the Masonic Institution, was Charles W. Millerd, then a sturdy lad of fifteen years, and a son of Nathaniel Millerd, who was first Secretary of Stony Creek Lodge. In 1842, this young man was made a Mason in that Lodge, and afterwards became Worshipful Master and represented his Lodge in Grand Lodge for many years, remaining a prominent and influential member thereof until his removal to Arkansas in 1854, where, at this writing, (1895,) he still resides and at the ripe old age of eighty-three years, still retains his ardent love for Masonry.

Another member of this Lodge, who at an early day was prominent in Grand Lodge, was Brother Joshua B. Taylor, who was appointed Junior Grand Deacon by General Cass, in 1827; was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1843, in the Grand Lodge at that time, and to the same position in the present Grand Lodge in 1845, and Senior Grand Warden in 1848.

Jesse Decker, Peleg Ewell and Calvin Chappel were also among the early Masters of this Lodge.

At the organization of the 1841--4 Grand Lodge, Stony Creek Lodge was represented by Brother Peleg Ewell, who was its Master at that time, and he was elected Grand Tiler, and in 1842 was elected Grand Lecturer. This Lodge was registered as No. 3 at that time, which number it retained until the dissolution of that body and the organization of the present Grand Lodge when it was numbered five, and this number it has retained since that time.

At the semi-annual meeting of the Grand Lodge in October, 1842, Stony Creek Lodge was granted permission to hold its Lodge meetings thereafter at any suitable place within the township of Avon, Oakland County, which a majority of the brethren present at any stated meeting might choose to designate. Under this authority the Lodge met in different places where it could find accommodation for the next two or three years, and a part of the time at least in the village of Rochester.

This Lodge did not participate in the organization of the present Grand Lodge in September, 1844, although working regularly at that time, such organization being effected entirely by the four Lodges holding new charters from the Grand Lodge of New York, that there

might never thereafter be any charge of irregularity in such organization, and the New York Grand Lodge having declared, through a regularly appointed committee, that

Stony Creek Lodge, in continuing to labor after the power by which they were authorized to work was dead, erred. Their doings were by their Charter to be in conformity with the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, but that Constitution had become a dead letter; they were under the jurisdiction of no superior power; they were an anomaly in American Masonry.

After this Grand Lodge was fully organized, however, Stony Creek Lodge was at once received into full membership and became a constituent member thereof. At this time there was a little balance. due the Grand Lodge for dues, etc., and in the report of the committee upon the same appears these words in reference to this Lodge, after naming a list of the persons who were indebted to it in various sums:

In the confidence that the brethren whose names are given above, would act up to their Masonic engagements, and that therefore, these claims, universally acknowledged by all true men and Masons to be just and equitable, and with a laudable pride to maintain, if possible, the rank to which the Lodge was justly entitled as the sole Masonic lamp in Michigan which the hurricane of anti-masonry could not extinguish, individual members have advanced from their private funds the means by which their dues have heretofore been paid. * In view of the foregoing facts, your committee recommend that the Grand Lodge respond affirmatively to the request of the representatives of said Lodge, so far as to suspend the said balance, that it may not interfere with the issuing of a warrant for their future labors.

***

In 1847, the Lodge having been holding its meetings for some time in Rochester, the Grand Lodge again authorized its removal by the following resolution presented by Charles W. Millerd:

Resolved, That Stony Creek Lodge have the power to fix upon some other point within the township of Avon, than the village of Rochester, for holding their communications, and to remove the Lodge thereto.

Under the authority of this resolution, and inspired with that masonic zeal that had ever characterized them, the brethren of this Lodge determined upon the erection of a building that should be exclusively devoted to Masonic uses.

Accordingly a site was selected and the temple erected upon the brow of a hill, probably over a hundred feet in height and covered with forest trees. This hill these brethren named "Mt. Moriah."

Standing upon this summit and looking to the east, the little village of Stony Creek lies below, with the hills and valleys beyond forming a panorama of rare beauty. Right in front and below is the "tavern" that was kept by Brother Joshua B. Taylor, within whose walls the pioneers of those days were wont to gather and discuss the news of the day. Just beyond was the house built by Bro. Nathaniel Millerd, in which was the first lodge room of Stony Creek Lodge; while almost perpendicularly below flows the little stream from which the village took its name. The Temple was reached by a circuitous. pathway, the front being entirely inaccessable. The Temple itself was a modest frame structure, painted red, standing upon a foundation a few feet high. The entrance was through a single door in the foundation, then up a stairway built inside.

