Sir S. L. DART, Coldwater, Sir E. D. BENEDICT, Grand Rapids, Sir J. H. ARMSTRONG, Hillsdale, Sir WILLIAM BARCLAY, Detroit, Sir L. C. STARKEY, Kalamazoo, Sir P. H. TAYLOR, Ionia, Sir J. SAUNDERS, Detroit, Sir W. V. GRIFFITH, Detroit, R. E. Grand Commander. E. Grand Captain General. E. Grand Senior Warden. E. Grand Recorder. E. Grand Standard Bearer. E. Grand Warder. St. Bernard Commandery, No. 16, of Saginaw, was organized soon after the annual conclave in 1866, under dispensation given by Grand Commander Dart, with Irving M. Smith as its first Eminent Commander. This Commandery soon ranked among the best in the state and Grand Commander Dart had reason to be proud of his act that called it into existence. He also gave dispensations for Commanderies at Marshall and Sturgis, both of which have made good records and proven the wisdom of his acts. SEAMAN L. DART. Seaman L. Dart was born in northern Ohio, March 20, 1829. He came to Michigan at an early age and settled at Jackson where he resided until May, 1853, when he removed to Coldwater, where he remained until 1865, removing then to Cambria, Hillsdale County, and a few years later, to Herman, Nebraska. He learned the trade of shoemaker in early life, which he followed for some time after removing to Coldwater, when he studied medicine and took up the practice of that profession. He was an ardent lover of Masonry. He was made a Master Mason in Jackson Lodge, No. 17, May 2, 1853, when he was twenty-four years old, and during the rest of his life devoted much time and energy to that institution. It was but a few years until he had received all the degrees in Chapter, Council and Commandery, and in all those bodies, together with the Lodge, he served as presiding officer for many years, inspiring his associates with that zeal and enthusiasm which so eminently characterized him. His ability secured him early recognition in the Grand Bodies which he attended, and he rapidly rose to the highest positions, being Grand Master of the Grand Council R. and S. M., and Grand Commander K. T. in 1866, when only thirty-five years old. He died at his residence in Herman, Nebraska, on the eighth day of February, 1883, being then fifty-four years of age. For several successive years an attempt had been made to change the time of holding the annual conclaves of the Grand Commandery from June to January. This was again the case in 1867, but the project failed to carry and the Grand Commandery continued to hold its annuals in June, changing a couple of years later to May, which has ever since been the month for such meeting. At this time the dues from subordinate Commanderies amounted to about five hundred dollars a year. The expenses were about in the same proportion, the Grand Recorder's salary being but fifty dollars a year. A surplus of five to six hundred dollars usually remained on hand each year after paying the annual expenses. At the annual election of Grand Officers in June, 1867, the following were elected: Sir E. D. BENEDICT, Grand Rapids, Sir D. BOVEE, Coldwater, Sir L. C. STARKEY, Kalamazoo, R. E. Grand Commander. V. E. Deputy Grand Commander. E. Grand Generalissimo. E. Grand Captain-General. E. Grand Senior Warden. E. Grand Junior Warden. E. Grand Recorder. E. Grand Standard Bearer. |