Union City, Mason, Big Rapids, Schoolcraft, South Haven, Bay City and Northville. These were all given charters at the next annual convocation of the Grand Chapter, as were also petitioners from Pentwater and Bellevue, making fifty-nine now on the rolls of the Grand Chapter. The Grand Lecturer, "Father Blanchard," visited about a dozen Chapters during this year, for which he received from the Grand Chapter the sum of six hundred dollars. He had now been Grand Lecturer for ten years and was now retired from that position, Benjamin Porter being elected to succeed him. By vote of the Grand Chapter Companion Blanchard was paid four hundred dollars for the next year, as a testimonial to his faithful labors in the past. Resolutions testifying to his zeal and efficiency were also adopted by a unanimous vote. The salary of Grand Lecturer Porter was fixed at five hundred dollars for the year 1867. JOHN P. FISKE, G. H. P. John P. Fiske was born September 2nd, 1830, at Cazenovia, Madison County, New York. He worked on the farm in boyhood, and like most boys brought up on a farm, his education was limited to the common district school. Having an ambition and taste for mercantile life, his first experience was in a country store in western New York, in the villages of Westbury and Pike. Seeking a broader field for business, he filled an engagement of two years in 1853 and 1854 in the City of Cleveland, Ohio. During the year of 1854, the cholera had become an epidemic, and having taken the disease his recovery was almost a miracle. On February 7th, 1855, he came to Detroit, Michigan, in which city he has resided continually ever since. He was employed the first ten years, with a house in the sale of china, crockery and glassware. For the past thirty years he was proprietor and conducted the same line of business for himself. He helped organize the Union National Bank in 1886, and was its president for eight years. His time always fully occupied with his own business duties, he never sought political preferment. The first year of his residence in Detroit he became identified with the masonic fraternity, and since that time, for a period of more than forty years his masonic life has been an active one, and the success and prominence which his Lodge, Chapter and Commandery now enjoy in this jurisdiction is in part due to his guiding mind in the early days of their existence, and the ever watchful care he has exerted over them during the many years he has been an active member. Brother Fiske was made a Mason in Union Lodge of Strict Observance, No. 3, December 10th, 1855. In 1857, was elected Senior Deacon; in 1858 and 1859, Senior Warden; in 1860, 1861, 1863 and 1865 was Worshipful Master. He received the Chapter degrees in Peninsular Chapter, No. 16, at Detroit and was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree, Feb. 12th, 1857, and was High Priest of the Chapter for the years 1863, 1864 and 1865. In 1865 he was elected Grand Scribe of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan; in 1866, Grand King; and in 1867 he was elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter. December 7th, 1863, he received the degrees of Royal and Select Master in Monroe Council, No. 1, at Detroit, Michigan. He is also a member of the order of High Priesthood. He was dubbed and created a Knight Templar in Detroit Commandery, No. 1, at Detroit, September 1st, 1865, and filled the offices of Captain General and Generalissimo, and was Eminent Commander for the years 1873 and 1874. In all the offices he has filled in the subordinate and Grand Bodies, he has given wise council and it is the earnest wish, he may long live and enjoy the companionship of his brethren. The officers elected for the year 1868 were: GEORGE C. MUNRO, Jonesville, WILLIAM L. WEBBER, East Saginaw, CHARLES H. BROWN, Kalamazoo, WILLIAM V. MORRISON. Albion, J. EASTMAN JOHNSON, Centreville, RUFUS W. LANDON, Niles, REV. WILLIAM STOWE, Port Huron, JOHN W. FINCH, Adrian, GEORGE W. WILMOT, Fenton, BENJAMIN PORTER, Jackson, Grand High Priest. Deputy Grand High Priest. Grand Scribe. Grand Secretary. Grand Treasurer. Grand Chaplain. Grand Captain of Host. Grand Royal Arch Captain. This year, like the two preceding ones, proved a prosperous one |