, and the formation convention was held on June 24, 1826; subsequently, the following Grand Lodge Officers were elected: Lewis Cass, M.W. Grand Master; Andrew G: Whitney, R.W. Deputy G.M.; Seneca Allen, R.W. Senior Grand Warden; Leonard Weed, R.W. Junior Grand Warden; John L. Whiting, R.W. Grand Secretary; Henry J. Hunt, R.W. Grand Treasurer; Smith Weeks, R.W. Grand Chaplain; John E. Swartz, Grand Pursivant; and Samuel Sherwood, Grand Tyler They were installed on December 27, 1826 (St. John's Day). Lewis Cass was Territorial Governor of Michigan (1813-1831) and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1810. The Lodges of the Northwest Territory were then renumbered as follows: Zion No. 10 = Zion No. 1 Detroit No. 337 = Detroit No. 2 Oakland No. 343 = Oakland No. 3 Menomanie No. 374 = Menomanie No. 4 Monroe No. 375 = Monroe No. 5 The Grand Lodge met in session in 1826, 1827 and 1829 during which times petitions for other Lodges were received and granted; specifically for Western Star Lodge No. 6 in Ann Arbor and Stoney Creek Lodge, U.D. in the village of Stoney Creek, County of Oakland. Grand Master Cass signed the dispensation authorizing Stoney Creek Lodge to meet and work on January 9, 1828. It is of interest that this is the last known record of the work of this first Michigan Grand Lodge, although it is well known that at least one more meeting was held. Thus the last recorded act of the Grand Master of this Grand Lodge was to give birth to the only Lodge that kept up its meetings during the eleven years of inactivity that followed and formed the only living link connecting Michigan Masonry of the first quarter of the nineteenth century to the Freemasonry of today. This was a providential act which preserved from extinction the Masonic institution in Michigan, as will be noted below. Michigan at this time was having an immense immigration from the eastern states, and especially from New York. These newcomers brought with them the intense and bitter prejudice against Masonry which was sweeping over the eastern portions of the country. The so-called "Morgan Affair" was at its height, and so bitter were the feelings that it was hardly safe for a man to be known as a Mason. It entered into all social, business, religious and political life - families were divided, church fellowships rent in twain, and business interests sacrificed. In the midst of such times, a meeting of the Grand Lodge was held some time in 1829, the exact date unknown, and it was resolved to suspend all Masonic work until the excitement should be allayed. The Lodges were asked to suspend labor, and all promptly acceded to the request except plucky Stoney Creek Lodge, which continued its meetings. To comprehend the events which led to the suspension of Masonic work in Michigan in 1829, and the almost absolute silence that prevailed until the year 1840, the reader is now transported to Western New York State and given a brief history of the event which shook the Masonic institution in America to its very foundations.

