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The History of
Genesee County, MI Online Edition by Holice, Deb & Clayton |
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When the first blue lodge was organized, the nearest chapter was located at Pontiac. The need of similar organization at Flint was quickly felt, and on the first day of April, 1865, ten members met under dispensation, and Washington Chapter, No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted, Stillman Blanchard, past high priest, officiating. At the next meeting of the grand chapter a charter was granted, dated January 13, 1857. Chauncey K. Williams was the first eminent high priest. As the jurisdiction of the chapter still covers all of the county and villages adjacent to Flint, its meetings being together many who might otherwise remain strangers. The meetings of Washington chapter are now held on the first Thursday of the month and the membership is five hundred. |
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The officers are: |
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Eminent High Priest |
Ralph B. Long |
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King |
F. W. Hanneman |
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Scribe |
Edward C. Farr |
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Treasurer |
Frank H. Magill |
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Secretary |
C. S. H. Chase |
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Captain of the Host |
Robert H. Darnton |
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Principal Sojourner |
William H. Kilpatrick |
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Royal Arch Captain |
Leland Stanford |
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The following have served as high priests of Washington chapter No. 15: |
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Chauncey K. Williams |
1857, 1858, 1859 |
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John b. Hamilton |
1860 |
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Daniel Clark |
1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1867, 1868 |
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Abner Randall |
1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877 |
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James B. F. Curtis |
1878, 1879 |
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Marcus Lane |
1880 |
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Samuel C. Randall |
1881, 1882 |
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Zacheus Chase |
1883, 1884 |
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Stephen Mathewson |
1885, 1886, 1887, 1888 |
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J. B. Edward Castree |
1889, 1890 |
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John McKercher |
1891, 1892 |
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Charles B. Leland |
1893 |
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Thomas J. Allen |
1894, 1895 |
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Edward D. Black |
1896, 1897 |
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George L. McQuigg |
1898 |
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Charles S. H. Chase |
1899, 1900 |
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Albert T. Austin |
1901, 1902 |
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Menzo F. Cook |
1903 |
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Fred J. Pierson |
1904 |
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W. Lee Church |
1905 |
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George H. Gordon |
1906 |
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Truman S. Cowing |
1907 |
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Francis D. Clarke |
1908 |
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Ruby J. Roether |
1909 |
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John C. Clasen |
1910 |
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Edwin C. Litchfield |
1911 |
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Frank J. Magill |
1912 |
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Francis M. Buffum |
1913 |
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Jason H. Austin |
1914 |
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Walter F. Brandes |
1915 |
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Ralph B. Long |
1916 |
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Between the organization of the chapter and the formation of a commandery, a period of over nine years elapsed, and it was not until 1865 that Flint Masons could receive their Templar degrees at home. On April 10 of that year a dispensation was granted to Genesee Valley commandery No. 15, which was organized with eight members, in the old Masonic Hall, June 2, 1865. The three principal officers were: John B. Hamilton, eminent commander; Paul H. Stewart, generalissimo, and John Allen, captain general. The officers were duly installed by Garey B. Noble, right eminent grand commander of Michigan, on June 27, 1865, at which time the first work of the new commandery was done by conferring the orders upon Abner Randall, Lyman G. Buckingham, Francis H. Rankin, Charles Goodale, and Henry Brown. John B. Hamilton served two years and in 1867 was succeeded as eminent commander by Samuel C. Randall, who served continuously until 1878, although he was in 1876 elected grand commander of Michigan Knights Templar and ably performed the duties of that office. Joseph H. Crawford was elected grand commander of Michigan Knights Templar in 1906, and Fred A. Aldrich is serving for the present year of 1916. The only surviving charter member is Robert Ford. This commandery has always stood high, both in personnel of its members and the efficiency of its work. Genesee Valley commandery No. 15 meets the first Friday of each month. The present membership is three hundred and fifty. |
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The officers are: |
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Eminent Commander |
Fred J. Pierson |
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General |
L. G. Willison |
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Captain General |
F. A. Roberts |
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Senior Warden |
F. W. Siegel |
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Junior Warden |
T. S. Cowing |
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Treasurer |
B. J. MacDonald |
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Prelate |
M. C. Pettibone (dead) |
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Recorder |
C. S. H. Chase |
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Standard Bearer |
John M. Goepfert |
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Sword Bearer |
A. C. Raab |
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Warder |
Alexander M. Ritchie |
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The following have served as eminent commanders of Genesee Valley Commandery, No. 15: |
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John B. Hamilton |
1865, 1866, 1867 |
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Samuel C. Randall |
1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1874, 1876, 1877 |
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Charles S. Brown |
1878, 1879, 1880 |
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Charles H. Wood |
1881, 1882 |
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Albert Myers |
1883, 1884 |
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Zacheus Chase |
1885, 1886 |
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Milton C. Pettibone |
1886, 1887 |
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Henry C. VanDusen |
1888, 1889 |
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George L. McQuigg |
1890, 1891 |
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Edward W. McIntyre |
1892, 1893 |
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Arthur C. McCall |
1894, 1895 |
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Joseph H. Crawford |
1896, 1897 |
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Joseph H. Rankin |
1898, 1899 |
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Thomas J. Allen |
1900 |
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Charles S. H. Chase |
1901 |
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Fred A. Aldrich |
1902 |
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Edwin C. Litchfield |
1903 |
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Charles A. Cumings |
1904 |
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S. Sidney Stewart |
1905 |
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L. Henry Bridgman |
1906 |
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Menzo F. Cook |
1907 |
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Arthur M. Davison |
1908 |
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Charles D. Wesson |
1909 |
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William S. Ballenger |
1910 |
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John L. Pierce |
1911 |
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Benjamin F. Miller |
1912 |
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Albert t. Austin |
1913 |
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Maurice L. Dyer |
1914 |
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Fred w. Brennan |
1915 |
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Fred J. Pierson |
1916 |
| Much the youngest of the Masonic bodies in Flint is Flint council No. 56, Royal and Select Masters, which was chartered on January 21, 1890, with nine members, J. B. E. Castree being the first thrice illustrious master. It has now a membership of three hundred and the meetings are held on the first Mondays in the month. |
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The officers are: |
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Thrice Illustrious Master |
Francis M. Buffen |
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Deputy Master |
Jesse S. Langston |
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Principal Conductor of the Work |
J. J. Raab |
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Recorder |
C. S. H. Chase |
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Captain of the Guard |
Fred Tiedman |
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Conductor of the Council |
Robert H. Darnton |
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The following have served as thrice illustrious masters of Flint Council No. 56: |
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J. B. Edward Castree |
1890 |
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John McKercher |
1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896 |
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Thomas J. Allen |
1897, 1898 |
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Louis G. Willison |
1890, 1900 |
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John McKercher |
1901,. 1902, 1903, 1904 |
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Charles H. Miller |
1905, 1906 |
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Albert T. Austin |
1907, 1908 |
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Francis D. Clarke |
1909, 1910 |
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L. Henry Bridgman |
1911 |
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John L. Pierce |
1912 |
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Fred J. Pierson |
1913 |
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Floyd A. Roberts |
1914 |
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Edwin C. Litchfield |
1915 |
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Francis M. Buffum |
1916 |
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History of Genesee
County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions |
Transcribed by Holice B. Young
HTML by Deb
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