On this peculiarly chosen site, the first Masonic Temple ever erected in Michigan, was built.

Everything being in readiness for the event, invitations were sent out to all the neighboring Lodges to participate in the exercises connected with the laying of the corner-stone. The following is a fac-simile copy of one of those invitations.

Mary bruk Mery 15th 8847

Mour

the

Dear Brothe

at

Jattend the Selebration of St Johns day Lodge is respectfully invited to Village of Story bruk to Asist The Story bruk Lodge Chod to geather with the Me. 17' 8 Me and his y oficers in Laying the chief bomer Stone of thier Masonic Hall in Masonic form

in Regalia

That Furmer Sect f

On the 24th day of June, 1847, a special meeting of the Grand Lodge was held at that place, and the corner-stone of the first Masonic Temple ever erected in Michigan was laid by Grand Master E. Smith Lee, assisted by the following Grand officers:

This was a gala day to the inhabitants of this enterprising little village, as well as the masonic fraternity, and its exercises are worthy of a place in masonic history, as the first of the kind ever held on Michigan soil. Large delegations of Masons were present from Detroit, Jackson, Mt. Clemens and Port Huron. On this occasion an additional feature was the presentation of a Past Grand Master's jewel to M. W. Brother Ebenezer Hall, the presentation address being by Brother Paul B. Ring, Senior Grand Warden. The oration of the day was delivered by Grand Secretary A. C. Smith. In noting the events of the day in his annual address, Grand Master Lee said:

On the 24th of June, many of our brethren from different Lodges, united with our brethren of Stony Creek Lodge, in celebrating in an appropriate manner, the anniversary of St. John the Baptist, at that pleasant little village. The weather, though warm, was pleasant, and our brethren, with their wives and daughters, poured into the village in great numbers until mid-day. Every place was filled. It was truly a day of joy and gladness; one which will long be remembered in our jurisdiction; an era on which was laid with Masonic rites the first corner-stone of a Masonic building ever erected in this state. In performing these solemn ceremonies for the first time, my heart was filled with devout gratitude to our Supreme Grand Master, that I was permitted to assist in performing an act so auspicious, so cheering, and one which will live green in the memory of posterity, long after we shall be gathered to our fathers.

It was two years after the corner-stone was laid before the Temple was dedicated, which event occurred on July 4th, 1849. This was

also made an important event in that vicinity. The following invitation was sent to all the Lodges in that part of the state:

Stony Creek, June 9, 1849.

Bro. The subscribers having been appointed committee of arrangements and correspondence by Stony Creek lodge No. 5, to correspond with other lodges for their assistance and co-operation in the dedication and consecration, in a public manner, of their new hall, (erected for Masonic purposes), on the fourth day of July next, at high twelve, would respectfully ask the attendance of your lodge, together with such of the fraternity as can conveniently attend.

The order of arrangements will be sent you as soon as published.
Yours Respectfully and Fraternally

J. B. Taylor
C. W. Millerd

G. Wadleigh.

Please lay this before your lodge as soon as convenient. Suitable provisions will be made for the accommodation of ladies at the oration, procession, dinner, etc.

The day was all that could be desired and a large concourse of people assembled to witness the dedication. Lodges were present from Detroit, Mt. Clemens, and Pontiac. Grand Master Jeremiah Moors presided at the dedicatory services, and Brother Charles W. Millerd acted as Grand Marshal. An elegant dinner was provided by Brother Daniel B. Taylor, and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the

occasion.

This Temple was a conspicuous object for miles around. The trees in front being below the sides of the bluff, it was in plain view from that direction, while the dense forest in its rear completely hid it from view from the west and formed a striking background, against which the red painted temple stood out in bold relief. The accompanying engraving gives a correct view of "Mt. Moriah" and its "Temple."

In such a place and amid such surroundings, the sturdy brethren of that Lodge performed their masonic work.

Daniel B. Taylor was one of the brothers who was most active in keeping this Lodge at work during the years from 1829 to 1841. It is related of him, that on Lodge nights, as soon as the stage arrived bringing the mail, he would get his newspaper, take a candle