C. THE MORGAN AFFAIR

William Morgan was born in Culpepper County, Virginia on August 7, 1774, and by trade was a brick and stone mason. Subsequently, he was a trader in Richmond.. He married Lucinda Pendleton, the oldest daughter of Rev. Joseph Pendleton, a Methodist minister and planter in Washington County, VA in October, 1819. Morgan moved from Virginia in 1821 and apparently became a brewer near York, Upper Canada. The brewery was destroyed by fire and Morgan moved to Rochester, N.Y., with his wife and two children, and resumed the business of stonemason. From thence he went to Batavia, Genesee County, a town of 1,400 inhabitants and from there he disappeared. In what Lodge, if any, William Morgan received his degrees in Masonry is not known; but he was a visitor in Wells Lodge, No. 282, in Batavia, established in 1817. He received the Royal Arch Degree at Le Roy, N.Y., May 31, 1825. Morgan signed a petition to obtain a charter for a Royal Arch Chapter in Batavia in 1826, but unbeknownst to him one of the petitioners objected and a revised application was made without his name. Rumor has it that when he found out about the switch that he vowed to publish the secrets of Masonry in his now famous "Illustrations." He was to be aided in this by his friend, David C. Miller, a local printer and publisher of the Republican Advocate. Rumor further had it that several Masons vowed to stop him. On the morning of September 10, 1826, Nicholas G. Chesebro, Master of the Lodge at Canandaigua, and one of the Coroners of Ontario County, obtained a warrant for the arrest of William Morgan on a charge of stealing a shirt and cravat from innkeeper Kingsley. The next morning, Morgan was arrested on the street and taken to the inn at Stafford, whereupon his friend, D.C. Miller offered to put up bail that he would not leave the jail limits; but Morgan apparently consented to go to Canandaigua, fifty miles from Batavia, saying that he could convince Mr. Kingsley, the prosecutor, that he did not intend to steal the shirt and cravat. Morgan was examined by the magistrate, Loton Lawson appearing for him, and he was discharged. Morgan was immediately rearrested on a claim against him for $2.68, due Aaron Ackley, an innkeeper. Morgan admitted the debt, confessed judgment, and offered his coat as security. This was refused and Morgan locked up. On the following evening, September 12, 1826, Morgan was released by a person claiming to be from Pennsylvania. It is assumed from testimony taken later before officers of the State, that Morgan was carried, willingly or otherwise, by carriage and relays of horses, through towns and villages designated Victor, Rochester, Clarkson, Gaines, Wright's Tavern, Molineux Tavern, Lewiston (a thickly populated country), a distance of over 100 miles in 24 hours, and securely lodged in the magazine of Fort Niagara, where he was still known to be on September 17, 1826. Morgan was never to be seen again. The Masons involved, claimed that they had given Morgan money, taken him to Canada, and in exchange he agreed never to return. The anti- Masons claimed that they had exacted the so-called Masonic penalties. No body fitting Morgan's description was ever found (the body buried under the monument in his honor in Batavia is not that of William Morgan), despite a reward of two thousand dollars offered by the Governor of New York State; but sightings of Morgan were reported nearly everywhere outside of the United States for many years thereafter. The uproar occasioned by this event spread all over the country. An anti-Masonic convention of the twelve western counties of New York was held at Le Roy on March 6 and 7, 1827, which was attended by about eighty delegates, many denunciatory speeches were made, anti-Masonic resolutions approved and a Central Committee of Correspondence and Publication appointed. This committee succeeded beyond its wildest dreams - on July 4, 1828, a mass meeting of seceding Masons and others was held and an anti-Masonic declaration was signed by one hundred and three former Masons. Such scenes as these were repeated all over the country. Anti-Masonic feelings were being whipped into a frenzy. Small wonder then that in Michigan where such a large proportion of the people were flocking from western New York, the intense bitterness and malignant opposition to Masonry should shake the pillars of the institution and cause its almost total annihilation!

Stoney Creek Lodge No. 7. Upon receiving their dispensation from M.W. Grand Master Cass the members of Stoney Creek Lodge No. 7 repaired to the log school which had been built in 1825-26, and held a public installation of officers. For a time the Lodge met in the home of Nathaniel Millerd, but the church of which Brother Millerd was a member, became so outspoken and bitter in its denunciation of Masonry that, for the sake of peace, he asked the Lodge to remove to the home of another member. This was done twice in order to keep the Lodge alive and active. Brother Daniel B. Taylor, the Tiler, was the member most active and most persistent in keeping the Lodge active through those trying years. The Lodge conferred degrees in 1833 - 34 and raised at least one Master Mason in 1834. On Lodge nights, as soon as the stage arrived bringing the mail, Brother Taylor would get his newspaper and wend his way to the Lodge room. On arriving there, he would place a lighted candle in the window and sit down to read. If no one else came, he waited the usual time "to close the Lodge." Then he would blow out the candle, lock the door and go home. The report filed by Stony Creek Lodge in 1841 indicates that the Lodge also met in Orionville, probably at the tavern of Jesse Decker.

