Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-30

same success, the Lodge donating ", 0Oo
4 Here / found large prosperous school
known as the Calhoun Masonic Institute
under the Professorship of Rev. DR.
EMunsey, uncle to the Distinguished divin
of that name, and, as am informed, O
as much ability as scholar and divine
The number of pupils is 40. Boar
1870 to $12 per month. Pupil
unable to pay, gratuitous. Contin
uing nv journey though this beautiful anC
! fertile valley, stopped off st RiceviIle,
| the home OF Senator Clementson and Dr..
Dupont. Here is another excellent school
of 100 to $50 pupils. The next term
will open under the auspices of Profs.
w. B. Goforth and W. A. G. Brown, the
latter now engaged at Winchester. T.
A. Hamilton Lodge at this place, COM
posed of a fine membership, donated
81, 600, and forwarded me to the beauti-
full town of Sweetwater, where another
donation was made of $1,000, in the
spirit of st. Paul, as was all the others.
This town is in the valley known as
Sweetwater. To those who like to gaze
upon the beautiful, l say come and see.
| IL any of your readers have sore eyes,
send them to East Tennessee to look at
this lovely and beautiful valley as a cura-
l tive. The Lodge here has built large,
| substantial and beautiful brick hall, the
| first story for female academy, which
is filed with the fair and lovely daughters
of the valley. The grounds around the
building are being beautifed with grass,
II lHa atn ~
to the good brethren of the town and
neighborhood. 1t is business and grow
ing place. Bidding good-bys to Sweet
water, though continuing in the same
valley, we passed Philadelphia, sppa-
rently a very old town. Six miles
further we stopped off at Loudon, county
site of the new county of L0udOn, and
estimated to be one of the richest in agri-
| cultural lands in this division. LOudOn
is situated at the crossing of the railroad
over the Tennessee river six miles below
the junction of the Little Tennessee and
Holston rivers, which makes the begin
ming of this great stream. II is grow
ing place and one of importance. 1t is
the depot for the immense grain and
wheat crops from the above rivers. 1t
can be made one Of the loveliest places
| in the State. The Courthouse will be
erected this summer and fall. They have
fine square of land to build upon and
can have park for trees and grass and
walks Cf they do not follow the old style
of sticking 1t in the center) as a pleasure
ground and breathing place for their
ladies, children and other citizens; espe-
cially will they need such place when
it becomes Q full grown city, as it may
do. An extensive marble quarry borders
the town extending to the river bank.
Also to within few yards of the railroad,
and from i! they obtain that white
quelity used for soda fountains. Also
the variegated, like that in our Capitol.
The Masons have large, substantial
hall finished since the war. They sold
the first story to the NJ. E. Church, South,
as place of worship. It is now occupied
as school, established by the lodge,
which they gave over to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church upon their guaran-
tee to keep school of high grade, and
securing to them two cadetships. Thus
the Lodge are the owners of the two
scholarships for the use of their wards.
This is the central school of that church
for East Tennessee, for which due credit
should be given that enterprising, Chris
tisn denomination. They have already
spacious brick college building erected,
which is to be ready by first September,
the beginning of their second year; its To-
cation is eligibly situated ia the centre of
ten or fifteen acres, full of young forest
trees, commanding site, susceptible of
magnificent decorations The number of
scholars now in the academy is 125; the
place can boast of an Episcopal, N. E.
Church South, Baptist, Cumberland Pres
byterian and African church buildings.
Considering the advantageous location of
Loudon, the richness of the county
agriculturally, the Christian and educa-
tional interest, the general intelligence of
the citizens and their industrious and 80.
Der habits, it cannot fail to grow to be
town of much importance. l have
never seen a country so well Watered and
adapted to grain, grass and stock-grow-
ing az the portion just travelled through.
have made diligent inquiry of the citI-
zens, of al political shades, as to the
state of society, and from the testimony
of all, from Chattanooga TO this place,
they report the utmost good feeling pre-
vailing, vieing with each other in good
neigbbUrship. They seem TO me to be
excelling any other part of the State in
establishing good and cheap schools.
am now in the central part of East Ten
nessee, and have met large number of
the citizens, and if they are
a sample of the balance, then l must say
she can boast of her population. Tony
lady friends, with whom l have been so
fortunate to sojOurn, and who have been
so kind to me, ! can say have not met
with sorry biscuit or cup of coffee, two
of the most important articles for the
table, and hespeak the good housewife
Tennessee Lodge a! this place donated TO
the Home 81, 900, brothers w. C. Julian,
J. o. Cannon, A. D. Rhea, S. T. Blair,
each 800, the Lodge adding to my
necessary travelling supplies. At this
place enjoyed the ho5pitalities of brother
and sister J. o. Cannon. From this point
will proceed TO Knox county, passing 20
Lenoir, Concord and Knoxville, which l
will reserve for another communication.
Total amount subscribed to the Home
thus far on this trip, eight Lodges, IS,
900. SO East Tennessee is as prompt as
elsewhere. TOWNSEND A. THOMAS,
d. G. Master, Agent.