petition for a charter was read in the Grand Lodge of New York, then in session, and the prayer granted.

A dispensation was given to Major B. Watson to install the officers, and the following letter explains why he did not perform that duty:

Sir.

Fort Howard, Green Bay, 5 March, 1825.

The dispensation of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, which you did me the favor to transmit, reached me a short time since, after following me from place to place about the country. On my arrival here, I however found it useless, as a gentleman, Mr. Stevens, who was authorized, had installed the Lodge, and it was in full operation, of which you have doubtless been informed, by the reports of Mr. Stevens, and of the Lodge. If any expense attends the dispensation it is chargable to the Lodge.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect.

Your Obedient Servant,

B. Watson.

This Lodge made regular returns to the Grand Lodge of New York the next two years, and at the close of the year 1825 reported twenty-seven members, and the following officers:

Walter V. Wheaton, W. M.

R. S. Satterlee, S. W.
Robert Irwin, Jr., J. W.
Daniel Curtis, Sec.
John D. Hopson, Treas.

Lewis N. Morris, S. D.

James Dean, J. D.

John P. Arndt, Steward,

Miller Gilman, Tyler.

Accompanying this return was the following letter from the Secretary, showing that this Lodge meant to fulfill all its financial obligations:

Sir and Brother.

Green Bay, M, T., 4 Feby. 1826.

Herewith you will receive a return of Menomanie Lodge, No. 374, and a Registry return for the year ending the 27 of December A. L. 5825, which I trust you will find satisfactory. I am instructed by the Worshipful Master to signify to you that the dues of last year, together with those for the year, A. L.

5824, will be punctually remitted on the opening of the Navigation in the Spring. Yours very Respy.

Wm. Dickinson,

Secty.

To Elias Hicks,

Grand Secty. of the

Grand Lodge of the State of New York.

This Lodge was interested with those in Detroit and vicinity in the matter of organizing a Grand Lodge in Michigan, and at the convention held for that purpose on June 24, 1826, was represented by proxy, Brothers Andrew G. Whitney of Zion Lodge and Marshall Chapin of Detroit Lodge, having been appointed to act in behalf of this Lodge. It was also represented by duly appointed proxies in most of the subsequent meetings of that Grand Lodge, but its distance and the inconvenience of travel in those days prevented its members from personally attending the meetings of the Grand Lodge.

The labors of this Lodge were kept up until the year 1830, when, by reason of the removal of the regiment stationed there, whose officers were the main support of the Lodge, it was compelled to discontinue its existence.

During the six years which this Lodge was kept alive at this remote military post, about forty persons were initiated or became affiliated therein. Several of them were later known as men of prom

inence in Green Bay.

The dispensation and Charter granted to this Lodge in 1824, were both signed by Martin Hoffman, then Grand Master in New York, and were carefully preserved and highly prized by Washington Lodge, No. 21, at Green Bay, until they, with other valuable records and papers, were destroyed by a fire that occurred in 1869.

MONROE LODGE.

Among the older settled places in what is now the state of Michigan, was Monroe. As early as the year 1824 we find the Masons residing at that place taking steps to secure the establishment of a Lodge there. The following petition was sent to the Grand Lodge of New York:

TO THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The petitioners hereof humbly sheweth that they are ancient free and accepted Master Masons, having the prosperity of the fraternity at heart, they are willing to exert their best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry. For the convenience of their respective dwellings and for other good reasons, they are desirous of forming a New Lodge in the Town of Monroe, in the Territory of Michigan, to be named "MONROE LODGE." In consequence

of this desire and the good of the craft they pray for a Charter or Warrant to empower them to assemble as a legal Lodge, to discharge the duties of Masonry in the several Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason, in a regular and Constitutional manner, according to the ancient forms of the fraternity and the Laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge. That they have nominated and do recommend Seneca Allen to be the first Master, Hiram Brown to be the first Senior Warden, and Harry Conant to be the first Junior Warden of said Lodge; that if the Prayer of the petition should be granted they promise a strict conformity to all the Constitutional Laws, rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge.

Dated at Monroe, Monroe county, Mich. Terr'y, October 29th 1824, A. L, 5824.

