Sir L. C. STARKEY, Kalamazoo,

Sir WM. BARCLAY, Detroit,
Sir O. BOURKE, Detroit,

Sir JOHN GOLDSMITH, Jr., Jackson,
Sir CARLOS G. CURTIS, Detroit,

Sir THEO. G. BEAVER, Niles,
Sir W. V. GRIFFITH, Detroit,

E. Grand Junior Warden.
E. Grand Treasurer.

E. Grand Recorder.

E. Grand Standard Bearer.
E. Grand Sword Bearer.

E. Grand Warder.

E. Grand Captain of Guards.

The prosperity that had marked the three previous years still continued and Templar Masonry kept on increasing in strength and popularity.

Grand Commander Armstrong increased the number of Commanderies by three, giving dispensations for that many new ones, located at Big Rapids, St. Johns and Lansing.

The older Commanderies were nearly all doing a goodly amount of work and many recruits were being added to Templar ranks.

JOHN HUFFMAN ARMSTRONG.

John Huffman Armstrong was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, on the thirtieth day of August, 1815. When he was three years of age his father's family removed to Bethel, Ontario County and three years later, in 1821, to Plattsburg, Steuben County, in that state, and in the common schools of that county young John received his education.

In 1831 he returned to Poughkeepsie where he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and also became an expert machinist and millwright.

In the summer of 1837, the same year Michigan was admitted as a state, he came here to "grow up with the country." He settled at Grass Lake, in Jackson County, where he worked at his trade for several years. In 1857 he removed to Hillsdale, which place was his home for the rest of his life. Here he engaged in the hide and leather business with his brother. This business proved very successful and he retired in 1883 with an ample competency.

He was married twice, his first wife dying six months after their marriage. He was again married in 1863 to Miss Marietta L. Willard, of Waterford, Maine.

In the early part of his life he was a Whig and cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison. He was one of the founders of the Re

publican party, under the oaks in Jackson. In 1862 and 1863 he was president of the village of Hillsdale, and in 1870 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature.

He was made a Mason in Washtenaw Lodge, No. 65, at Dexter, in 1854, and in 1859 joined Fidelity Lodge, No. 32, in Hillsdale, which was thereafter his masonic home, and of which he was treasurer for seventeen years.

June 24, 1864, he became a member of Hillsdale Chapter, No. 18, having previously received the degrees elsewhere. He was made a Royal and Select Master in Mt. Ararat Council, No. 15, in 1864.

March 2, 1858, he was created a Knight Templar in Eureka Commandery, No. 3, and was its Eminent Commander for the years 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1870, 1871 and 1874, and in 1868 was elected Grand Commander, which office he filled with signal ability for one year.

In all the relations of life he won friends by his courteous and gentle manners and his pleasing address, and with him, friendships once formed were lasting.

He died at his home in Hillsdale on the seventh day of June, 1897, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

During his year as Grand Commander Sir Armstrong visited many of the Commanderies, and his visits were productive of good in stimulating the enthusiasm of officers and members. In his address at the close of his year's service, he recommended a yearly state encampment where the Commanderies might spend a week in drill and review. This matter was referred to Sir Knights Jenks, Bovee and Henderson, and their report, recommending that such an encampment be held, at such time and place as should be selected was adopted. The proposed encampment, however, did not yet become a reality, as nothing further seems to have been done about it during that year.

ADMINISTRATION OF A. T. METCALF.

GRAND MASTER 1869, 1870.

Abraham Tolles Metcalf, D. D. S., is the son of David and Mabelle-Ball-Metcalf, and was born February 26, 1831 in Whitestown, N. Y. He is a lineal descendant of Rev. Leonard Metcalf, Rector of the Cathedral of Tatterford, in Fakenham, Norfolk county, England. In 1616, Leonard Metcalf's son Micheal renounced the faith and united with the established church. Afterwards, on account of the arbitrary decrees of Bishop Wren, and his Dean, Doctor Corbett, Micheal Metcalf became a dissenter. He was accused of heresy and committed to prison, from which he escaped and came to America, landing in Boston, April 13th, 1637.

A. T. METCALF IN 1870.

Dr. Metcalf received a limited education at the old academy in his native place. After leaving school, he served a brief apprenticeship in his brother's establishment for the manufacture of tin, copper and sheet-iron ware. In 1848 he moved with his father's family to Battle Creek, where he remained but a few months. He returned to New York and commenced the study of dentistry, in the office of Dr. H. R.