Our History

The Charter

Palestine Lodge No. 357 was chartered on January 26, 1881 by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Michigan. It is the only lodge in Michigan to receive its charter without first working under dispensation — a testament to the exceptional readiness and labors of the founding officers.

The lodge received the sacred numbers 3-5-7, referencing the three, five, and seven steps of the winding staircase in King Solomon's Temple. These numbers were bestowed in recognition of the extraordinary dedication of the men who brought the lodge to light.

Growth & The First Temple

As Detroit's industrial boom transformed the city, Palestine Lodge grew alongside it. The lodge contributed to building the first Masonic Temple on Lafayette Boulevard, which was dedicated in 1896–1897.

Ashlar, Oriental, and Palestine lodges each contributed $1,000 toward the construction of the temple — roughly $37,500 in today's dollars — a significant investment that demonstrated their commitment to establishing a permanent home for Freemasonry in Detroit.

The Industrial Giants

At the dawn of the twentieth century, Palestine Lodge became the fraternal home of the men who would reshape American industry and culture:

• Henry Ford joined Palestine Lodge before founding Ford Motor Company, finding brotherhood among the men who would support his vision.
• James Vernor, creator of Vernor's Ginger Ale — America's oldest surviving soft drink brand — was a member.
• S.S. Kresge, founder of the S.S. Kresge Company (later Kmart), was a member, revolutionizing American retail.
• Palestine members made the first cross-country automobile drive and the first around-the-world automobile drive.
• Three Mayors of Detroit were members of the lodge.
• Membership was growing rapidly as Detroit established itself as the Motor City.

The Old Homestead

Palestine Lodge purchased the Alger Mansion on West Fort Street for $180,000 — approximately $5.7 million in today's dollars. The mansion was the former home of General Russell A. Alger, a Civil War hero, United States Secretary of War, and Governor of Michigan.

The third floor and attic were converted into a massive lodge room with soaring 22-foot ceilings, providing a grand space for degree work and stated meetings. The rest of the building became a true clubhouse for the brethren: a billiard room, library, reading room, plunge bath, and multiple dining rooms.

The Great War

Fourteen Palestine Lodge members gave their lives in service to their country during World War I. The lodge supported its members and their families through the war years, embodying the Masonic principles of charity and brotherly love in a time of great sacrifice.

The Golden Age

Membership swelled to over 5,000 — making Palestine Lodge one of the largest Masonic lodges in America. The West Fort Street lodge underwent a major expansion and remodel in 1926 to accommodate the growing brotherhood.

Meanwhile, the new Detroit Masonic Temple was rising on Temple Street. Its cornerstone was laid on September 19, 1922, using the same trowel that George Washington used to set the cornerstone of the United States Capitol in 1793. The temple was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 1926, and would become the largest Masonic Temple in the world.

Home, Sweet Home

The final meeting at the West Fort Street homestead was held on January 24, 1935. As the brothers gathered one last time in the lodge room they had known for over two decades, the Palestine Quartet sang a farewell that none who were present would ever forget.

The Palestine Quartet sang “Home, Sweet Home” as the brothers said farewell to the Old Homestead for the last time.

Palestine Lodge then moved to the Detroit Masonic Temple — its home ever since.

Carrying the Light Forward

For nearly a century, Palestine Lodge has called the world's largest Masonic Temple its home. Through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and every challenge since, the brothers of Palestine Lodge have continued to serve their community and their nation.

Through Detroit's economic challenges — the decline of the auto industry, the city's bankruptcy, and its ongoing renaissance — Palestine Lodge has endured, maintaining the bonds of brotherhood that have sustained it since 1881.

Today, Palestine Lodge continues the traditions that helped build Detroit: welcoming good men, making them better, and carrying the light of Freemasonry forward into the future.