MONROE CHAPTER NO. 1, R.A.M.
Detroit, Michigan
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, except July and December. Dinner is served to all at 5:30 PM in the Temple Grille in the first basement when available. See the Secretary for a dinner ticket. We meet in the chapter room on the second floor at 7 PM.
Monroe Chapter was founded in 1817 as the first Masonic Royal Arch Chapter in the then Northwest Territory and is the second oldest Masonic Body in Michigan. Second only to Zion Lodge No. 1. The first High Priest, under charter, was General Lewis Cass, Governor of the Michigan Territory and later First Grand Master of Masons in Michigan. (More detailed information may be found on another page)
In 1848, Monroe Chapter No. 1, St. Joseph
Chapter No. 2 and Jackson Chapter No. 3 formed the current Grand Chapter Royal
Arch Masons of Michigan.
On March 14, 1851 Monroe Chapter was incorporated and entered into an agreement
with Joseph Campau for a 30 year lease on the land on the north side of
Jefferson Avenue between Griswold and Shelby streets to build Detroit's first
Masonic Temple. The Grand Lodge of Michigan thought that Monroe Chapter was too
small to accomplish this feat but the Chapter was the common bond between the
existing Lodges, and working together they accomplished their goal. The
building was to be four stories and the cost not to exceed $3500. The building
was used by all of Detroit's Masonic bodies until August 1883 at which time the
land returned to the Campau heirs and the fraternity built larger quarters.
For a story of other Masonic meeting places in Detroit go to: http: //www.detroitmta.lodges.gl-mi.org/oldtemple.htm
(and on another page)
In 1997 King Cyrus Chapter No. 133 consolidated with Monroe Chapter. Currently there are over 250 members
Last updated on January 28, 2006 by Arthur F. Girard