Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-15

NAsIt 10 wayne ohO FoETy COuASASa
The Masonic FraternItY-DeVel-
Op1ng the Resources of the COun'
try
To the Editors of the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, Feb. 10, 1871 After
leaving Savannah, l visited Clifton, on
the Tennessee, and Wsynesboro and
Ashland, in Wayne county; and Linden
and Lobewell, in Perry county. At
Waynesboro, Ashland and Linden they
had not received my notice of coming,
and did not zee many of the brethren;
but if those saw are specimens of their
neighbors, they have most excellent COM
munities, and the Masonic Orphans
Home is in safe hands, so far as they can
promote its establishment At L0bewill
they were expecting me. The day was
rainy and the streams overflow
ing. Notwithstanding, there was a
large gathering present, who gave me
a hearty welcome, and we had, indeed, a
Masonic love-feAst. This Lodge gave
$1,000 to the Home Fund, and the fol
lowing gave each 500: s. c. Owen, S.
C. Newell, Ed. 2ouquier, A. c. Guide, J.
II. Britt, @. A. Shell, G. M. Goldman, J.
o. Hales, w. s. Cowan, and ]. w. G.
Fain.
At Clifton l met a large number of
Brethren, and had spendid time. At
night we had Lodge of Adopted Ma
sonry-the eastern Star" and ''GOod
Samaritan. There were many very ex-
cellent ladies present; Excellent Brother
w. B. Smith presiding.
Clifton Lodge, 1913, gave to the Home
Fund g., 900, and the following brethren
800 each: Frank Hughes. Gideon B.
Hughes, Nathan Turnbull, Joseph Lowdy,
T. 8. Duncan, Levi D. Csdy, T. J. Chris
~, and DR.. T. j. Nunnally. Clifton is
sm&n town of considerable importance.
1t is the shipping point for Wayne eoun-
ty. Iron, leather, cement, and cotton, in
large quantities are shipped from this
point The county from the large num-
Der of tanneries in it, might be sppro-
priately called Leather county, as much
30 as Robertson is called "Whisky coun-
v."
The Masons at Clifton have erected a
large brick hall, wi h the first story for q
school, chartered as the Clifton Mas Dnic
Academy, Prof. w. B. Smith, as Prn-
cipal, Miss Fannie M. Dean, Assistant.
The 18th session Of this popular school
commenced Feb. 6. This school is
under the control of Clifton Lodge, and
Is in prosperous condition, Col Tom.
Hughes, President, w. L. Ricketts,,
Secretary. l met with several
young men from a distance re-
ceiving their education there. The large
Cement Mandatory there, with its mex
haustible quarry, is destined to be of
great value to the State, and its enter
prising owners. Gaylord & Co.. g Iron
works, known as Wayne Furnace, is in
successful operation, and has upon the
wharf at Clifton an immense quantity of
pig iron awaiting shipment to Cincinnati.
Thus you see the valuable productive
ness of Wayne county; they are fever
ish for q railroad connection.
The people of Clifton are an energetic,
during the war, but two or three houses
excepted. The Masonic Hall was
burned, leaving the walls. 1t was re-
built by the members. Some went
to the woods and cut saW-logs.
Some hauled them to the mill, some made
shingles, some could carpenter little, 80
all hands going TO work, winter found
the walls repaired and the structure COW
cred. Little by little they completed the
lodge and school rooms and furnished
them. Brother w. B. Smith has been
the Principal of this school from its be-
ginning. Before the war it had l27
pupils; it has now 100. So you see,
Msssrs. Editors, "where there is a will
there is a way, aud much good can be
done WHARF there is will.
T. A. THOMAS, D. g. NJ, Agent