The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-07-02
LETTER FROM hard LABOR.
fAe Celebration of st. Johns Day at
Z AbBe1ille - Crops, &c.
MILE WAY, S. c., !
June 80, 1873.

Editor A6beriM P'essand Banner:
DEAna aSIR:-We are not disposed
to .let the celebration of our ancient
and honorable order on St. Johns
Day ct your village pass by without
some manifestation on our part as
ulster Lodges and brother masons. ]
can only speak for the brethren in the
southern, and southwestern portion
of our District, and hope brethren in
other sections may not be found
wanting,in adding their testimony to
the high appreciation of the address
Of our worthy and honorable Brother
Thomas Thomson and the kindness
and brotherly feeling exhibited by
the brethren Of Clinton Lodge No. 3
On that day.
The whole affair from beginning to
end was complete success. The
day will not soon be forgotten and
mary will cherish the fond recollec
tion that they were there and well
coined With warm accord. Say we.
Well done, brethren of Clinton
Lodge. The attendance was much
smaller than was expected. This was
owing to- the busy season being on
hand, and as the most Of our order
are aworkers" found employment
"operatively" nearer home.
Brother Thomson made one Of his
happiest efforts-and although he
stated at the outset he was not pre-
pared to do himself or the. subject
justice, from pressing engagements,
proved conclusiveiy, that his Masonic
structure had not been erected with
';untempered mortar and that the
teachings he had received from our
sacred order had been lodged in a
faithful breast" He spoke from the
heart to the heart, and told in clear
and unmistakable terms what Ma
.sonry was; its antiquity, its univer-
salty, its utility and closed with
some good advice to our order; and
it is our sincere desire that his words
may be as good seed sown upon
good ground. Edo not feel compe-
tcntivz give eeven-an outline, of his
able;address. I wonld be glad to see
it in print, but for the benefit of
those who were not fortunate enough
to hear it, will cite his example of
what is Masonry: If you will read
said he, in Saint Luke, 10 chapter,
:andfrom 80 through 81 verse, and
tell who was neighbor to that man,
that will give yon an idea of what
Masonry is, Masonry teaches us to
regard the whole human race as our
brethren. So much for the address
After the address we were march
ed. down to the Fair Grounds, and
there enjoyed one of the richest bar
becued dinners ever eat-roast pig,
roast mutton, hash and vegetables Of
all kinds, and full supply of iced
lemonade. The tables were sprosd in
the building and the brethren wed
with each other who should be the
most attentive in waiting ON the ta-
blcs. dtwas q happy day and long
to be foaiemberhd g $50
After, giving you some farmir g |
items;I will close for this time. Our
farmers have very nearly conquered
General Green, and the warfare has
been waged hot and heavy. Crops
are looking tolerably we'll. Cotton
stands were once good but not SO
now-too much grassland in. get
ting rid of the grass we got rid Of too
much cotton. Z portion of our com
munitys we're, blessed with a rain last
week. where there was none We be-
gin to need it quito badly
The grain:threshing season is on
hand now. We are supplied with
steam threshers. Just around Mill
Way we have,two-Messrs. Bradley,
Lites &zco., land W. E. Cothran l. Co.
West, Of US at .Bradley's Mil. there are
Messrs. Bradley & Jay: So far there
is work for all. Tbe wheat is much
better than expected, but the acreage
sown was small. Oats very good.
Yours truly.
- -::,ii,,as ,nHARD LABOR"