ADMINISTRATION OF FRANCIS DARROW.

GRAND MASTER 1862.

Francis Darrow was born in Syme, Connecticut, March 7th, 1810. At the age of seven years he went to West Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York, and worked for Lodowich Fitch until 1828. In 1829 he came to Pontiac and entered the store of H. N. Howard.

In 1831 he embarked in the dry goods business for himself in the village of Franklin, Oakland County, and soon after formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Abel H. Peck, in general mercantile business in the City of Pontiac.

He was register of Deeds of Oakland county in 1835 and 1836, Supervisor from 1853 to 1856, Justice of the Peace 1858 and 1860, Director of Pontiac Union School 1855 and 1858, and Trustee of the same in 1862, and held other offices of trust. He was an active member of the Society of the first Baptist Church and contributed liberally to its support.

He was married October 31, 1831, to Miss Augusta LeRoy, with whom he lived happily for more than forty years, and who still resides with her daughter in the same house which has been her home for over half a century.

Brother Darrow was the first Junior Warden of Pontiac Lodge number 21, which was instituted November 19, 1847, and W. M. of the same in 1849-1852, 1854–1858 and 1861-1864.

He was H. P. of Oakland Chapter No. 5, in 1855-1857, 1859 and 1860. Pontiac Council No. 25 (now No. 3) R. & S. M. was instituted December 14, 1857, and companion Darrow was elected T. I. G. M. at the first election and held the office until 1862 and again in 1865 and 1866.

He received the orders of Knighthood in Pontiac Commandery, No. 2, the R. C. January 31, and the Temple February 14, 1857, and was E. C. of said Commandery from 1858 to 1861.

He was D. G. M. of the Grand Lodge in 1861 and Grand Master in 1862. In the Grand Chapter he was G. S. in 1860; G. K. in 1861 and D. G. H. P. in 1862-1864.

He was a member of the Grand Council of High Priesthood, having been annointed at its organization in 1861.

He was Grand Generalissimo of the Grand Commandery in 18581859; Deputy Grand Commander in 1860 and Rt. Em. Grand Commander in 1861.

In all his relations in life he was faithful, ever courteous and genial, a fine ritualist and as presiding officer, he had few equals.

He loved our orders for the good they are capable of accomplishing. His private life was an exemplification of the noblest tenets of masonry.

He ended his earthly labors April 11, 1873. In the City of Ionia, on Friday, April 11, 1873, after passing the evening at the house of a friend, he started, shortly before midnight, to walk to the depot to take a train for his home in Pontiac. In the enjoyment of apparent health, anticipating the pleasures which he always expericened at his pleasant fireside, in the society of his wife and daughter.

Alone upon the street and all was still save the sound of his own footsteps.

His thoughts, we doubt not, were of the home towards which he was hastening and the loved ones he expected soon to meet, when suddenly "He was not for God took him."

His mortal remains reposed upon the bosom of his mother-earth, their covering the starry decked heavens whither his spirit had flown.

Soon a friend chanced to pass and there upon the cold, damp ground, he saw the ruin of one of the noblest of men.

His brethren were summoned. They lifted his body tenderly and bore it to the station and there stood guard until the morning, when, under escort of a guard of honor from Ionia Commandery it was taken to Pontiac, a Guard of Honor from Pontiac Commandery meeting it at

Owosso. Sadly they bore it to his home, from whence, on Monday, April 14, 1873, it was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery, by Pontiac Commandery, No. 2, K. T., the burial service being conducted by Sir Knights Mark Walters, H. M. Look and Joseph R. Anderson, in the presence of M. W. Hugh McCurdy, G. M., Rt. Em. O. L. Spaulding, G. C,, and a great number of his Brethren of the various masonic orders, and a large concourse of citizens by whom he had been highly esteemed, and to very many of whom his departure came as a personal bereavement.

Five days after the Grand Lodge closed its annual communication in 1852, viz: on January 15th, an event, freighted with sorrow for that body and Michigan Masons, occurred in another part of the state. In the quiet of his country home at Williamston, Ingham county, Brother John Mullet, the first Grand Master of this Grand Lodge, was closing his eyes on earthly scenes to open them in the Celestial Lodge above. Full of years and crowned with the honors and rewards of a well spent life, he died just after the Grand Lodge which he helped to organize had met in its nineteenth annual communication. He lived to see the fruit of his toils and labors and left a name that will be honored while the Grand Lodge of Michigan endures.

On the 30th of August of that year, another honored Past Grand Master was lost to Michigan. Col. Horace S. Roberts was killed on that day while bravely leading his regiment at the second battle of Bull Run.

Rochester (formerly Stony Creek) Lodge No. 5, was burned out in this year and lost all its furniture, but the records were preserved.

Lansing Lodge, No. 33, was likewise unfortunate and lost its hall, furniture and records by fire. It was a severe blow to the Lodge which was then in debt, but it went bravely at work and was soon upon its feet again.

Buchanan Lodge, No. 68, was another one that lost its furniture and property by fire in 1862.

The nineteenth annual communication of the Grand Lodge was held in Detroit, January 14, 15 and 16, 1863, with one hundred and twentythree lodges represented. Of the brothers who were in attendance at

that time, the writer of this record can count twenty-nine whom he knows that are still active and enthusiastic workers after the lapse of thirty-two years. Doubtless more than double that number still survive and retain their ardent love for Masonry. A large number have passed over "the Great Divide" and entered upon the other life, while new men have taken their places and carry on the work which they laid down.

Grand Master Darrow devoted much space in his address to the ritual and lectures. In some way he had become a disciple of Brother Rob. Morris, and desired to have his work substituted for that which had been in use up to that time. As this matter is one of importance to every Mason in the state, the Grand Master's words upon it are quoted in full. He said.

Since our last meeting, I have carefully examined and compared our lectures with those taught by Bro. ROB. MORRIS.

Without claiming any special merit for sagacity, I have to say, as the result of such examination, I have been conducted to the settled conclusion that those taught by Bro. MORRIS are altogether preferable to those we have adopted; indeed, I regard them as possessing merits altogether superior to any that has fallen under my notice. In many instances, the two systems perfectly agree, while in others, there is an irreconcilable difference.

There are in our lectures omissions and additions which greatly mar their beauty. Their existence being a demonstrated and patent fact, what shall be done with these defects? Shall they be allowed to remain after they have been ascertained, and we have the ability to remove them? Shall we allow the imprimatur of the genuine coin to remain upon what has been proved to be a counterfeit?

No one who has a proper estimate of the Masonic ritual, will regard anything which perverts or obscures any portion of its symbolism, as a slight error, nor should any error be deemed slight which affects any portion of it. This notion that slight errors and defects, and faults are immaterial, and that we need not go to the trouble of removing or correcting them is one main cause why there are so many huge errors, and defects and defaults in every region of human life; it is important to be borne in mind, that the lectures must be judged by their fidelity to the ritual; if they fail here, it is an essential failure; it is all irrelevant to tell us of their beauty or of any incidental characteristics. These are good and desirable qualities in themselves, but they are no substitute for the lack of fidelity to the ritual any more than the perfection of the coloring and drapery of a pretended likeness of a friend will atone for a failure to give his characteristic features and expression,