Zion Lodge No. 1 of Free and Accepted Masons (F. & A.M.), commonly known as Zion No. 1, is a Masonic lodge, or Blue Lodge, that confers the three degrees of Freemasonry, specifically: Entered Apprentice (EA), Fellowcraft (FC), and Master Mason (MM).
Freemasonry came to the Great Lakes region in the 1700s, with Zion Lodge No. 1 Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM) being the earliest documented Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains. It began as Lodge No. 1 at Detroit, a Military Lodge attached to the British 60th Royal American Regiment of Foot in Detroit, and was warranted in Detroit on Friday April 27, 1764, by the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York.[2]
Over its history the lodge has met in many different locations, from a rustic fortblockhouse (1764), to the private residences of Worshipful Master James Donaldson[3] (1794), Bro. James McDonnell (1802),[4] or Bro. John Palmer (1807),[5] and then to Detroit's first purpose built Masonic building (1896) located at First St. and Lafayette Blvd. in Detroit.[6] Since 1926, the Regular Communication meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday Monthly at 7:00 PM (except when dark during July and August),[7] in the Greek Ionic Lodge room, located on the 5th floor Center (5C) of the Ritual Tower in the Detroit Masonic Temple, the world's largest Masonic Temple,[8] at 210 feet tall, 1,037 rooms, and 550,000 sq. feet. Zion Lodge No. 1 has called the Greek Ionic Lodge room, and the Detroit Masonic Temple, home since the temple first opened in 1926. Simply put, “Wednesday Night is Lodge Night,” a truism coined by W. Bro. Bert Brayman (1926-2011) as Wednesday is a night for meetings, perform rituals to confer degrees, or for fellowship at social events or light nights.
Zion Lodge No. 1 as an organization is older than the United States of America (1776), State of Michigan (1837), or Grand Lodge of Michigan (1826) which it helped to form. As of 2024, Zion Lodge No. 1 founded in 1764 is the second oldest extant institution operating in the City of Detroit (with Detroit founded 24 Jul 1701),[9] after Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit established on 26 Jul 1701, which itself is the second oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in America.[10]
History
Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM is the earliest documented Masonic Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains that was first warranted as ‘Lodge No. 1 at Detroit’ on Friday, April 27, 1764, by George Harison, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York, with Lt. John Christie (1740–1782) of the 2nd Battalion, 60th Royal American Foot Regiment as its first Worshipful Master, Sampson Fleming (1757–1791) Commissary of 60th Regiment as Senior Warden, Josias Harper surgeon's mate with the 80th regiment as Junior Warden. Lodge No. 1 at Detroit (later Zion Lodge) held its first meeting "in a blockhouse of Fort Pontchartrain with a gathering of a few civilians and members of the 60th Royal American Foot Regiment."[11] Whether Wardens Fleming and Harper "were soldiers or citizens is not indicated" specifically in the 1764 warrant itself, nor does the warrant contain other language "that gives the lodge, or indicates that it had, a military character." However, "none but 'military men of rank' [were] permitted by English regulations, to be members or officers of a 'military lodge.' "[12]
Thirty years later, Zion Lodge No. 10 (now No. 1) was warranted in 1794 for work in Detroit.[13] It was in this year that "the Detroit Masons first adopted the name Zion Lodge."[14] The next two short-lived lodges established in the territory were also Military Lodges, Harmony Lodge in Detroit (1764-1766) associated with the British 60th Regiment, and St. John's Lodge No. 15 on Mackinac Island (1782-1813) associated with the British 84th Regiment.
The British military surrendered Fort Pontchartrain in July 1796 after the signing of the Jay Treaty. The original Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit was destroyed by fire, along with most of Detroit, in the Great Fire of July 1805.
