ADMINISTRATION OF SALATHIEL C. COFFINBURY.

GRAND MASTER, 1866, 1867, 1868.

Salathiel C. Coffinbury was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 26th of February, 1809. His parents were from Berkeley county, Virginia, where the older members of his family were born and reared, he being the thirteenth child, and the youngest but one of the family. Selecting the Law as a profession, he prepared himself for examination and was admitted to the bar, when he removed to Virginia, was married there, and remained several years. He subsequently returned to Ohio and settled in Tuscarawas county. In January, 1839, he was initiated, passed and raised in Clinton Lodge, No. 104, (110w Massillon Lodge, No. 47,) at Massillon, Stark county, Ohio. In the following September he withdrew from Clinton Lodge, and removed to Mansfield. The Lodge which had formerly been held there had ceased to labor about the year 1827, and Bro. Coffinbury was consequently deprived of the privilege of meeting in lodge. In 1840, he united with others in a petition to the Grand Master, William J. Reese, for a dispensation to open a lodge in Mansfield, which was granted and the lodge organized.

Brother Coffinbury was Secretary of this Lodge while it was under dispensation; Junior Warden the first year it worked under a charter and Senior Warden the next year.

In 1843 he removed to Centerville, St. Joseph county, Michigan, and entered upon the practice of his profession at that place. It was about five years before he could again enjoy lodge privileges. In 1848, he united with others in petitioning for a lodge at that place and was its first Senior Warden. In December, 1850, he was elected Worshipful Master and served three years. In the year 1855 he removed to Constantine, in the same county, and in December of that year was

elected Worshipful Master of Siloam Lodge, No. 35. He served as such for the next four years. He occupied rather a peculiar position at that time, as he did not dimit from the Lodge at Centreville, but was carried on its books as a member, “removed, but not dimitted."

He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Centreville Chapter, No. 11, January 4, 1853, and was High Priest of that Chapter for a number of years. He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Michigan for the years 1857, 1858 and 1859, and his administration of that office was a remarkably brilliant one. Some of his acts in that high office were most important, and are treated at some length in a former chapter on Royal Arch Masonry.

In 1865 he was elected Deputy Grand Master, and in 1866 was chosen Grand Master, serving for three years with distinguished ability, and then absolutely refusing further re-election.

Among the many monuments to his untiring zeal for Masonry, not the least is the fact that during his three years service as Grand Master, sixty-eight new lodges sprang into existence and were enrolled as constituent members of the Grand Lodge. More than one-fourth of the entire number of Lodges in Michigan at the close of his three years term had been started under dispensations granted by him. His whole masonic career was an active and useful one; every duty assigned to him was performed ably, promptly and faithfully, and he retired from the exalted stations he was called to fill, with the highest esteem of all members of the fraternity in Michigan.

He was a versatile writer upon masonic subjects and very many articles from his pen are to be found in the files of the leading Masonic Journals of this country.

He was a great student and acquired a thorough knowledge of the German and French languages after reaching mature manhood. In conversation he was particularly fascinating and entertaining; as an advocate he was eloquent and convincing; in public speaking brilliant and forcible. While having an extended practice, he had no ambition to accumulate money for money's sake, but above that he valued "Peace on earth, good will toward men.” His generous nature ever prompted him to listen and quickly respond to the cry of his fellow men in trouble or distress.

He died at his home in Constantine on the 20th day of September, 1889, at the venerable age of eighty years, and his remains were committed to the grave with the beautiful ceremonies of Masonry, the officers of the Grand Lodge conducting the exercises.

The year 1866 was, in some respects, a memorable one to Michigan Masonry. A number of brethren of special prominence died during that year. On the seventeenth day of June, our distinguished Brother and Past Grand Master of this state, Lewis Cass, departed this life in the City of Detroit. After a long life of useful devotion to his country's service in various capacities and offices, and many months of severe physical suffering, this distinguished statesman was released from the cares and afflictions of earth, and summond by the Supreme Grand Master of the Universe, to the Grand Lodge above.

