STILLMAN BLANCHARD, Tecumseh, Grand Lecturer. The year 1862 was not a fruitful one for the Royal Craft in Michigan. The war was the all-absorbing topic in all men's minds, almost to the exclusion of all others. No new Chapters were formed in that year, and no events of special moment to Royal Arch Masonry occurred. The General Grand Chapter failed to hold its triennial convocation, which was to have been in Memphis in September of that year, consequently the system of work which was expected as a result of that meeting, did not make its promised appearance in Michigan. Many of the prominent craftsmen were absent from the state, serving in the army. Horace S. Roberts lost his life at Bull Run, Companions Shoemaker, Innes and Fenton were each leading a regiment, and very many others held positions of more or less prominence, while among the private soldiers could be found many of the companions from Michigan Masonic Bodies, men who loved country above family or friends, or even life itself. But although the subject of the most vital interest to all was the war then in progress, the Chapters already established in Michigan did not abandon their working tools, and in the year 1862, there were one hundred and seventeen exalted, and the membership at the close of that year was thirteen hundred and thirty-one. TEMPLAR MASONRY. A few days after the first half of the ninteenth century had been told on the dial of time, organized Templar Masonry began its existence in Michigan, to be a colaborer with Lodge and Chapter in diffusing the sublime principles of Masonry, and to shed upon the ancient craft degrees the light and life of the orders of Christian. Knighthood. On the eighth day of January, 1851, the first Commandery was organized in Michigan. A dispensation had been granted by the Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States, to the petitioners in Detroit, to form and open in that city an Encampment of Knights Templar and its appendant orders, under the name and style of Detroit Encampment, No. 1. First among those who were active in securing it, was E. Smith Lee, who had been one of the foremost workers in other departments of Masonry. This enthusiastic Mason was the first Eminent Commander, and under his wise leadership the new Commandery prospered from the start, and laid the foundation for its world-wide reputation as the leading Templar organization of the world. The next Commandery to be started in Michigan was at Pontiac. One year after Detroit Commandery commenced her career, the good seed sown had taken root in this place, and on March 25th, 1852, a dispensation was issued by the M. E. Grand Master for Pontiac Commandery, No. 2, and a charter was given to it on October 27th in the next year. On December 23d, following, the M. E. Grand Master issued his proxy to Sir Knight T. A. Flowers to constitute this new Commandery. After the lapse of two more years, the third Commandery was organized, this one being at Hillsdale, with Sir Knight Elias D. Cone for its first Eminent Commander. The dispensation for this Commandery was granted February 13, 1854, by M. E. Grand Master, W. B. Hubbard, and on March sixteenth, it was organized and started in its work by Eminent Sir John B. Grayson of Detroit Commandery as proxy for the M. E. Grand Master. Associated with him in this day's work was Sir Knight Jeremiah Moors, who, five years before, was Grand Master of Masons in Michigan. For the next two years these three Commanderies occupied the Michigan field, but the year 1856 proved a fruitful one for Templar Masonry and three new Commanderies were started in this state. March 3, 1856, the M. E. Grand Master issued his dispensation authorizing the formation of Peninsular Commandery at Kalamazoo. March 29th, 1856, he granted a similar dispensation to petitioners from Monroe, and May 9th, still another for DeMolay Commandery, at Grand Rapids. At the triennial conclave of the Grand Encampment on September 10th, 1856, these four last named Commanderies were granted charters, and soon afterwards their officers were installed under authority of regular proxies from the Grand Master, issued a few days after the close of that conclave. Sir Francis H. Cummings, P. C., was deputed to install the officers of DeMolay; Sir P. P. Murphy, E. C. for Peninsular and Sir John Gilbert, of Detroit, the others. "Father Blanchard," Horace S. Roberts, afterwards Grand Master, and other Sir Knights assisted Sir John Gilbert in instituting Monroe Commandery, of which James Darrah was first Eminent Commander. In June, 1856, DeMolay Commandery was regularly started in its work by Sir John Gilbert, and having received its charter in the meantime, on the eleventh of November