S. BLANCHARD, R. W. Grand Visitor and Lecturer. F. DARROW, R. W. Grand Pursuivant. CHARLES D. HOWARD, W. Grand Steward and Tyler. The salary of the Grand Lecturer was fixed at twelve hundred dollars for the next year, and he was directed to visit every lodge in the state and to perfect the Masters and Wardens in the work and lectures of the three degrees. The year closed with a balance of $569.26 in the treasury, and ninety-five lodges on the roll of the Grand Lodge. ADMINISTRATION OF LEVI COOK. GRAND MASTER, 1857. Levi Cook was one of the prominent and trusted citizens of Detroit during much of the first half of the present century. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Detroit for the years 1821 and 1822; a County Commissioner from 1824 to 1827; Alderman in 1828; elected Mayor three times, in 1832, 1835 and 1836. He was State Treasurer from 1830 to 1834; and represented Detroit in the state legislature in 1838. He filled every station to which he was called, with fidelity and marked ability. In Masonry he was no less prominent. He received the three lodge degrees in Zion Lodge while that was the only one in Michigan, being initiated February fifth; passed April second, and raised July ninth, in the year 1821. At the organization of Detroit Lodge on December 26, 1821, Brother Cook became a member thereof and was made one of the Stewards. He was one of the most active and influential members of that lodge and in 1825 he was Senior Warden and in 1826 Worshipful Master. He represented his lodge in the convention which organized the first Grand Lodge and was an active and prominent member thereof during its existence. In 1841, when the second Grand Lodge was started upon its three years journey, he was elected the first Grand Master. He did not accept this office and was not installed with the other Grand Officers, but the Grand Lodge, both at this meeting and the next following one, declined to elect another person to fill the vacancy, and this Grand Lodge seemed to recognize him as a Past Grand Master at its subsequent meetings, in which he took an active part. In 1843 he was elected Grand Marshal and he was a member of the committee appointed to endeavor to secure recognition from the Grand Lodge of New York. On the re-organization of the Grand Lodge and the establishment of the present one in 1844, Brother Cook was made Grand Treasurer and continued to hold that position until 1853. In 1857 he was elected Grand Master, and served one year with great satisfaction to the Grand Body over which he presided. Brother Cook was one of the early High Priests of Monroe Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M., and was present and assisted in the organization of the Grand Chapter of Michigan, and for some years was an active member thereof, although not occupying any official position. Brother Cook died in Detroit, on the second day of December, 1866, at a venerable age, loved and respected by all who knew him. Grand Master Coffinbury, in his annual address in 1867, pays this tribute to Brother Cook: "The name of this venerable man and highly esteemed brother is interwoven with the history of Masonry in this state from the beginning of that history to the present time. Almost every part of the superstructure of that history bears some memento of the wisdom of his counsels, the strength of his integrity and the beauty of his moral life. He was ever at the post of duty with a willing heart, a strong arm and a skillful hand. His devotion to the mystic art, his experience in its arena and his earnest activity in diffusing its light, made him, for many years, one of its principal supports in Michigan; while his genial nature, his amiable disposition and virtuous walk among men endeared him to all good men. The highest meed that can be measured out to mortal man, he had justly earned-an upright mason-a good man." Among the masonic events of some importance in the year 1857 may be mentioned the surrender of the charter of Lebanon Lodge, No. 6, because of internal dissensions, which has been noticed in the historical sketch of this Lodge. This Lodge was the first new one started in Michigan on the revival of work in 1841, but it only lived to be sixteen years old. From the ashes of the old lodge, however, sprang the new one which took its place. In this same year some of the members of the old lodge started a new one under a dispensation from Grand Master Cook, and at the next meeting of the Grand Lodge it was given the number of the old one and also the jewels and furniture that had belonged to it, and Mt. Clemens Lodge, No. 6, has since been an active and honored one on the Grand Lodge roll. Acacia Lodge, No. 45, also surrendered its charter and ceased work in this year. Oriental, No. 15, at Ann Arbor, and Elmira, No. 72, at Sault Ste Marie, forfeited their charters by reason of failing to report for two years, and they were revoked, and have never been restored. Grand Master Cook granted dispensations for fourteen new lodges during the year 1857. They were located at Morenci, Saginaw, Greenville, Niles, Waterford, Reading, Decatur, Oakwood, Marquette, Mt. Clemens, Adrian, Rockland, White Pigeon and St. Johns. The rapidly increasing population of the state and the new towns and villages springing up all over it, made a constantly growing field for Masonry, and the consequence was a corresponding advance in number of lodges and membership. Oxford Lodge, No. 84, was burned out in this year, losing all of its furniture, jewels and charter. A new charter