Our Illustrious History 1821 – Tomorrow
by Jeff Stokes on 23/03/10 at 3:53 am
The Council House shown here in 1821
Detroit Lodge No. 2 F.&A.M. or “The Deuce” as it is referred to has a rich history in the city of Detroit as well as Michigan dating back to when this state was still a territory. To tell the story of Detroit No. 2 is to tell the story of Freemasonry in Michigan.
Masonry in Detroit started on April 27, 1764. Then on August 10, 1821, Michigan’s second lodge began the process of organization as Detroit Lodge No. 337 of the Grand Lodge of New York as the region still being a Territory. That initial meeting was held at Benjamin Woodworth’s Hotel and those present were for the most part sojourning Masons. On September 5, 1821, the Grand Lodge of New York granted a warrant to the brethren seeking the dispensation under the name and style of Detroit Lodge No. 337. The charter did not reach Detroit until the later part of November. The warrant was signed by Daniel Tompkins who was the Grand Master of Masons in New York and also the Vice President of the United States of America. John Farmer was the first candidate and he received his first degree on April 30, 1822. Detroit Lodge shared a hall with Zion Lodge and Monroe Chapter RAM. The first Masonic funeral ever performed by Detroit Lodge was that of Brother Elihu Sikes, Junior Deacon who was interred with full Masonic Ceremonies on August 11,1822.
On June 13, 1826, Brothers Charles Jackson, Levi Cook, and John Garrison were appointed to represent Detroit Lodge in a convention called for June 24, 1826 for the purpose of forming the Grand Lodge of Michigan. Upon establishment of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, Detroit Lodge No. 337, New York registry, became Detroit Lodge No. 2.
As we delve into Detroit Lodge’s minutes for the 1850’s we are tremendously impressed with the outstanding caliber of the Masons who served the Lodge as Worshipful Master. They were able, dedicated, imaginative, and simply full of inventive ideas. No lodge in the entire history of this Grand Jurisdiction has ever been able to match their incomparable performance. From 1841 to 1858 the Masonic leaders of the lodge, who were also the most prominent citizens in the community, created a very impressive score of years and not the the least accomplishment among the many was the stimulating fact that five Detroit Past Masters served the Grand Lodge a total of twelve years as Grand Master of Masons in Michigan during that period.
The first member of Detroit Lodge to die in the Civil War was Brother and First Lieutenant W. Strong Bliss, who while fighting at Pittsburgh Landing was taken prisoner of war on April 5, 1862 and sent to Montgomery Alabama. Being sick, he received written permission to buy some milk. On trying to buy the milk he was ordered away by the guard. He persisted and the guard finally raised his gun and fired point blank. He was buried by the Masons of Montgomery and a stone erected over his grave.
At the Regular Communication of May 14, 1889, a committee was appointed by the Worshipful Master to look into all phases of building a new Masonic Temple. It is the opinion of Brother Smith that this was the beginning effort which brought into being the great Masonic Temple on Lafayette Boulevard. As the need for a new Temple loomed large on the Craft’s horizon, Past Master John H. Hanna was the natural choice to become the lodge’s representative to the newly formed Masonic Temple Association of Detroit. As of November 29, 1892 Detroit Lodge had on hand $1,500 for the new temple project. PM Hanna helped spearhead a special act of the Michigan Legislature so that the new temple corporation might be properly incorporated and ready to assume its important duties. At the regular of March 20, 1894, PM Hanna reported that the actual work on the site of the new Temple had begun. On January 23, 1895 the cornerstone was laid by the Grand Lodge of Michigan. A great fair was held in the building from November 25 to December 14, 1895. Detroit Lodge was assigned as its meeting place, the west room on the third floor.
Masonic Temple on Lafayette Boulevard
At this time there were nine lodges in the new Masonic Temple (see picture) along with three Royal Arch Chapters, Monroe Council, and Detroit Commandery.
On the evening of Thursday March 12, 1896, it was discovered that the roof had caught fire, presumably from an exposed electric wire. The fire could not be controlled for a long time and before morning the entire Masonic properties susceptible to injury by smoke and water had been completely ruined. Detroit Lodge found ample quarters at Philharmonic Hall at 42 Lafayette during the reconstruction. They moved back into the temple in September, although many of the rooms still remained only partially furnished.
Detroit Lodge adopted new By-laws on June 20, 1899. Fees for the degrees remained at $50.00 and the charge for affiliation was dropped. Dues were raised to four dollars per year. The lodges total income for the year 1899 was $3,534.03. Since it’s beginning 1025 members had joined.
At the end of 1908, the lodge had 869 current members. If the total raising fell below 50 per year, it was labeled as a poor year! In 1910, Detroit Lodge was very excited as it’s baseball team had a dominating command over the competition that year, winning the pennant in the Masonic Baseball League.
The Temple on Lafayette in time began to experience an overcrowding situation. With the flow of trade on the river ports booming fueled by the expanding new automobile industry, the city of Detroit was growing, and so was Freemasonry.
Some time was spent by George D. Mason & Co., architects, in devising plans for the enlarging of the Lafayette Boulevard Temple to take care of the over-crowded situation It was finally decided, however, that the land available in that location would not permit the erection of a Temple that would be adequate for the needs of the Fraternity. A move was started in 1913 to purchase a new location and a thorough survey involving many choice sites in the city of Detroit was instituted. After long and careful study by the committee in charge, considering every angle which might enter into the erection of such a structure as would be necessary, the Association finally obtained options on 350 feet of property fronting on Temple Avenue (then Bagg Street), running in an easterly direction from the Northeast corner of Second Boulevard.
Unfinished Temple circa 1923
On Thanksgiving day in 1926 The Deuce found a new breathtaking home in the world’s largest Masonic Temple, the Detroit Masonic Temple.
At one time this massive complex also contained the following, but are no longer in service.
· 3-chair barber shop
· Shoe shine parlor
· 15 lane bowling alley
· Cigar/candy/souvenir stand
· Indoor swimming pool
· Bakery
· Billiards room
· Roof-top garden
· Gymnasium
Discussion: