Levi Cook was one of the prominent and trusted citizens of Detroit during much of the first half of the present century. He was a
member of the Board of Trustees of Detroit for the years 1821 and 1822; a County Commissioner from 1824 to 1827; Alderman in 1828; elected Mayor three times, in 1832,1835 and 1836. He was State
Treasurer from 1830 to 1834; and represented Detroit in the state legislature in 1838. He filled every station to which he was called, with fidelity and marked ability.
In Masonry he was no less prominent. He received the three lodge degrees in Zion Lodge while that was the only one in Michigan, being initialed February fifth; passed April second, and raised July ninth, in the year 1821.
At the organization of Detroit Lodge on December 26, 1821, Brother Cook became a member thereof and was made one of the Stewards.
He was one of the most active and influential members of that lodge and in 1825 he was Senior Warden and in 1826 Worshipful Master.
He represented his lodge in the convention which organized the first Grand Lodge and was an active and prominent member thereof during its existence.
In 1841, when the second Grand Lodge was started upon its three
years journey, he was elected the first Grand Master. He did not accept this office and was not installed with the other Grand Officers, but
the Grand Lodge, both at this meeting and the next following one, declined to elect another person to fill the vacancy, and this Grand Lodge
seemed to recognize him as a Past Grand Master at its subsequent meetings, in which he took an active part. In 1843 he was elected
Grand Marshal and he was a member of the committee appointed to endeavor to secure recognition from the Grand Lodge of New York.
On the re-organization of the Grand Lodge and the establishment of the present one in 1844, Cook was made Grand Treasurer
and continued to hold that position until 1853. In 1857 he was elected Grand Master, and served one year with great satisfaction to the Grand Body over which he presided.
Brother Cook was one of the early High Priests of Monroe Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M., and was present and assisted in the organization of the Grand Chapter of Michigan, and for some years was an active
member thereof, although not occupying any official position. Brother Cook died in Detroit, on the second day of December, 1866,
at a venerable age, loved and respected by all who knew him. Grand Master Coffinbury, in his annual address in 1867, pays this tribute to
Brother Cook: "The name of this venerable man and highly esteemed brother is interwoven with the history of Masonry in this state from the beginning of that history to the present time. Almost every part of the
superstructure of that history bears some memento of the wisdom of his counsels, the strength of his integrity and the beauty of his moral
life. He was ever at the first of duty with a willing heart, a strong arm and a skillful hand. His devotion to the mystic art, his experience in
its arena and his earnest activity in diffusing its light, made him, for many years, one of its principal supports in Michigan; while his genial nature, his amiable disposition and virtuous walk among men en-
deared him to all good men. The highest meed that can be measured out to mortal man, he had justly earned—an upright mason—a good man."
Among the Masonic events of some importance in the year 1857 may be mentioned the surrender of the charter of Lebanon Lodge, No.
6, because of internal dissensions, which has been noticed in the historical sketch of this Lodge.
This Lodge was the first new one started
in Michigan on the revival of work in 1841, but it only lived to be sixteen years old. From the ashes of the old lodge, however, sprang the
new one which took its place. In this same year some of the members of the old lodge started a new one under a dispensation from Grand
Master Cook, and at the next meeting; of the Grand Lodge it was given the number of the old one and also the jewels and furniture that had
belonged to it, and Mt. Clemens Lodge, No. 6, has since been an active and honored one on the Grand Lodge roll.
Acacia Lodge, No. 45, also surrendered its charter and ceased work in this year, Oriental, No. 15, at Ann Arbor, and Elmira, No. 72, at
Sault Ste Marie, forfeited their charters by reason of failing to report for two years, and they were revoked, and have never been restored.
Grand Master Cook granted dispensations for fourteen new lodges during the year 1857. They were located at Montreal, Saginaw, Greenville, Niles, Waterford, Reading. Decatur, Oak wood, Marquette, Mt.
Clemens, Adrian, Rockland, White Pigeon and St. Johns. The rapidly increasing population of the state and the new towns
and villages springing up all over it, made a constantly growing field for Masonry, and the consequence was a corresponding advance in number of lodges and membership.
Oxford Lodge, No. 84, was burned out in this year, losing all of its furniture, jewels and charter. A new charter was given them at the next meeting of the Grand Lodge and they resumed work.
Lansing Lodge, No. 33, also lost its hall and furniture by fire in this year.