was given them at the next meeting of the Grand Lodge and they resumed work. this Lansing Lodge, No. 33, also lost its hall and furniture by fire in year. Past Grand Master E. Smith Lee, who had been one of the most highly esteemed and well beloved members of the Grand Lodge, died suddenly in the city of Washington, on April 12th, 1857. His loss was keenly felt in all this jurisdiction where his eminent services to Masonry as Grand Secretary, Grand Lecturer and Grand Master had made him so well known and highly honored. Somewhat of a controversy between the Grand Masters of Indiana and Michigan was had over the question of jurisdiction. Tyre Lodge, No. 18, at Coldwater, had conferred the degrees upon several petitioners residing in Steuben County, Indiana, under the authority of the written permission of the Grand Master in that state, authorizing said Tyre Lodge to receive petitions from such persons living in Steuben County as lived nearer to Tyre Lodge than to any Lodge in Indiana, Complaint was made by Meridian Sun Lodge, at LaGrange, Indiana, that at least one of the persons received into Tyre Lodge was the material of Meridian Sun Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Michigan thoroughly investigated this matter, through an able committee, and the acts of Tyre Lodge were fully approved. There was also a complaint of a similar nature from the Grand Master in Ohio, and, to put a final stop to any further complaints on this subject, and insure peace and harmony on our borders with the brethren of adjoining states, it was Resolved, That all subordinate Lodges in this jurisdiction, locatad on the line of States, be, and they are hereby directed not to initiate any person who lives in any other State without first obtaining the consent of the M. W. G. M. of the State in which the candidate resides, and also the W. M. of the subordinate Lodge under whose jurisdiction said candidate resides. Eighty-four lodges were represented in the annual session of the Grand Lodge in January, 1858. In his annual address, among other things, Grand Master Cook said: I congratulate you, my Brethren, upon the prosperous and flourishing condition of our Order throughout this entire jurisdiction at the present time. Masons everywhere, from the Brother ripe with years, to the young and ardent, are constantly calling for more light, and are constantly reading our ancient. constitutions and all the acknowledged authors on Masonry, vigorously informing themselves both in the work and lectures. The great number of letters received and answered by me during the past year, not only from Lodges, but from private individuals, propounding questions of great importance to our Order, and the able manner which many of them are discussed, is most flattering to the general intelligence diffusing itself throughout this jurisdiction. The Lodges under this jurisdiction are now harmoniously working with great uniformity, both in the lectures and work, under the vigorous instruction of our venerable Brother S. Blanchard, Grand Lecturer, who, I take great pleasure in saying, has made a most indefatigable and excellent officer, devoting his entire time to the diffusion of light and knowledge to all those Lodges who most needed his service, at the same time omitting none, which has been productive of great good by introducing that uniformity in the work and lectures which is so desirable among Masons. I would respectfully call your attention to the finances of this Grand Lodge, which I find have been growing less and less for a number of years. I am informed by the Grand Trearurer, that the balance in the Treasury is now reduced to a nominal sum. I mention this so that in your appropriations for carrying on the government of this Grand Lodge for the ensuing year, you may do so with special reference to the receipts into the Treasury at the present Annual Communication; if not, you must provide, by some summary mode, for the replenishing of your Treasury, so as to meet all demands authorized to be drawn upon it. I submit this subject to your careful consideration. * My Brethren, I see before me and around me, men whose locks have been sprinkled with many winters, with whom I have had the pleasure of meeting in this Grand Body for many years, Brethren of great experience, sound and devoted to the principles of our Order, in whose judgment I have the most implicit confidence. I also see around me another class, composed of the more young and ardent Masons, full of intelligence and in the vigor of life, deeply devoted to the principles and prosperity of our beloved Institution, ready to take part in all the deliberations of this Grand Body. To these two classes of Masons, I bid a thrice welcome to a seat in this Grand Lodge, knowing full well the former class, together with myself, are very soon to surrender the entire responsibility of this Grand Body into the hands of the latter for their safe keeping. My Brethren, coming as you do, from almost every part of this widespread jurisdiction, representing a hundred Lodges or more, you necessarily bring with you their condition, their wants, and their pleasure; and you, as their faithful representatives, will lay them before this Grand Lodge for their deliberate action. My Brethren, in conclusion, I hope this meeting may be conducted with great harmony, and that our labors may be both pleasant and profitable; that no personal consideration shall swerve us from true brotherly affection. Brother Stillman Blanchard, (Father Blanchard) commenced his |