Past Masters
Honoring the distinguished men who have led Zion Lodge No. 1 through over 260 years of service
The Office of Worshipful Master
The Worshipful Master is the presiding officer of the lodge, elected annually by the members. This position carries significant responsibility for the lodge's operations, ritual work, and the welfare of its members.
Since 1764, Zion Lodge No. 1 has been guided by distinguished men who have exemplified the highest ideals of Freemasonry. This page honors their service and leadership.
Recent Past Masters
The following brothers have recently served as Worshipful Master of Zion Lodge No. 1
Brandon P.C. Langford
2025
Brian D. Jankowski
2024
Arthur T. Griffin Jr.
2023
Historical Masters
Lieutenant John Christie
First Worshipful Master - 1764
Lieutenant John Christie of the Royal American Regiment was named the first Worshipful Master when the Provincial Grand Master of New York granted a warrant to open a Lodge of Master Masons in Detroit on April 27th, 1764. He led Michigan's first Masonic Lodge through its founding years.
Complete List of Past Masters
James L. Buhl
1982
Charles C. Trowbridge Jr.
1981
Thomas K. Buhl
1980
Thomas K. Buhl
1979
Richard K. Stevens
1978
Richard K. Stevens
1977
Richard K. Stevens
1976
John A. Watkins
1975
John A. Watkins
1974
John A. Watkins
1973
Edward F. Kountz
1972
Edward F. Kountz
1971
Renville Wheat
1970
Renville Wheat
1969
Renville Wheat
1968
Warren J. Fales
1967
Warren J. Fales
1966
Harold Cowell
1965
Harold Cowell
1964
Harold Cowell
1963
Harold Cowell
1962
Ralph Hammell
1961
Ralph Hammell
1960
Ralph Hammell
1959
Irving I. Katz
1958
Irving I. Katz
1957
Irving I. Katz
1956
James G. Deuel
1955
James G. Deuel
1954
James G. Deuel
1953
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1952
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1951
Alvan Macauley Jr.
1950
Alvan Macauley Jr.
1949
Alvan Macauley Jr.
1948
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1947
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1946
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1945
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1944
Frank J. Sladen Jr.
1943
C.H. Grosvenor
1942
C.H. Grosvenor
1941
C.H. Grosvenor
1940
Arthur H. Buhl
1939
Arthur H. Buhl
1938
Arthur H. Buhl
1937
Richard H. Webber
1936
Richard H. Webber
1935
Charles T. Fisher
1934
Charles T. Fisher
1933
Walter O. Briggs
1932
Walter O. Briggs
1931
Russell A. Alger Jr.
1930
Russell A. Alger Jr.
1929
E.D. Stair Jr.
1928
E.D. Stair Jr.
1927
Edward D. Stair
1926
Edward D. Stair
1925
Edward D. Stair
1924
William J. Gray
1923
William J. Gray
1922
William J. Gray
1921
Charles A. Dean
1920
Charles A. Dean
1919
William M. Lamont
1918
William M. Lamont
1917
Thomas W. Palmer Jr.
1916
Thomas W. Palmer Jr.
1915
Thomas W. Palmer Jr.
1914
William C. Rands
1913
William C. Rands
1912
Charles Moore
1911
Charles Moore
1910
Henry B. Joy
1909
Henry B. Joy
1908
Henry B. Joy
1907
Henry B. Joy
1906
Fred Buhl
1905
Fred Buhl
1904
A.H. Newlands
1903
A.H. Newlands
1902
A.H. Newlands
1901
F.D. Stair
1900
F.D. Stair
1899
F.D. Stair
1898
Hazen S. Pingree
1897
Hazen S. Pingree
1896
William A. Moore
1895
William A. Moore
1894
William A. Moore
1893
John W. Longyear
1892
John W. Longyear
1891
W.C. McMillan
1890
W.C. McMillan
1889
John H. McMillan
1888
John H. McMillan
1887
T.W. Palmer
1886
T.W. Palmer
1885
T.W. Palmer
1884
D.M. Richardson
1883
D.M. Richardson
1882
Charles Dupont
1881
William McMillan
1880
William McMillan
1879
Charles Dupont
1878
Charles Dupont
1877
C.C. Trowbridge
1876
C.C. Trowbridge
1875
J.F. Joy
1874
J.F. Joy
1873
B.F. Hedenburg
1872
H.O. Newlands
1871
J.H. Banta
1870
J.A. Watkins
1869
J.A. Watkins
1868
J.A. Watkins
1867
D.C. Whitwood
1866
D.C. Whitwood
1865
D.C. Whitwood
1864
A.H. Morrison
1863
A.H. Morrison
1862
A.H. Morrison
1861
Henry Chamberlain
1860
Henry Chamberlain
1859
Henry Chamberlain
1858
S.M. Zug
1857
S.M. Zug
1856
John Strong
1855
E.C. Walker
1854
E.C. Walker
1853
Henry P. Bridge
1852
Henry P. Bridge
1851
E.C. Walker
1850
John Owen
1849
John Owen
1848
John Owen
1847
John W. Bell
1846
John W. Bell
1845
John W. Bell
1844
Unknown
1843
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1842
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1841
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1840
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1839
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1838
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1837
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1836
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1820
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1818
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1817
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1816
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1815
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1814
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1813
Solomon Sibley
1812
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1811
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1810
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1809
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1808
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1807
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1806
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1805
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1804
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1803
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1802
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1801
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1800
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1799
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1798
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1797
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1796
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1795
James Donaldson
1794
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1793
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1792
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1791
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1790
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1789
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1788
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1787
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1786
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1785
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1784
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1783
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1782
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1781
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1780
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1777
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1776
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1775
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1774
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1773
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1772
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1771
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1770
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1769
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1768
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1767
Unknown
1766
Sampson Fleming
1765
Lt. John Christie
1764
A Legacy of Leadership
For over 260 years, the Worshipful Masters of Zion Lodge No. 1 have guided this historic institution through times of war and peace, prosperity and challenge. From the British occupation of Detroit, through Michigan statehood, and into the modern era, these leaders have maintained the timeless principles of Freemasonry.
Many of our Past Masters have gone on to serve the Grand Lodge of Michigan in various capacities, and several have served as Grand Master of Masons in Michigan.
Join Our Legacy
Become part of a tradition of leadership and service that spans over two and a half centuries. The men who have led Zion Lodge have shaped not just our lodge, but the broader Masonic community and society at large.