Past Grand Master K. Smith Lee, who had been one of the most highly esteemed and well beloved members of the Grand Lodge, died
suddenly in the city of Washington, on April 12th, 1857. His loss was
keenly felt in all this jurisdiction where his eminent services to Masonry as Grand Secretary, Grand Lecturer and Grand Master had made
him so well known and highly honored. Somewhat of a controversy between the Grand Masters of Indiana
and Michigan was had over the question of jurisdiction. Tyre Lodge,
No. 18 at Coldwater, had conferred the degrees upon several petitioners
residing in Steuben County, Indiana, under the authority of the written
permission of the Grand Master in that state, authorizing said Tyre
Lodge to receive petitions from such persons living in Steuben County
as lived nearer to Tyre lodge than to any lodge in Indiana, Complaint was made by Meridian Sun Lodge, at Indiana, that at
least one of the persons received into Tyre Lodge was the material of
Meridian Sun Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Michigan thoroughly investigated this matter, through an able committee, and the acts of Tyre
Lodge were fully approved. There was also a complaint of a similar nature from the Grand Master in Ohio, and. to put a final stop to any further complaints on
this subject, and insure peace and harmony on our borders with the brethren of adjoining states, it was
Resolved. That all subordinate Lodges in this jurisdiction, located on the line
of States, be and they are hereby directed not to initiate any person who live in
any other State without first obtaining the consent of the M. W. G. M. of the State
in which the candidate resides, and also the W. M. of the subordinate Lodge under
whose jurisdiction said candidate resides.
Eighty-four lodges were represented in the annual session of the
Grand Lodge in January, 1858.
In his annual address, among other things, Grand Master Cook said:
"I congratulate you, my Brethren, upon the prosperous and flourishing condition
of our Order throughout this entire jurisdiction at the present time.
Masons everywhere, from the Brother ripe with years, to the young and ardent, are constantly calling for more light, and are constantly reading our ancient
constitutions and all the acknowledged authors on Masonry, vigorously informing
themselves both in the work and lectures.
The great number of letters received and answered by me during the past year,
nut only from Lodges, but from private individuals, propounding questions of great
importance to our Order, and the able manner which many of them are discussed,
is most flattering to the general intelligence diffusing itself throughout this jurisdiction.
The Lodges under this jurisdiction arc now harmoniously working with great
uniformity, in the lectures and work, under the vigorous instruction of our venerable Brother S. Blanchard, Grand Lecturer, who. I take great pleasure in saying,
has made a most indefatigable and excellent officer, devoting his entire time to the
diffusion of light and knowledge to all those Lodges who most needed his service,
at the same time omitting none, which has been productive of great good by introducing that uniformity in the work and lectures which is so desirable among Masons.
****** I would respectfully call your attention to the finances of this Grand Lodge,
which I find have been growing less and less for a number of years. I am informed
by the Grand Treamrer, that the balance in the Treasury is now reduced to a nominal sum. I mention this so that iu your appropriations for carrying on the govern-
ment of this Grad Lodge for the ensuing year, you may do so with special reference to the receipts into the Treasury at the present Annual Communication; if not,
you must provide, by some summary mode, for the replenishing of your Treasury,
so as to meet all demands authorized to b? drawn upon it. I submit this subject to
your careful consideration. ******
My Brethren, I see before me and around me, men whose locks have been
sprinkled with many winters, with whom I have had the pleasure of meeting in this
Grand Body for many years. Brethren of great experience, sound and devoted to the
principles of our Order, iu whose judgment I have the most implicit confidence. I
also see around one another class, composed of the more young and ardent Masons,
full of intelligence and in the vigor of lite, deeply devoted lo the principles and
prosperity Of our beloved Institution, ready to take part iu all the deliberations of
this Grand Body. To these two classes of Masons. I bid a thrice welcome to a scat
in this Grand Lodge, knowing full well the former class, together with myself, are
very soon to surrender the entire responsibility of this Grand Body into the hands of
the latter for their safe keeping,
My Brethren, coming as you do, from almost every part of this widespread
jurisdiction, representing a hundred Lodges or more, you necessarily bring with you
their condition, their wants, and their pleasure; and you, as their faithful representatives, will lay them before this Grand Lodge for their deliberate action.
My Brethren, in conclusion, I ho|«e this meet tug may be conducted with great
harmony, and that our labors may be both pleasant and profitable; that no personal
consideration shall swerve us from true brotherly affection.
Brother Stillman Blanchard, (Father Blanchard) commenced his
long and honorable career as Grand Visitor and Lecturer in this year,
and laid the foundation for that excellent system of visitation and instruction which has since been so well perfected and successfully followed. A few words from his first report will give the reader an idea
of the condition of the work among the lodges at that time.
