A communication was received from the new Lodge, stating that they were convened at their hall, and were ready to receive the Grand Lodge. Whereupon the Grand Lodge proceeded to the Hall of Monroe Lodge, No. 375, and the M. W. Grand Master installed the officers of the said Lodge conformably to the charter and dispensation there exhibited, and the ancient usages of the craft. After prayer by the Rev. Grand Chaplain, and an appropriate address by the M. W. Grand Master, illustrative of the history and progress of the order, the Grand Lodge adjourned to the twenty-second day of October next, then to assemble for the purpose of consecrating the Lodge now constituted. Ebenezer Reed, G. Secretary. In April, 1826, in response to the call from the other Michigan Lodges, this Lodge resolved to co-operate with them in forming a Grand Lodge, and appointed John Anderson, Harry Conant and Charles Noble a committee to represent that Lodge. At the convention held on June 24, 1826, John Anderson was present as a delegate from Monroe Lodge, No. 375. At the meeting held on July 31, when the organization of the Grand Lodge was effected, Monroe was not represented, but at the December meeting of the same year, Harry Conant and Benjamin Davis represented that Lodge. Farther than these items, nothing is known concerning this early Lodge. When Masonic work was suspended in 1829, Monroe Lodge laid down its working tools and the use of them was never resumed. never resumed. No record is known to exist of its work, or who were its officers or members, and only the above brief records remain as proof that such a Lodge ever had an existence. WESTERN STAR LODGE, NO. 6,—ANN ARBOR. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge, held in Detroit, January 15, 1827, a petition from a number of Master Masons in the County of Washtenaw, praying for a charter from the Grand Lodge, empowering them to form and hold a Lodge in the village of Ann Arbor, in said county, by the name of Western Star Lodge, was received and read, Whereupon it was Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed by this Grand Lodge to enquire into the expediency of granting the prayer of the petitioners, and to report, if practicable, this evening. The committee consisted of Brothers Levi Cook, R. Irwin and Elliot Gray, who recommended granting the prayer of the petitioners, and on the following day, January 16, 1827, Grand Master Lewis Cass issued his dispensation authorizing the formation of that Lodge. This Lodge was duly organized and was consecrated on January 30th of that year, an emergent communication of Grand Lodge being held for that purpose. Brother R. Irwin, Jr. acted as Grand Secretary at this meeting and made the report to the Grand Lodge. Brother Martin Davis was installed as the Worshipful Master, and the Lodge was numbered six on the Grand Lodge register. Brother Davis represented this Lodge in Grand Lodge at its next meeting, at which time he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and held that position during the existence of that Grand Lodge. In the general suspension of Masonic work which followed soon after its organization, this Lodge, like the others, closed its doors and became dormant. When a resumption of work was determined upon in 1841, we find Brother Davis exercising the supposed prerogatives of his office and issuing his dispensations to form new Lodges, and at the first meeting of the Grand Lodge then formed he was elected Senior Grand Warden. There is no record, however, that Western Star Lodge ever attempted to re-organize, and when the present Grand Lodge was formed, its number, six, was given to Lebanon Lodge, and Western Star Lodge of Ann Arbor became only a memory. STONY CREEK LODGE, NO. 5. THE LINK CONNECTING EARLY MASONRY IN MICHIGAN WITH MASONRY OF TO-DAY. Of all the Lodges established in the early days of Masonry in Michigan, none are deserving of a higher place in history than Stony Creek Lodge. Organized just prior to the anti-masonic crusade which nearly swept Masonry from this state, this was the only Lodge that refused to lower its colors, and during all those years of persecution it never closed its doors, but kept bravely at work, promulgating the principles of Masonry. Among the early settlers of this vicinity was Nathaniel Millerd, who came from the state of New York in 1822, and in the following year he settled at that place, built mills and started the little town of Stony Creek, and was the first postmaster there. At this time there were only three Masonic Lodges in Michigan; Zion, Detroit and Oakland. A number of other Masons from the east came and settled at The following petition was drawn up for presentation to the Grand Lodge. To the Grand Lodge of the Territory of Michigan: The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the