As the first Masonic lodge in the region, Zion Lodge No. 1 drew its membership from across the region at a time when “many of the members of Zion Lodge prior to 1796 had resided in what is now the Canadian side of the [Detroit] River,” including WM James Donaldson[15] and Bro. Joseph Rowe residing in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada.[16] As the population grew in the territory and Master Masons proliferated, Zion Lodge No. 1 and its membership “sponsored and supported [other Master Masons in their desire to create] additional Lodges in Upper Canada and Michigan."[17] In Upper Canada “Zion Lodge mothered Lodges at River La Tranche and Amherstburgh.”[18] In Lower Canada, Zion Lodge “encouraged the establishment of a Royal Arch Chapter, Monroe Chapter No. 1, R.A.M. which was organized April 21, 1818.”[19] "In addition [Zion Lodge] supported the founding of other Blue Lodges, including "Detroit Lodge No. 337 (now No. 2), Oakland Lodge No. 343 in Pontiac, Menomonie Lodge No. 374 in Green Bay (then a part of the Territory) and Monroe Lodge No. 375 in Monroe."[20]
In September 1817 "the University of Michigan was assisted in its formation by Zion Lodge and its members"[21] that provided financial support for the newly created university, an action championed by Judge Augustus B. Woodward, Reverend John Monteith, and Father Gabriel Richard.[22] On 15 Sep 1817, Zion Lodge met and subscribed the sum of $250 ($5,905 adjusted value in 2024) in aid of the University of Michigan,[23] payable in the sum of $50 per year. Of the total amount subscribed to start the university, two-thirds came from Zion Lodge and its members.[24]
After 62-years of operating under warrants and charters from Grand Lodges hundreds of miles away, "five Lodges laid plans for a Grand Lodge in the Territory [of Michigan] to handle the growing plans for Masonry in the area."[25] “Eleven delegates representing Zion, Detroit, Menomanie and Monroe Lodges met in a convention in Detroit, convened specifically for the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge." "On June 24, 1826 the Grand Lodge of Michigan was established in Detroit."[26] A few month later "Lewis Cass, Territorial Governor and Past Grand Master of Ohio, was elected to be [Michigan's] first Grand Master. On December 27, 1826, the Grand Lodge Officers were duly installed by Most Worshipful Brother Lewis Cass, who as a Past Grand Master of Ohio was fully competent to do this work."[27]
Over the course of its 260+ year history, Zion Lodge No. 1 has had to temporarily suspend its operations twice,[28] first during the War of 1812 suspended between 1812 and 1816, and second resulting from the Morgan Affair (1826), during which time Michigan "Grand Master Cass ordered Masons to suspend their meetings in 1829"[29] "during the anti-masonic agitation on 1829–1845, but each time its functions were resumed."[30]
Zion Lodge No. 1's charitable focus is on assistance and relief for Brothers and their families, primarily though the Jeremiah Tumey & Grand Lodge fund, and the Earl Drew Wheelchair Ramp Fund, while also supporting local Detroit community charitable organizations, including: Special Olympics, Forgotten Harvest, Autism And Us, and Sacred Heart Church.
Zion Lodge No. 1's provides relief to its membership via the Jeremiah Tumey & Grand Lodge 501(c)(3) fund, used to issue grants to its distressed brothers, widows and orphans,[31] and support the scholarship of its members children attending university or community college. The fund, originally created in 1947 (with IRS ruling year of 1963),[32] is named for its grantor, Bro. Jeremiah Tumey (1863–1944), who worked as a farmer, carpenter, and builder, and was a member of Friendship Lodge No. 417 (later consolidated into Zion Lodge No. 1).
Zion Lodge No. 1's Earl Drew Wheelchair Ramp Fund provides funding and volunteer manpower from Zion Lodge No. 1, Aries Grotto, and the selfless and charitable members from other lodges including Unity Lodge No. 28 Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA), for building wheelchair ramps "for the physically disadvantaged to facilitate their entry/exit from their residences"[33] within the Metro Detroit area. This program is named after Bro. Earl K. Drew (1914–2000), who was a member of Phoenicia Lodge No. 531 (later consolidated into Zion Lodge No. 1) and Aries Grotto MOVPER. The program began ca. 1974 "with a simple act of kindness by one man when his friend lost full use of his foot following surgery, and was in need of help entering and exiting his home. This one act lead to requests for help by others, and thus the Earl Drew program was born and continues to this day,"[34] building over 250 ramps since 1974.
Zion Lodge No. 1 provides Masonic Funeral Service and Graveside Burial Rituals for its Master Mason members in good standing,[35] carried out at the request of a Master Mason or his family.[36] The dignified and solemn ceremony is meant to honor the life and legacy of its membership, and provide "comfort and solace" to those mourning.[37] It is one of the few Masonic ceremonies that are performed publicly.
In mid-February, the month that celebrates US President George Washington's Birthday, Zion Lodge No. 1 holds the WB George Washington Ceremony in front of the 'George Washington as Master Mason' statue created by American sculptor Donald De Lue (1897–1988), which was "presented to the city of Detroit by the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan May 21 1966 in Commemoration of Ten Centuries of Freemasonry,"[38] where the statue is located just outside of the historic Mariners' Church of Detroit. The wreath laying ceremony honors "Brother President Washington and his Masonic legacy,"[39] and has been an annual event celebrated by Zion Lodge No. 1 since February 2008.[40]
List of Charters
Over its 260+ year history, Zion Lodge has operated under different names and lodge numbers, seven charters/warrants, and five jurisdictions.[41]
List of charters related to Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM.
Warrant / Charter Number
Lodge Name & Number
Charter Warrant Year(s)
Charter Warrant Date
Jurisdiction
1
Lodge No. 1 at Detroit
1764–1794
1764 Apr 27
Grand Lodge of England by Provincial Grand Lodge of New York
2
Zion Lodge No. 10 (renumbered)
1794–1806
1794 Sep 07
Provincial Grand Lodge of Lower Canada at Quebec
3
Zion Lodge No. 1 at Detroit
1806–1812
1806 Sep 03
Grand Lodge of New York
NA
Suspended Activities
1812–1816
NA
War of 1812
4a
Zion Lodge No. 62 (renumbered)
1816–1819
1816 Apr 15
Grand Lodge of New York
4b
Zion Lodge No. 3 (renumbered)
1819–1826
1819 Jun 04
Grand Lodge of New York
5
Zion Lodge No. 1
1826–1829
1826 Jun 24
Grand Lodge Territory of Michigan
NA
Suspended Activities
1829–1844
NA
Anti-Masonic Period
6
Zion Lodge No. 99 (renumbered)
1844–1845
1844 Jun 13
Grand Lodge of New York
7
Zion Lodge No. 1
1845–present
1845 Jun 05
Grand Lodge of Michigan
List of Lodge Locations
List of lodge locations of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM.[42]
Years
Location
Address
1764–1783
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit (aka Fort Detroit)
Larned St., Griswold St., Washington Blvd., and the Civic Center
1783-1880
New Hall
174-178 Griswold St. and State St.
1794
Private Residence of James Donaldson
Unknown
1802
Private Residence of James McDonnell
Unknown
1804-1805
Dodemeade House (Tavern of Br. John Dodemeade)
Ste. Anne St. (or Jefferson Ave. and Shelby St.)
1807
Private Residence of John Palmer
Unknown
1817-1818
Steamboat Hotel (Benjamin Woodworth)
Woodbridge and Randolph St.
1823-1842
Old Council House
Randolph St. and Jefferson Ave.
1842-1852
Detroit Encampment (Newberry Building)
Cass St. and Jefferson Ave.
1852-1881
Masonic Hall
131-135 Jefferson Ave.
1881-1882
Hilsendegen Hall
52-69 Monroe Ave. and Randolph St.
1882-1883
Kermott's Hall
208 Woodward Ave. and Wilcox Ave.
1884-1887
Masonic Hall
263-265 Michigan Ave.
1887-1894
Scottish Rite Cathedral
99 Lafayette Ave., between Cass Ave. and First St.
1894-1895
Philharmonic Hall
42 Lafayette Blvd.
1895-1926
Masonic Temple
Lafayette Blvd. and First St.
1926-Present
Detroit Masonic Temple
434, 450, 500 Temple St.
List of Past Masters
List of past masters of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM (1764-2000).[43]
Son of Solomon Sibley; Businessman; Fur trader; Politician;
Howard St.
Howard, Leuit. Joshua A.
1793-1868
Military;
Hunt St.
Hunt, Henry Jackson
1819-1889
Politician; Mayor;
Jones St.
Jones, De Garmo
1787-1846
Military; Politician; Mayor;
Kercheval St.
Kercheval, Benjamin Berry
1793-1855
Businessman; Banker; Politician; Senate;
Kirby Ave.
Kirby, Donald M.
????-????
Unknown;
Leib St.
Lieb, John Lewis
1760-1838
Politician; Chief Justice Detroit;
Macomb St.
Macomb, Gen. Alexander
1782-1841
Military;
May St.
May, James
1800-1806
Military; Politician;
McDougall Ave.
McDougall, George
1806-1818
Military; Lawyer;
Meldrum Ave.
Meldrum, George
1737-1817
Businessman;
Meldrum Ct.
Meldrum, George
1737-1817
Businessman;
Palmer Ave.
Palmer, John
1796-1871
Businessman;
Piquette St.
Piquette, Jean Baptiste
1809-1851
Silversmith; Jeweler;
Sibley St.
Sibley, Solomon
1769-1846
Lawyer; Politician; Mayor;
Sproat St.
Sproat-Sibley, Sarah Whipple
1782-1851
Wife of Solomon Sibley;
Strong Ave.
Strong, Col. David
1744-1801
Military;
Temple St.
N/A
1920
Detroit Masonic Temple;
Tumey Ave.
Tumey, Jeremiah
1863–1944
Farmer; Carpenter;
Visger Ave.
Visger, Jacobus
1770-1823
Businessman; Judge;
Visger St.
Visger, Jacobus
1770-1823
Businessman; Judge;
Whitney Ave.
Whitney, Andrew Griswold
1786-1826
Politician; Mayor;
Witherell St.
Witherell, James
1759-1838
Justice; Military;
Woodward Ave.
Woodward, Judge Augustus Brevoort
1774-1827
Chief Justice Michigan Territory;
List of Historical Markers and Monuments
List of Historical Markers related to Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM.
Lewis Cass, Michigan Governor, General, and first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, in Cassopolis, MI.[51]
John Christie, first Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 1 at Detroit in 1764 (later Zion Lodge No. 1), in Charleston, SC.[52]
George Washington as Master Mason, a sculpture in Detroit[53] that depicts George Washington as the Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 (1788-1805) in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1788, the year that he was elected President of the United States.
Zion Lodge No. 1, F. and A. M., the earliest documented Masonic Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains established in 1764, in Detroit, MI.[54]
Selected Bibliography
Burton, Clarence Monroe. Zion Lodge, A.F. & A.M. (Detroit) 1794-1829. An Account of its Members and Visitors with an Historical Introduction. Detroit: 1929. Detroit Public Library, Burton Historical Collection (74D4 366.1 Z6MB). Available: https://search.worldcat.org/title/23305393
Great Lakes Masonic Conclave Historical Souvenir 1764–2014. Detroit: Zion Lodge No.1 F. & A.M., 2014.