D. THE SECOND GRAND LODGE

As the Morgan incident began to die out, a meeting of Masons was held at Mt Clemens on November 13, 1840, to review the condition of the Craft in the State of Michigan. Several more meetings were held at Detroit, finally with Stoney Creek No. 7, Oakland No. 5 and Lebanon, U.D. (Martin Davis, the J.G.W. of the original Grand Lodge had issued a dispensation to the brethren of Mt. Clemens to form Lebanon Lodge) represented, to discuss the revival of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, and Levi Cook, a Past Master of Detroit No. 2 was elected Grand Master (although Detroit Lodge No. 2 was not active at the beginning of the revival). On June 21, 1841, the officers of the Grand Lodge were installed except for Brother Levi Cook, the Grand Master elect, who declined. Brother Leonard Weed, the Deputy Grand Master elect, served in his stead and installed the remaining officers and was also installed and served as Deputy (and Acting) Grand Master in 1842. John Mullet was elected Grand Master in 1843, 1844 and 1845. On January 5, 1842, the Grand Lodge met in Detroit. The doings of the Acting Grand Master in appointing Benjamin C. Howard to represent this Grand Lodge in the general convention of Grand Lodges in Washington, D.C. in the coming March, were approved. At the General Masonic Convention, Brother Howard, who had been chosen to represent Michigan, was denied such representation. The report of the Committee on credentials indicated their reasons for denial had to do with the fact that the Brothers who instituted the new Grand Lodge were not representing lawful subordinate Lodges at the time and they proceeded to issue warrants for new Lodges "in derogation of the fundamental Statutes and Landmarks of the Masonic Fraternity, and that the Grand Lodge so organized is an irregular body, which ought not and cannot be recognized by the Fraternity in the United States.” This report seems to have been taken as a guide for the action of other Grand Lodges, because no other Grand Lodge recognized this second Grand Lodge with the single exception of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.

E. A THIRD GRAND LODGE

While the Brethren of eastern Michigan were laboring to build up the recently organized Grand Lodge, those in the southwestern part were working on a different direction, for what appear to be good reasons. The Brethren near the village of Niles made application to the Grand Lodge of New York for a dispensation to meet and work, and on June 8, 1842, the exact day when the new Grand Lodge of Michigan was holding its second meeting, the dispensation was granted. On December 10, 1843, a dispensation was requested of the Grand Lodge of Indiana by the Brethren near St. Joseph in Berrien County. The dispensation was granted on February 12, 1844, for Western Star Lodge, U.D. to be formed. Meanwhile a committee of the new Grand Lodge of Michigan wrote a letter to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York requesting recognition once again. On February 15, 1844, the executive officers of the Grand Lodge of New York replied, declining the recognition and offering a suggestion as to how the Grand Lodge of Michigan could be legally constituted with their help; namely, the Grand Lodge of New York would be willing to revive the warrants of their five earlier offspring and thereby provide a nucleus of legally constituted Lodges to form a new Grand Lodge in Michigan. Detroit Lodge No. 2 led the way, followed by Zion Lodge No. 1 and Oakland Lodge No. 3 who became No. 100, 99 and 101, respectively, on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of New York. On September 17, 1844, it was agreed to dissolve the revived Grand Lodge of Michigan and reorganize the Grand Lodge in order to be recognized by sister Grand Jurisdictions. Together with St. Joseph Lodge, these four legally constituted Lodges elected Grand Lodge officers and voted to adopt the original 1826 Constitution in forming a third Grand Lodge. Worshipful Brother John Mullet was installed as Grand Master in November (exact date unknown) by PGM Lewis Cass and Grand Master Mullet then installed the other officers. At the first meeting on December 17, 1844, a resolution was adopted to include the remaining Michigan Lodges in order of their original Charters and in June of 1845, the Lodges were Zion Lodge No. 1, Detroit Lodge No. 2, Oakland Lodge No. 3, St. Joseph Lodge No. 4, Stony Creek Lodge No. 5, Lebanon Lodge No. 6, Napoleon Lodge No. 7, Jackson Lodge No. 8, and Evergreen Lodge No. 9. There is a difference of opinion as to the continuity of the three Grand Lodges. It should be noted; however, that the present Grand Lodge of Michigan celebrated its sesquicentennial (150th year ) in 1976. It clearly believes that it has been continuous since 1826, and bases that continuity on Stoney Creek Lodge despite the G. L. itself being dark.

