Welcome to Zion Lodge No. 1!
Teaching personal growth and development to men of good character since 1764.
Zion Lodge No. 1, F&AM, is the earliest documented Masonic lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains, originally Warranted as “Lodge No. 1 at Detroit” on Friday, April 27, 1764, by Provincial Grand Master of New York, George Harrison. Its’ founding membership consisted of the British 60th Regiment of Foot and local civilians, led by Lt. John Christie as the first Worshipful Master, with Sampson Fleming and Josias Harper as Senior and Junior Wardens. The lodge first met in the rustic, two-story Blockhouse of Fort Pontchartrain, remotely located on a bluff above the north side of the Detroit River. Thirty years later, the lodge was named “Zion” when it was Chartered in 1794 under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lower Canada at Quebec. Overall, Zion has operated under seven Warrants or Charters within five jurisdictions, Chartered under the Grand Lodge of Michigan since 1845, and has only temporarily suspended operations twice: during the War of 1812, and the Anti-Masonic period between 1829-45.
Throughout its 262-years, Zion has influenced regional history, from its’ contributions to founding the University of Michigan in 1817, its’ leadership in founding the Grand Lodge of Michigan in 1826, and as mother lodge for several Blue Lodges and appendant bodies in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Canada. Zion’s historic 5,000+ membership has hailed from all walks of life, comprised of men of lawful age, freeborn, and of good moral standing, with professions like: military, tradesmen, laborers, first responders, educators, engineers, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and politicians—including prominent Detroit names like: Campeau, Cass, Macomb, Meldrum, Palmer, Whitney, and Woodward.
The lodge has met in many locations between 1764 and 1925, including: blockhouse, private residences, Steamboat Hotel, Old Council House, and previous Masonic Halls and Temple. Since 1926, Zion has met in the Greek Ionic Room, on the 5th Floor Center in the Ritual Tower of the Detroit Masonic Temple. The beautiful two-story symbolic lodge room is the Temple’s largest at 1,800 sq ft, features an autumnal color pallet, is decorated with floral motifs and prominent ionic columns, and was designed by George Mason and Corrado Parducci, based on the ancient Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Zion’s Regular Communications are held on the first Wednesday monthly, dinner at 6:00 PM, and gavel at 7:00 PM.
Contemporarily, Zion is a 501c10 Blue Lodge operating as a Fraternal Society under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Michigan. Zion utilizes its’ Jeremiah Tumey Fund (501c3) to provide support and relief for its’ distressed brothers, widows and orphans. Zion also supports the Metro Detroit community via the Earl Drew Wheelchair Ramp Fund, that provides funding, materials, and volunteers that have built over 250+ wheelchair ramps since originated by Aries Grotto in 1974. The Michigan Historical Society recognized Zion with a Historical Marker in 1964 commemorating its 200th Anniversary, as Freemasonry began its third century in Michigan. The new Millennium found Zion growing, composed of five lodges for the first time in its history, after consolidations with Friendship-Lincoln #417 in 1998, and Phoenicia-Waverly #527 in 1999. Lastly, as of 2026, Zion Lodge No. 1, founded in 1764, is the second oldest extant institution operating in Detroit, after the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit established in 1701.