of that year, Sir William P. Innes, Eminent Commander and his associate officers were installed by Rev. F. H. Cummings, Past Commander, acting as proxy for the M. E. Grand Master. DeMolay Commandery took a leading position from its start and has ever since been second only to Detroit, No. 1. She has given to Templar Masonry and to the Grand Commandery some of their brightest lights and most distinguished members. The Eminent Frater who had the honor to be the first presiding officer of this Commandery, remained until his death, the most honored and revered of all her members. Besides Sir Knight Innes, DeMolay Commandery has furnished four Grand Commanders, viz: Luman R. Atwater, Edward D. Benedict, and Heman N. Moore. Every one of these honored Knights has laid aside his knightly sword and trappings and been. admitted to the honors and awards that await the valiant Templar. THE GRAND COMMANDERY. There were now six Commanderies working in Michigan, deriving their authority from the Grand Encampment of the United States. These Commanderies concluded that it was now time to organize a Grand Commandery. Accordingly a call was issued for a convention to meet in Detroit on January 15th, 1857, to inaugurate the movement looking to the forming of a Grand Commandery. This call was signed by twenty-seven Sir Knights representing the six Commanderies, as follows: N. P. Jacobs, F. W. Noble, Garra B. Noble, G. W. Wilson, Allyn Weston, D. B. Nichols, Thomas Anderson, George B. Ensworth and Horace S. Roberts, of Detroit Commandery, No. 1. Bela Cogshall, of Pontiac Commandery No. 2, Pontiac. L. H. Corson, E. D. Cone, F. French, Benj. Porter, Jr., D. Chapman, Reuben S. Cheney, E. G. Dallas, H. F. Farnum, Salathiel C. Coffinbury and George C. Munro, of Eureka Commandery, No. 3, Hillsdale. L. W. Lusk and Wyllis C. Ransom, of Peninsular Commandery, No. 4, Kalamazoo. James Darrah and John M. Oliver, of Monroe Commandery, No. 5, Monroe. William P. Innes, James W. Sligh and John K. Crosswell, of DeMolay Commandery, No. 6, Grand Rapids. In response to the call sixteen Sir Knights, representing all of the six Commanderies, met in Detroit, at seven o'clock on the evening of January 15, 1857, and organized by chosing John Gilbert, Jr., E. C. of Detroit Commandery, No. 1, as chairman and James Darrah, of Monroe, as Secretary. A committee, consisting of Sir Knights Horace S. Roberts, James Darrah and Elias D. Cone, was appointed to draft a Code of Statutes and Regulations for the proposed Grand Commandery, after which the necessary number of Sir Knights were selected to serve as the first Grand Officers. Every preliminary having been attended to, the necessary authority was asked from the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment, and in due time the following warrant was received: OFFICE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. To all True and Courteous Knights of our Order: KNOW YE, THAT, WHEREAS, There are now established and existing six Commanderies in the State of Michigan, holding their authority from the Grand Encampment of the United States, and working under its jurisdiction; to-wit, Detroit Commandery, No. 1; Pontiac Commandery, No. 2; Peninsular Commandery, No. 4, with Nos. 3, 5, and 6: AND, WHEREAS, On behalf of the several Commanderies, it has been duly certified to me that they are desirious to form, hold and maintain a Grand Commandery, in and for the State of Michigan, subordinate to the Grand Encampment of the United States of America: THEREFORE, I, W. B. HUBBARD, Grand Master as aforesaid, being satisfied that such request is reasonable and proper, by virtue of the high powers in me vested, and in accordance with the Constitution and Rules of our Order, do hereby authorize and empower the aforesaid Commanderies Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, or any three of them, in due order, to meet at such time and place as they may agree upon, and form a State Grand Commandery in and for the State of Michigan, subordinate to our Grand Encampment, such State Grand Commandery, when so formed, making due return and report to me of all their official doings and proceedings in the premises, and making a like return to our V. E. Grand Recorder; and for all their doings, in accordance with the rules and usages of our Order, in forming such State Grand Commandery, this shall be their warrant. Given under my Hand and Private Seal, at the City of Columbus, this 12th day of February, A. D. 1857, A. O. 739. [L. S.] W. B. HUBBARD, G. M. Thus the name of M. E. Grand Master William Blackstone Hubbard gave life, not only to every one of the six Commanderies then working in Michigan, but also to the Grand Commandery organized by |