Stony Creek No. 5 F. & A.M.
Historical Implications for Stony Creek in Michigan
"The Clouded Period"
"Stony Creek "Light" Shines Thru 19th Century "Dark" Years"
One of the youngest Lodges in the Territory of Michigan kept "the light of
Masonry" glowing in that Territory and State from 1830 - 1840, during which
time the Grand Lodge of Michigan was "dark" or nonexistent.  For some 10
years of that period, Brother Daniel B. Taylor, the Tiler of Stony Creek
Lodge No. 7, made it his duty to see that the Lodge room was opened on
the regular meeting nights with a softly lite candle in the window to signify
that Michigan Masonry still lived.
Taken from "Dateline 1764 - Michigan Masonry - Vol. 2."
For a time, the Lodge met in the home of Nathaniel Millerd; later, in the
homes of Joshua B. Taylor, and Jesse Decker. But - we may have jumped
ahead in our story.
Meet in Private Homes
The Grand Lodge of Michigan was first created in 1826 and continued until
1830 when, by order of General Lewis Cass, Grand Master of Michigan,
suspended labor for the time being.  Its subordinate Lodges were advised
to do the same and all complied, with the exception of the youngest - Stony
Creek.  The Grand Lodge action was the result of the great wave of
"anti-Masonry" which swept the country following the "Morgan excitement"
which occurred in Batavia, N.Y., in 1826.  A man named William Morgan
disappeared mysteriously from the Batavia community.
No trace of him, dead or alive, was ever found, but Masons were blamed
and Masonry suffered greatly throughout the United States.  Dr. Morgan J.
Smead, 33rd degree and Past Grand Master of Michigan, spent years in
research on the Morgan incident, and correspondence now in our
possession is prima facie evidence that Morgan took a ship to the British
West Indies and to the Cayman Islands as a shipwrecked sailor.
In Michigan, which became a state in 1835, the anti-Masonic cyclone
expended its fury in nine years and in 1840 the revival and reconstruction
of the Grand Lodge set in.  A convention of Masons was called on
November 15, 1840 and held at Mount Clemens.  At this meeting, a
committee of three was appointed to make careful inquiry and to report at
another meeting set for May 5, 1841.  By February, 1841, this committee
decided that it needed more help and it was increased to six members.  It
then was decided to revive the Grand Lodge of 1826-1830.  As the former
Grand Master, General Cass, was not available, the Junior Warden, Martin
Davis of Ann Arbor, agreed to act.
Revival Begins
Martin Davis issued a dispensation to Oakland Lodge to resume labor
under its old charter, then issued a dispensation to Lebanon Lodge at
Mount Clemens, and these two Lodges along with plucky Stony Creek
Lodge met June 2, 1841, in Detroit and proceeded to revive the lapse
Grand Lodge.  
Thus, through the perseverance of one Lodge - Stony Creek No. 7 -
the Grand Lodge of Michigan was able to observe the 150th
anniversary of its founding as Americans celebrated the Bicentennial
of the Declaration of Independence in 1976.
On Lodge nights, as soon as the stage arrived
bringing the mail, he would get his newspaper
and wend his way to the Lodge room.  On
arriving there, he would light a candle, place it
in the window and then sit down to read.  If no
one else came, Brother Taylor waited the
usual time "to close the Lodge."  Then he
would blow out the candle, lock the door, and
go home.  Such sturdiness of spirit and
forthright action among the Masons of Stony
Creek Lodge enabled the Craft to survive the
attacks of its many enemies.
Daniel B. Taylor
Stony Creek Lodge received dispensation June 6, 1827 to meet in the
village of Stony Creek, Oakland County, Michigan Territory - near
Rochester and about 30 miles north of Detroit.  Armed with the
dispensation, a small group of Master Masons who had come to Michigan
from the states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, repaired to
the log school that had been built in 1825-1826 and held a public
installation of officers.  William A. Burt was installed as Master with John
Allen as Senior Warden and John D. Axford as Junior Warden.
Stony Creek Lodge, under the leadership of its founders, overcame many
obstacles to continue its existence, too.  The infant Lodge met for several
years in the home of Brother Millerd, but anti-Masonic excitement become
so intense that neighbor rose against neighbor and even families were
ruthlessly divided.
The church of which Brother Millerd was a member became so outspoken
and bitter in its denunciation of Masonry that, for the sake of peace, he
asked the Lodge to remove to the home of another Brother.  This was done
twice in order to keep the Lodge alive and active.  This is the time frame
that Brother Daniel B. Taylor, the Tiler, was the member most active and
most persistent in maintaining the Lodge through those trying years.  
Records show that Stony Creek Lodge conferred degrees in 1833-1834.  At
least one Master Mason was raised in 1834.  It is also important to note that
some years later that Brother Daniel B. Taylor served as Master of the
Lodge.
As you can see, the history, dedication, and fortitude of the members of
Stony Creek is truly unique in Michigan Masonry.

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