Historical Souvenir 1764–1904: Issued in Commemoration of the One Hundred and Fortieth Anniversary of Zion Lodge Number One, F. & A. M., Detroit Michigan, April the Twenty-Seventh, in the Year Nineteen Hundred and Four. Detroit: Zion Lodge No.1 F. & A.M., 1904. Detroit Public Library, Burton Historical Collection (74DA 366.1 Z6H c.2). Available: https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/42730405
Nichols, Kevin H., "Frontier Freemasons: Masonic Networks Linking The Great Lakes To The Atlantic World, 1750–1820" (2020). Wayne State University Dissertations. 2500. https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/2500
Smith, James Fairbairn. Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan: Romantic Development of the Meeting Place of Detroit Freemasons from Rugged Block House in 1764 to Largest and Most Beautiful Masonic Temple in the Entire World. Detroit: s. n., 194-?. Available: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071313293&seq=7
Smith, James Fairbairn. U.S.A. Bicentennial 1776-1976 Presenting Graphic View of Michigan Masonic Tracing Board 1764-1976 - Sesquicentennial of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan Featuring A Panorama of Masonic History. Sesquicentennial Commission, Michigan Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, [Detroit?], [1976?]. Available: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/004400124 Available: https://search.worldcat.org/title/756432419?oclcNum=756432419
Zion Lodge No. 1 Minutes of Meetings, Dec. 19, 1794 – Mar. 2, 1829. 5 volumes; Detroit Public Library, Burton Historical Collection (74D4 366.1 Z6H6); Minutes Zion Lodge No 10. Detroit Upper Canada 1794-1801. 5 volumes; Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Canada Library and Archives, Hamilton, ON (M17.971 Z53h). Available: https://search.worldcat.org/title/23304540
↑ Former Sergeant in British 8th Regiment, stationed at Mackinac between 1780-1782, and resided in Detroit working as an innkeeper in 1795. Askin, John. John Askin Papers Section V: Letters and Papers, 1787-1789. Vol. 1, 1931; p. 305. Available: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=miun.aay8775.0001.001&seq=9
↑ Robertson, John Ross. The History of Freemasonry in Canada from its Introduction in 1749. Compiled and Written from Official Records and from MSS. covering the Period 1749-1858, in the Possession of the Author. Vol. 1. Hunter, Rose, Toronto, 1899; p. 815. Available: https://books.google.com/books?id=aCEgQedbOv0C&pg=PA815
↑ Minutes of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM (2008). "Wreath for George Washington." Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM, 09 Jan 2008, Greek Ionic Room, Detroit Masonic Temple.
↑ Smith, James Fairbairn. Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan: Romantic Development of the Meeting Place of Detroit Freemasons from Rugged Block House in 1764 to Largest and Most Beautiful Masonic Temple in the Entire World. Detroit: s. n., 194-?. Available: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071313293&seq=7
↑ Great Lakes Masonic Conclave Historical Souvenir 1764-2014. Detroit: Zion Lodge No.1 F. & A.M., 2014; p. 46-50; One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary: Zion Lodge No. 1 F. & A. M. 1764-1914. Chartered April 27, 1764. [Detroit?, 1914]; p. 27. Available: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015024478466&seq=1
↑ Folder: MS/Williams, Thomas 1783 July-Dec. Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library.
↑ Great Lakes Masonic Conclave Historical Souvenir 1764–2014. Detroit: Zion Lodge No.1 F. & A.M., 2014; p. 27-43.
↑ Ford is Honored by Masonic Lodge: Thirty Years’ Membership is Recognized at Dinner. Detroit Free Press, (Detroit, Mich.), 22 Nov 1928, p. 3, col. 3; and Zion Lodge Confers Degree on ‘U’ Head: Ruthven says Teachers must Help Students find Moral Code. Detroit Free Press, (Detroit, Mich.), 19 Nov 1931, p. 3, col. 4-5.
↑ Zion Lodge Confers Degree on ‘U’ Head: Ruthven says Teachers must Help Students find Moral Code. Detroit Free Press, (Detroit, Mich.), 19 Nov 1931, p. 3, col. 4-5.
↑ Zion Lodge Confers Degree on ‘U’ Head: Ruthven says Teachers must Help Students find Moral Code. Detroit Free Press, (Detroit, Mich.), 19 Nov 1931, p. 3, col. 4-5.
↑ Great Lakes Masonic Conclave Historical Souvenir 1764–2014. Detroit: Zion Lodge No.1 F. & A.M., 2014; p. 41-46; Granzo, Tina. Detroit History: The Streets of Detroit. Detroit History, 2024. https://historydetroit.com/places/streets.php?I=B
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