Many events are recorded in the well-kept minutes of Zion Lodge but perhaps the most momentous occurred in September of 1817 when the Lodge provided much needed support for the newly-created University of Michigan: The idea first took shape in the minds of Augustus Woodward, a Mason and the first Judge of the Territorial Supreme Court; the Reverend John Monteith, a Presbyterian clergyman and Father Gabriel Richard, a Roman Catholic Priest. On September 15, Zion Lodge met and subscribed the sum of $250 in aid of the University of Michigan, payable in the sum of $50 per year. Of the total amount subscribed to start the University two-thirds came from Zion Lodge and its members.

Genesee Lodge No. 174 was chartered on January 11, 1866, with eight members. Its first worshipful master was John B. Hamilton.  Before Genesee Lodge No. 174 was chartered there was Genesee Lodge No. 23.  Genesee Lodge No. 23 was chartered in 1849, but surrendered its charter in December of 1854. A new Lodge, Flint Lodge No, 23 was chartered in January of 1855 and took jurisdiction of the books, papers, and members of the now former Genesee Lodge No. 23.  Genesee Lodge No. 174 was chartered 10 years later and its first Worshipful Master was also Flint Lodge No. 23's first Worshipful Master. The particulars of why the first Genesee Lodge surrendered its charter and two new Lodges created, one immediately and the second 10 years later are lost to history.  What is known is that Genesee Lodge No. 174 and Flint Lodge No. 23 shared brotherly love and fellowship thereafter.

In 1999 Genesee Lodge moved from the downtown Flint Masonic Temple in downtown Flint to the Flushing Masonic Temple where it meets today along with Flushing Lodge No. 223.

To put Genesee Lodge's age in perspective below are a few milestones throughout History.

1820 - Antarctica is discovered

1826 - a Grand Lodge for the Territory of Michigan is established

1837 - Michigan is admitted as the 26th U.S. State

1841 - The Revived Grand Lodge is established

1844 - The Revived Grand Lodge is dissolved and the Grand Lodge of Michigan is established

1849 - Genesee Lodge No. 23 F. & A. M. is Chartered

1854 - Genesee Lodge No. 23 F. & A. M. Surrenders its Charter

1855 - Flint incorporates as a City

1865 -  "Wild Bill" Hickok kills gambler Davis Tutt in a shootout in Springfield, Missouri.

1865 - Civil War ends (8 months before Genesee Lodge is Chartered)

1865 - Genesee Lodge No. 174 is given dispensation to form a Lodge and meets under dispensation.

1866 - Genesee Lodge No. 174 is Chartered

1866 - Notorious outlaws Frank and Jesse James rob their first bank in Liberty, Missouri.

1867 - U.S. acquires Alaska from Russia for the sum of $7.2 million.

1867 - Nebraska is admitted as the 37th U.S. state.

1868 -  Wyoming is organized as a U.S. territory.

1869 - Union Pacific meets Central Pacific making the first transcontinental railroad ("the Golden Spike")

1876 - LTC. George Custer's regiment is wiped out by Sioux Indians under Sitting Bull at the Battle of Little Big Horn

1876 - Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone

1877 - Flushing Incorporated as a village

1879 - Thomas Edison invents incandescent light

1886 - Statue of Liberty is dedicated

1903 - First Airplane flight

1908 - First Model T is produced by Ford

1918 - World War I Ends

1928 - Penicillin is discovered by Alexander Fleming

1945 - World War II Ends

1957 -  Mackinac Bridge is opened