Honoring Colonel Horace S. Roberts —

Union Lodge Nº 3’s Civil War Hero and Youngest Grand Master in Michigan History

Brethren,

Every lodge has a few names that rise above the rest — men whose lives weren’t just noteworthy, but outright legendary. For Union of Strict Observance Lodge Nº 3, one of those names is Colonel Horace S. Roberts, a Brother whose story reads like something out of a historical epic.

He wasn’t just another line on the Past Masters’ board.
He wasn’t just another officer who filled a chair.
He was a man whose service — both to his country and to the Craft — left a mark deep enough that nearly 175 years later, we’re still talking about him.

So let’s talk about him properly.

A Soldier Before He Was a Mason — And a Leader in Both Worlds

Horace S. Roberts was born in 1834, raised during a time when America was young, restless, and heading toward the conflict that would define an entire generation. By the time the Civil War erupted, Brother Roberts didn’t hesitate — he stepped forward to serve.

He rose through the ranks with both competence and courage, eventually earning the title Colonel. He served with distinction, leading men through some of the war’s most brutal struggles. He wasn’t a desk officer or a figurehead. He was the kind of leader who stood where the fighting was thickest — the kind who earned respect by example, not by rank alone.

And when the cannons finally went quiet, he brought that same discipline, honor, and steadiness home… straight into Freemasonry.

A Mason of Rare Dedication

Some men join a lodge to be part of something.
Horace S. Roberts joined a lodge to build something.

He became one of the driving forces behind Union Lodge Nº 3 in the decades after the war. His leadership wasn’t occasional or half-hearted — he served as Worshipful Master for six consecutive years, an achievement almost unheard of in any era.

Let that sink in.

Six years in the East.
Six years guiding ritual.
Six years mentoring new Masons.
Six years of keeping harmony, order, and stability within the lodge.

By any standard, that’s a monumental contribution.

The Youngest Grand Master Ever Elected in Michigan

Here’s the part that still blows minds:

Horace S. Roberts was elected Grand Master of Masons in Michigan at just 33 years old.

Thirty-three.

Today, most Masons at 33 are still learning ritual, paying off student loans, or trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Brother Roberts had already survived a war, led men in battle, led his lodge for years, and then took the helm of the entire jurisdiction.

Michigan has never had a younger Grand Master.
It’s a record likely to stand for all time.

When a man makes the kind of impression that earns him that trust at that age?
He’s a different breed altogether.

A Legacy That Still Shapes Our Lodge

Colonel Roberts didn’t just occupy chairs — he shaped the culture, discipline, and identity of Union Lodge Nº 3. His leadership set a tone that continued long after his time.

The values he embodied:

• Duty
• Honor
• Personal courage
• Quiet, competent leadership
• Fidelity to the Craft
• Service above self

…are the same values we strive to uphold in our lodge to this day.

Every time we open the lodge, every time we pass a ballot box, every time we raise a new Brother, we do so in a lineage that includes men like him.

Why His Story Still Matters

Because men like Roberts remind us of what Masonry can produce at its best:

A soldier who fought to preserve the Union.
A leader who rose through adversity.
A Brother who guided his lodge with discipline and purpose.
A Mason whose influence reached far beyond one room, one lodge, or one era.

His example isn’t just history — it’s instruction.

Remembering Our Own Hero

As we approach our lodge’s 175th Anniversary and the Detroit Masonic Temple’s 100th Anniversary, it’s only fitting that we honor the Brothers who built the foundation under our feet.

Colonel Horace S. Roberts wasn’t just a Mason.
He wasn’t just a Worshipful Master.
He wasn’t just a Grand Master.
He was a reminder of what one dedicated Brother can do when he pours his full measure of strength, discipline, and devotion into the Craft.

And as long as Union Lodge Nº 3 exists…
his name will continue to be spoken with respect.