ADMINISTRATION OF HENRY T. BACKUS.

GRAND MASTER 1851-2-3.

Brother Henry T. Backus was born at Norwich, Connecticut, in the year 1809. He graduated at Yale College and soon afterward moved to Detroit and commenced the practice of his chosen profession, that of law, winning for himself front rank in his profession.

In the year 1845 he received the symbolic degrees in Detroit Lodge No. 2, and became at once a leading and active member of our institution. In December of the following year he was elected Senior Warden and the next month made his first appearance in Grand Lodge. One year later he was elected Worshipful Master of his Lodge and represented it in Grand Lodge, in which body his abilities were at once recognized and he became a prominent and influential member. In 1851 he was elected Grand Master and served with distinction for three years, conducting this Grand Lodge successfully through that formative period, and as a result of the labors of Brother Backus and his colaborers during the early years of masonry in this state, is due, in a large measure, the prominent position that Michigan now occupies in the masonic world.

He was a member of Monroe Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, and High Priest for the year 1858, representing his Chapter that year in the Grand Chapter. His principal labors, however, seem to have been performed in Blue Lodge work rather than in the higher degrees, and on that branch of masonry he left the impress of his labors.

He was appointed by President Lincoln, Judge of the Supreme court of the Territory of Arizona, and held this honorable position to the time of his death, which occurred at Greenwood, Arizona, on the thirteenth day of July, 1877, he being sixty-eight years of age.

As before stated, Grand Master Backus governed the fraternity in Michigan three years, 1851, 1852 and 1853, and under his active leadership and wise government, Masonry prospered greatly. During his administration thirty new lodges were organized, which were located at DeWitt, Orion, Northville, Groveland, Sturgis, Jackson, Detroit, Almont, Hastings, Atlas, Port Huron, Lapeer, Cassopolis, St. Joseph, Three Rivers, Climax, Clarkston, Marine City, Lexington, Lansing, Eaton Rapids, Macomb, Bellevue, Ontonagon, Dexter, Mackinac, Buchanan, Sault Ste Marie, Mason, and Tecumseh; thus nearly doubling the number that were on the Grand Lodge roll when he took the Grand Master's chair; the membership increased in like manner and masonry made great advances during those three years. All but five of the lodges he established have continued to this day and have made good records.

Brother Backus has the honor of being the first Grand Master for whom a Michigan lodge was named, Backus Lodge, No. 55, at Cassopolis, being the one thus to honor him.

In 1851, the Masons of Detroit, through Monroe Chapter, No. 1, which had incorporated, commenced the erection of a Masonic Temple in that city. Grand Master Backus was requested to lay the cornerstone, but other duties preventing, he delegated authority to Past Grand Master E. Smith Lee, who performed the work for him. In reporting this act to the Grand Lodge, he said:

It is with great pleasure that I announce to you, that since our last Communication, Monroe Chapter Number One-another branch of the great family of Masonry, located in the city of Detroit, operating under the act of Incorporation of that body, procured by the exertions of our late Grand Master and by other brethren, from increasing liberality of sentiment in the Legislature of our own State, have, with the commendable desire to obtain for that Order a home, erected in the city of Detroit, a temple to the cause-an enterprise at once indicative, I trust, of their attachment to the Order, and their spirit of perseverance in a good work. am the more induced to mention this from the fact, that since our last communication, in accordance with our ancient constitutions, by the proper authorities of that body, I was called upon as the Grand Master of this jurisdiction, in ancient form, to lay the corner-stone of that edifice. But I have deeply to regret that circumstances beyond my control, and also the control of the Deputy Grand Master of this jurisdiction, prevented either him or me from being present at the impressive ceremonies, but provision was made for this providential absence, by the presence of Past Grand Master LEE, who performed the same in ample form, opportunely assistedby other brethren in services appropriate to the occasion; and the building is now

so far forwarded in its completion, that it may be confidently hoped that at no very remote period, the bright fires of their order will be blazing on its altars; and I doubt not by spreading freely the truly Masonic cement of brotherly love, this temple will stand long as an enduring monument of how brothers can live together in unity.

Further mention of this building will appear in a subsequent chapter on Masonic Temples.

Among Grand Master Backus' recommendations to the Grand Lodge, were the following: That all petitioners for dispensations for new lodges should file their dimits with the Grand Secretary before a dispensation could be issued; that all balloting for the degrees should be done when the Lodge is open on the third degree and but one degree should be balloted for at a time; that a special fund be placed at the disposal of the Grand Master for use as a charity fund during recess of the Grand Lodge; the adoption of a Grand Lodge certificate for the use of traveling brethren; and the taking steps for the erection of a building for a permanent home for the Grand Lodge. On this last subject, he said in his annual address in January, 1852.

I would respectfully submit for your consideration, the expediency of some action, such as your wisdom may prompt, towards the permanent establishment and ownership by the Grand Lodge, of an appropriate edifice to be the Masonic home and head-quarters in this State. To that end I would recommend that such order be taken as shall secure the permanent investment of the surplus funds of the Grand Lodge, over and above what may be wanted for necessary annual expenses, in some property, with a view to this most desirable object under our Charter.

And again in 1853:

I would again recommend to you as the Grand Lodge of this State-the acquisition of property, and the erection of a Hall that you may call your own, to be the Masonic headquarters of this jurisdiction, and to that end your funds be appropriated and with such, as I doubt not can be easily obtained, there may be seen at no remote period, rising and completed to its cap-stone, a new Temple to the glory of the cause, and the honor of the brethren throughout this jurisdiction.

The first two of these recommendations became laws and the others failed to secure the approval of the Grand Lodge. On the subject of building a hall, the committee having it in charge reported that a building "that would do credit to the order would cost at least twenty thousand dollars, and that without a great increase of per capita dues, the scheme was impracticable, and the matter was dropped.

Phoenix Lodge, No. 13, at Ypsilanti, lost all its furniture and