(Originally adapted from Robertson's Masonic History and the By-Laws and Rules of Order of Thistle Lodge, 1968. Adapted once again in 1999 from 100 Years and More: Masonry in Amherstburg, Ontario to update and make use of more recent technology.)
One cannot get a true picture of the early Masonic history of Amherstburg without first knowing something of its military background. The border area along the Detroit River is historic ground, for here, in 1776, and again in 1812, there were scenes of warfare such as is hoped will never again be recorded in the pages of history.
After the close of the revolutionary war the British held Detroit until 1796. The British then looked for a site on the Canadian shore for a settlement. The spot selected was Amherstburg, which in 1795 had been laid out as a town. The ammunition and stores from Detroit were moved across the river as soon as a new fort, called Fort Malden, had been erected.
Military history is not Masonic history, and yet, one cannot but think of the exciting days of that midsummer of 1812 and of that memorable evening in June, when the alarm at the tyled door was neither that of a candidate nor a visitor but signified the arrival of a brother who brought news of the American commander General Hull's intention to cross the Detroit River at Sandwich and that reinforcements were needed to strengthen the small garrison of Fort Malden, which was within sight of the lodge room at Amherstburg. Craftsmen of today have reason to be proud of their Masonic sires and should forever honour the eighteen men of Adoniram Lodge, No. 18, who left lodge and home, buckled on their swords, shouldered their flint-lock guns and as part of a mere handful of troops repelled Hull's forces at River Canard, about three miles from Amherstburg.
Amherstburg was the objective point in the first war demonstrations of 1812. General Hull crossed from Detroit to Sandwich with 2,500 men, on 12 July, 1812, and five days later he marched to attack Fort Malden. At Amherstburg there were only 300 British regulars and a few Indians and the militiamen who lived in the townships. Hull however, was held in check at River Canard, about three miles from Amherstburg, and eventually on the 5th of August. Colonel Proctor arrived from York and relieved Colonel St. George of the command at Amherstburg, and ordered a force to cross the Detroit River to capture a train of supplies from Hull. These were taken and, finding his communication with Ohio threatened, Hull re-crossed the river on the 7th and 8th of August, leaving a garrison of 250 men at a fort he had built at Sandwich. General Brock came up from York and the Americans at Sandwich evacuated and re-crossed the river.
Masonry was first promoted in Amherstburg by officers of the garrison at Fort Malden. They had been members of Zion Lodge, Detroit (which has had a continuous existence since 1796), and found it difficult to attend there. So they petitioned their old Lodge for assistance in obtaining a warrant for a Lodge in Amherstburg. The petition is recorded in the minutes of Zion Lodge, thus:
"6th April, 1801---Received a memorial from the Brethren at Malden, the purpose of which is that they request that we would assist them in obtaining a warrant, also to bestow our benevolence out of our fund -- -- -- Unanimously agreed to recommend them as worthy and deserving Brothers, but could not think of parting with money".
Eventually a warrant was granted for Adoniram Lodge No. 18. It was probably a field or military Lodge, and although the records of this old Lodge have been lost, yet much of interest is preserved about it in the well kept and very complete minute books of Zion Lodge and in some old Amherstburg records.