History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

I-ISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

4 15

that lodge being granted its charter from the grand lodge of the state
of New York in the year 1826. The exact date of the organization is
not known, owing to the destruction of the records by fire in I868, but
among the original members of the lodge were a number of pioneers,
whose names were recorded in the memories of the younger generation
and thus their identity with the lodge established. Some of these are:
Jesse Decker, who was one of the earlier worshipful masters of the
lodge; Joshua Taylor, who was worshipful master more than eighty
years ago; Daniel B. Taylor, Peleg Elwell and Calvin Chapel.
The old lodge was the one and only lodge in the territory to keep its
lights burning during the reign of the anti-Masonic excitement which
endured from 1827 to 1840. The lodge members built their meeting
place on one of the summits that crown the heights of the hamlet of
Stony Creek. It was an octagon shaped room, and they named the site
Mount Moriah. Here, for twelve years or more, Joshua Taylor and
his confreres kept the lodge illuminated on the nights of its regular
meetings, and when at last the waves of passion and prejudice which
had assailed the mighty organization had subsided in some degree, and
the grand lodge of Michigan, after a long period of inactivity, returned
to the labors of the order, Stony Creek lodge appeared before the grand
lodge and received her charter as Stony Creek Lodge No. 5. The lodge
continued to exist thus until I850, when, as stated above, it was removed
to Rochester and its name changed to Rochester Lodge No. 5, A'. F. &
A. M.
Again in I868 the hall of the lodge was destroyed by fire and for a
second time the records were burned, thus rendering it impossible to
secure a complete list of those who filled the Oriental chair previous to
1853. Since that time the office of worshipful master has been filled
as follows: J. V. Lambertson, I853-68; Dr. J. C. Wilson, 1869; Samuel
Barnes, 1870-1884; William H. Jackson, 1885-87; Arthur E. Collins,
1888-89; Richard D. Watson, 1890-91; Arthur E. Collins, I891-97;
Alexander Ross, 1897; Richard D. Watson, 1898-99; A. L. Craft, I890 -I905; Joseph M. Flumerfelt, I906-07; Louis E. Becker, 1908; William
J. Fraser, I909; Richard D. Watson, I9Io-II; Philip E. Butts, 1912.
Present officers, other than worshipful master: William D. Mercer,
J. W.; O. J. Lasenby, S. W.; H. J. Taylor, treasurer; I. W. McCornoe,
secretary; William Tienken, S. D.; John F. Jackson, J. D.; H. F. Stone
and G. M. Thompson, stewards; H. F. Strong, tyler.
Rochester Chapter No. I37, R. A. M. was organized November 24,
1896, with officers as follows: P. C. Butts, high priest; D. B. Kressler,
king; C. G. Lomason, scribe; A. E. Collins, treasurer; W. W. Gifford,
secretary; A. E. Collins, C. H.; Edward G. Palmer, P. S.; M. L. MIcClure, R. A. C.; H. F. Jones, third veil; A. A. Griffin, second veil; A. L.
Mann, first veil.
The present officers are: W\. J. Fraser, high priest; 0. J. Lasenby,
king; F. L. Fisher, scribe; H. J. Taylor, treasurer; E. J. Lambertson,
secretary; H. V. Rabin, C. H.; J. At. Flumerfelt, P. S.; S. A. Newman,
R. A. C.; W. F. Skrine, third veil; C. W. Upton, second veil; W. A.
Fox, first veil; H. F. Stone, steward; G. M. Thompson, steward; Wil