counties of Oakland and Macomb, in the Territory of Michigan, respectfully represent that they are Free and Accepted Master Masons; that they have been members of regular Lodges; that having the prosperity of the fraternity at heart, they are willing to exert their best endeavors to promote the regular and general principles of Masonry, and that they now reside at an inconvenient distance from any Lodge. Therefore, for these and other good reasons, they are desirous of forming a Lodge of Master Masons at the Village of Stony Creek, in the County of Oakland, and Territory of Michigan, by the name of Stony Creek Lodge, and pray for a dispensation or warrant of charter, to empower them to assemble as a regular Lodge, that they may discharge the duties in a constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the Order and the regulations of the Grand Lodge. They would nominate and do recommend Br. William A. Burt for their first Master; Br. John Allen for the first Senior Warden; Br. John Axford for the first Junior Warden of the Lodge herein petitioned for. If the prayer of the petitioners should be granted, they promise a strict compliance with all the constitutional laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge. At a meeting of Zion Lodge No. 1, held on the roth inst. it was resolved by a unanimous vote of this Lodge to recommend the foregoing petition to the Grand Lodge of Michigan. By order of the W. M. P. Lecuyer, This petition came before the Grand Lodge at its second annual meeting, on June 6, 1827, and was referred to Brothers Levi Cook (afterwards Grand Master) John Farrar, and A. C. Canniff. At the same meeting a petition was presented asking for a Lodge at Rochester, only two miles distant. This committee recommended that Oakland Lodge, then meeting at Auburn, be removed back to Pontiac where it was first established, and if so removed, that a new Lodge be established at Rochester, but if not removed, that the Lodge be established at Stony Creek. Oakland Lodge was not removed, and Stony Creek received a dispensation of which the following is a copy: Be it known that I, Lewis Cass, Grand Master of Masons in Michigan, by virtue of the power in me vested by the constitution, and in conformity with the resolution of the Grand Lodge, do by these presents authorize and empower our worthy brethren, William A. Burt, John Allen and John S. Axford, and their associates, being members of said Stony Creek Lodge No. 7, to form, open and hold a Lodge of Master Masons, Fellow Crafts and Entered Apprentices, in the town of Oakland, village of Stony Creek, County of Oakland, and Territory of Michigan, until a charter shall be made out and sent to them by the Grand Lodge (unless it shall be my pleasure sooner to revoke and annual the same), which shall be known and distinguished by the name of Stony Creek Lodge No. 7. And I do also hereby invest the above named brethren, and the other members of the said Lodge, with full power and authority to assemble on all proper and lawful occasions, and initiate Entered Apprentices, pass Fellow Crafts and raise Master Masons, and also to do and perform all and every such acts and things appertaining to the Art as have been, and ought to be done, for the honor and advantage thereof, conforming in all their proceedings to the rules prescribed by the Constitution of the Grand Lodge aforesaid, and the ancient land-marks of the fraternity; otherwise this letter of dispensation, and the powers by it granted, to cease and be of no further effect. Given under my hand and privy seal at the city of Detroit, this ninth day of January, in the year of the Christian Era 1828, and of Masonry 5828. LEWIS CASS. The officers of the new Lodge were publicly installed in the new school-house, Bro. C. Munson acting as proxy of the Grand Master and installing the officers. From this time the Lodge met in Brother Millerd's house for several years, until the Anti-Masonic excitement became so intense, that neighbor rose against neighbor, and even families were divided. The church of which Brother Millerd was a member became so outspoken and bitter in denunciation of masonry that for the sake of peace he asked the Lodge to remove to another house, which was done, and regular meetings were continued without interruption. Of the work done by this Lodge during its sole occupancy of the Michigan field, and the persons made Masons therein, no record exists. All the early records were destroyed by a fire that occurred in 1868. From fragmentary records, however, and from personal recollections of those who know of its early history, much has been learned that is valuable to the student of masonic history. Among those who witnessed the public installation of the first officers of this Lodge, and received an impression that afterwards brought him into |