The undersigned, Grand Visitor and Lecturer, respectfully reports, that at the
last Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, there were eighty-eight Lodges
registered within this jurisdiction, which I was expected to visit. At that time,
six new Charters were granted, and since then, six Dispensation have issued
by the Grand Master, making, in alt, one hundred and two Lodges. One hundred
of these 1 have visited once, and twelve of them I have visited twice. In the discharge of my duty I have traveled upwards of eight thousand miles, and devoted my
entire lime to the business.
In the course of my investigations. I found much of the work in the State
modeled after the Webb and Preston lectures, rather than those arranged and adopted at Baltimore in and, in order to perform my duly faithfully, I have constantly endeavored to impress upon the Brethren, the importance of conforming
their work to the standard adopted by this Grand Lodge in 1847. It gives me
pleasure to state, that I have uniformly found the officers of the several Lodge,
willing to receive instruction, whenever such instruction was necessary, and that
they have manifested a laudable desire, not only to aid me in promoting uniformity
in our work, but also to elevate the character of our Institution in every respect.
The eight hundred officers of lodge in this jurisdiction, embody an amount of
education, talent and energy, rarely found in any other Institution; and all that is
required to make the Order in Michigan a continued source of honor and profit to
the Brethren at large, is, n persistent effort on the part of the Grand Lodge to promote, among the subordinate Lodges, as far u practicable, uniformity of work harmony of action, and an enlarged view of the tenets of our Order. Our Brethren
are aware, that Free Masonry is founded upon certain grand and noble principles,
which I have deemed in my duty to inculcate, and impress upon the Lodges; that
their meetings, at all times, whether few or many are present, may be regular, digitized and profitable.
and presented in an agreeable and inviting form, it is absolutely necessary that
Lodges should select for their Masters, men who are not merely capable of presenting the subject of Masonry in a cold and lifeless manner, but who. being themselves
deeply imbued with the soul of Masonry, can present its spirited ritual to their
Brethren, as a living, breathing reality—the perfection of moral excellence and
beauty, illuminated by the divine spirit of truth. It is with pleasure I add,
that among the many talented officers of lodges within this jurisdiction, they are
few. indeed, who arc not striving to infuse a degree of life and spirit into their
work, which is above all praise.
When any portion of the work was not clearly defined by the Lectures, I have
requested the Lodges to adopt a uniform standard, in accordance with my views of
Masonic Order, gathered from the highest authority.
Considerable discussion was had over the question of the pay of the
Grand Lecturer and finally the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved: those Lodges desiring visits of instruction from the Grand Lecturer, may, on application to the M. W. Grand Master, and his consent thereto, be
entitled to the visits mid lectures of the Grand Lecturer; and that there may lie allowed to the Grand Lecturer, from the Treasury of the Grand Lodge, the sum of
$10, for each visit so permitted by the M. W. Grand Master: and that each Subordinate Lodge desiring such lecture and visit, shall pay to the Grand Lecturer the additional compensation required.
The following were chosen as Grand Officers for the year 1855.
William M. Fenton, of Flint, Grad Master.
J. A. Allen, m. d., of Kalamazoo, Deputy Grand Master,
H. T. Farnim, of Hillsdale, Senior Grand Warden.
B. B. Church, of Grand Rapids, Junior Grand Warden.
REV. B. F. Dororty, of Centreville, Grand Chaplain.
James Fenton, of Detroit, Grand Secretary.
W. H. McOmber, of Niles, Grand Treasurer.
S. Blanchard, of Tecumseh, Grand Visitor and Lecturer.
K. A. Brown, of Berrien. Senior Grand Deacon.
K. Leach, of Owosso, Junior Grand Deacon.
J. P. Whiting, of Detroit, Grand Marshal.
W. P. Mills, of Grand Rapids. Grand Sword Bearer.
T. B. Eldred, of Climax, Grand Pursuivant.
Charles D. Howard, of Detroit, Grand Steward and Tiler.
LEVI COOK was born December 16, 1793 at Billingham, Massachusetts, and came to Detroit in 1815. The same year he became one of the Trustees of the city and continued to hold from one to
several offices almost every year thereafter. In 1822 he served as City Treasurer; from 1824 to 1827 as County Commissioner: as Superintendent of the City Poor in 1827 and 1828. and also as
Alderman at large in 1828. Deserved as Treasurer of the Territory from 1830 to 1836, and as Chief Engineer of the Eire Department during the same period. In 1834 he was Supervisor of Detroit,
and in 1835 and 1836 Mayor. In 1838 he represented Wayne County in the House of Representatives, and in 1840 and 1841 served on the Hoard of
Review of the city.
