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Zion Lodge No. 1 F. & A.M.

Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM logo (April 2008)
Formation	27 Apr 1764
Location	Detroit, Michigan United States of America
Coordinates	42°20′29″N 83°03′37″W / 42.3414194°N 83.0601556°W / 42.3414194; -83.0601556
Region	Michigan (District #029A)
Website	Zion Lodge No. 1 F. & A.M.[1]

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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 in 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 fort blockhouse (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.

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]

Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM is the earliest documented Masonic Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains that was warranted in Detroit on 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] Thirty years later, Zion Lodge No. 10 (now No. 1) was warranted in 1794 for work in Detroit,^[12] and it was in this year that "the Detroit Masons first adopted the name Zion Lodge."^[13] 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^[14] and Bro. Joseph Rowe residing in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada.^[15] 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."^[16] In Upper Canada “Zion Lodge mothered Lodges at River La Tranche and Amherstburgh.”^[17] 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.”^[18] "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."^[19]

In September 1817 "the University of Michigan was assisted in its formation by Zion Lodge and its members"^[20] that provided financial support for the newly created university, an action championed by Judge Augustus B. Woodward, Reverend John Monteith, and Father Gabriel Richard.^[21] 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,^[22] 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.^[23]

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."^[24] “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."^[25] 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."^[26]

Over the course of its 260+ year history, Zion Lodge No. 1 has had to temporarily suspended its operations twice,^[27] 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"^[28] "during the anti-masonic agitation on 1829–1845, but each time its functions were resumed."^[29]

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,^[30] 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),^[31] 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 PHA, for building wheelchair ramps "for the physically disadvantaged to facilitate their entry/exit from their residences"^[32] 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,"^[33] 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,^[34] carried out at the request of a Master Mason or his family.^[35] The dignified and solemn ceremony is meant to honor the life and legacy of its membership, and provide "comfort and solace" to those mourning.^[36] 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,"^[37] 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,"^[38] and has been an annual event celebrated by Zion Lodge No. 1 since February 2008.^[39]

Over its 260+ year history, Zion Lodge has operated under different names and lodge numbers, seven charters/warrants, and five jurisdictions.^[40]

List of charters related to Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM.

List of lodge locations of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM.^[41]

List of past masters of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM (1764–1940).^[42]

List of famous members, and honorary members (*), of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM.^[43]

List of famous members of Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM who have had streets named after them (A-W).^[44]

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.^[45]

• John Christie, first Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 1 of Detroit in 1764 (later Zion Lodge No. 1), in Charleston, SC.^[46]

• George Washington as Master Mason, a sculpture 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, in Detroit, MI.^[47]

• Zion Lodge No. 1, F. and A. M., the earliest documented Masonic Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains established in 1764, in Detroit, MI.^[48]

Great Lakes Masonic Conclave Historical Souvenir 1764–2014. Detroit : Zion Lodge No.1 F. & A.M., 2014.

Morang, GN. Hunting for manuscripts. 1901. Available: https://dr.library.brocku.ca/bitstream/handle/10464/4848/huntingformanuscripts1901.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

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

One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary: Zion Lodge No. 1 F. & A. M. 1764–1914. Chartered April 27, 1764. [Detroit?, 1914]. Available: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015024478466&seq=1

Smith, J. Fairbairn and Fey, Charles. History of Freemasonry in Michigan (Vol. 1). Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Mason of Michigan, Michigan, 1963. Available: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071414471&seq=1

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

State of Michigan Masonic Grand Lodge Proceedings. George Washington Masonic Memorial Collections, 2024. Available: http://gwm.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/GWM~35~35

Zion Lodge Number One is Celebrating its Two Hundredth Anniversary from Seventeen Sixty Four to Nineteen Sixty Four. Detroit, Mich.: Zion Lodge No. 1, 1964. Available: https://detp.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1419904/one

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); Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Canada Library and Archives (Hamilton, ON). Available: https://search.worldcat.org/title/23304540