This petition was recommended by Zion Lodge on November 3d, and by Detroit Lodge two days later, and was duly forwarded. to the Grand Lodge of New York, and on December 21 of the same year, the warrant was granted to that body, and the following dispensation was given to Brother A. G. Whitney:

BY THE MOST WORSHIPFUL

MARTIN HOFFMAN, ESQ.,

GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. To the Worshipful Br. ANDREW G. WHITNEY, Past Master of Zion. Lodge, No. 3.

WHEREAS; a Warrant has issued from the GRAND LODGE of this State, for the purpose of erecting a Lodge by the name of MONROE LODGE, No. 375, to be held in the Town of MONROE in the Couuty of MONROE, in the TERRITORY of MICHIGAN.

AND WHEREAS, from the distance at which those who are appointed officers of the said Lodge reside, it is inconvenient for the officers of the GRAND LODGE personally to attend and install them into their respective offices:

NOW THEREFORE, I do by these presents authorize you to summon together as many of the brethren as may be convenient, and with their assistance to proceed to install the Officers of the said Lodge, as named in the Warrant, into their respective offices: and to constitute the said Lodge according to the ancient usages of the craft, in such cases established; you making report of your proceedings to the Grand Secretary, and for so doing this dispensation shall be your sufficient Warrant.

GIVEN under my hand and private seal, at the City of New York, this Fourth day of December, Anno Lucis, 5824.

MARTIN HOFFMAN.

ATTEST

E. HICKS.

Grand Secretary.

In pursuance of the duty imposed on him by this dispensation, Brother Whitney issued the following summons to the brethren named therein:

TO the BRETHREN hereafter named, to wit, Phillip Lecuyer, Ebenezer Reed, Charles Jackson, Wm. Fletcher, E. T. Champlin, Peter P. Ferry, Robert Clark, Austin E. Wing, Joseph W. Brown, Horace Wolcott, Samuel Choat, Levi Collier, Andrew Murray, Stephen Downing, Samuel Gale, Lenus A. Fuller, Edmund Littlefield.

WHEREAS, The most worshipful Martin Hoffman, Esquire, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, has, under his hand and private seal, instructed me, that a warrant has issued from the Grand Lodge of that State, for the purpose of erecting a Lodge by the name of Monroe Lodge, No. 375, to be held in the Town of Monroe, in the County of Monroe; And whereas he has, by his dispensation, under his hand and private seal, addressed to me as Past Master of Zion Lodge, No. 3, authorized me to summon together as many of the Brethren as may be convenient, and with their assistance to proceed to install the officers of the said Lodge, as named in the said warrant, and to constitute the said Lodge according to the ancient usages of the Craft;-Now, therefore, in pursuance of the authority, by the aforesaid dispensation given, I do hereby summon you, Brethren, and each of you, whose names are above written, to appear, at the Masonic Hall, in Monroe, on the 29th day of June, present, at nine of the clock in the forenoon of the said day, to assist me in the installation of the said officers of the said Lodge, and in constituting the same according to the ancient usages of the craft, in such cases established.

Done in pursuance of the authority above recited, under my hand and private seal, at the city of Detroit, this 27th day of June, Anno Lucis, 5825.

A. G. Whitney. A full report of the work done at this meeting appears record which was transmitted to the Grand Lodge:

in this

Monroe, June 29, 5825.

At a special Grand Lodge, held at Monroe, in the County of Monroe, in the Territory of Michigan, on Wednesday, the 29th day of June, A. L. 5825, were present,

M. W. Andrew G. Whitney, Grand Master

Austin E. Wing, D. G. Master
John E. Schwarz, S. Gr. Warden

Andrew Murray, J. G. Warden

Robert Clark, Gr. Treasurer

Ebenezer Reed, Grand Secretary

Elisha P. Champlin, S. Gr. Deacon
Samuel Gale, Jr. Gr. Deacon

Br. Eliakim Root, visitor.

Rev. Wells, Grand Chaplain.
Philip Lecuyer, Gr. Marshal
Collier

Downing (Gr. Stewards.)

Lenus A. Fuller, Gr. Tyler.

Peter P. Ferry-(Book of Consti-
tutions)

Choates (Bible)
Richard Smythe, Gr. Sword Bearer.

The Charter of Monroe Lodge No. 375, derived from the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, was exhibited and read.

A dispensation from the Grand Master of Masons of New York, authorizing Br. Andrew G. Whitney, P. M, of Zion Lodge No. 3, Detroit, to summon a number of brethren to form a temporary Grand Lodge and proceed to install the officers of Monroe Lodge, was exhibited and read.