Brother William Brodie, acting Mayor of Detroit, at once notified Grand Master Coffinbury, who immediately went to Detroit, summoned the craft for an emergent communication of the Grand Lodge, and took charge of the funeral ceremonies which were such as are due to a Past Grand Master of Freemasons, and with these funeral rites committed the remains of our illustrious Brother to their last resting place. The occasion was one of impressive solemnity; the pageantry was such as had never before been witnessed in that city. In these funeral obsequies the civil departments of the county and city, as well as the Military Commands and various Benevolent Societies severally participated; but the immediate obsequies were entrusted to the Brethren of the Mystic Tie.

At the next annual meeting of the Grand Lodge, Grand Master Coffinbury paid an eloquent tribute to the memory of this distinguished brother, recounting many of the leading incidents and prominent characteristics of his life.

On August 24, of this year, Rev. Sydney S. Brown, Past Grand Chaplain, died at his home in the village of Concord. He served the Grand Lodge as Grand Chaplain for four years, being first elected in 1851. His warm heart, his genial nature and his deep devotion to Masonry endeared him to every member of the brotherhood who had a personal acquaintance with him. He was a proper model of a just and upright Mason, and was called to refreshment in the midst of his activity and usefulness.

December 2, 1866, Past Grand Master Levi Cook died at his home. in the city of Detroit. The name of this venerable and highly esteemed brother is interwoven with the history of Masonry in this state from the beginning of that history. 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 arcana 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 -a good man.

Brother Seneca Caswell, for many years Grand Tiler of the Grand Lodge, also died in this year. He had devoted himself to the interests of Masonry and to its advancement and honor, and was a skilled and devoted member for a long time. Weary and worn, matured and ripened for a better world he sheathed his sword and laid aside the proper implement of his office. Shattered and broken in his earthly tabernacle, he laid down his weary head forever. Peace to his ashes. Honor to his memory.

On the Fourth of July, 1867, the Grand Lodge was called together in special communication for the purpose of laying the corner-stone of "The Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument," in the City of Detroit. The Grand Lodge assembled and was opened on the day preceding this, and then called off, but re-assembled at nine o'clock on the morning of the fourth.

A procession was formed which was imposing in its magnitude and grandeur. Military and civic bodies, benevolent and religious associations, broken and maimed soldiers, tattered and blood-stained battleflags, secret societies and mystic orders, the state, county, and city magistracy all had their proper places. The Grand Lodge was escorted by Detroit Commandery of Knights Templar, and Apollo Commandery of the City of Chicago, which joined Detroit Commandery in this courteous attention to this Grand Lodge at the invitation of the latter. These Commanderies vied with each other in their chivalric bearing and knightly courtesy and deportment. A large procession of our

brethren, in which were many from other grand jurisdictions, also attended.

Although meretricious displays and public demonstrations are not to be too often indulged in by our Order, and, by some, are regarded as incompatible with its true spirit and genius, and its mission of mercy and benevolence, yet this was deemed a proper occasion for masons to join our fellow-citizens in those festivities which commemorated our birth as a nation.

The Grand Lodge was formed in order as follows:

Light Guard Band.

Grand Tiler, with drawn sword.

Grand Steward, with white rod.

Grand Architect, with Square, Level and Plumb.
Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary.

Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, carried by a Master of a Lodge, supported by two Stewards.

Most Rev. Grand Chaplain.

The Five Orders of Architecture.

R. W. Junior Grand Warden carrying the silver vessel with oil. R. W. Senior Grand Warden carrying the silver vessel with wine. R. W. Deputy Grand Master carrying the golden vessel with corn. Most Worshipful Grand Master, supported by two Deacons, with rods. Grand Sword Bearer, with drawn sword.

The procession paraded through the principal streets of the city and made a grand and imposing display. The streets were thronged with people, who, notwithstanding the intense heat, had assembled by thousands to witness the interesting ceremonies. About the time the procession arrived at the site of the monument, a heavy shower of rain set in, but the ceremonies proceeded without interruption. In reporting this act, Grand Master Coffinbury said "our labors were baptized with the pure rain of heaven and the loud thunder added its sanction of a deep Amen." The Grand Master announced the purpose of the occasion in these well chosen words:

BRETHREN—We are about to engage in the most solemn ceremony pertaining to our Order. From time immemorial it has been the custom to lay the cornerstones of such edifices as it was supposed would endure to after ages, under rites