The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-15

A. F. NJ, OF South Carolina Large
Concou-se OF People, and Eloquent Ad-
dresses.
The ceremony of laying the corner
stone Of the Presbyterian Church now in
process of erection at this place was per-
formed on last Saturday, 10th inst, under
the auspices of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge Of Ancient Free Masons of
South Carolina, Gen. w. w. Humphreys,
Junior Grand Warden, acting Most Wor-
shipful Grand Master.
Pursuant to announcement tho Grand
Lodge assembled at Masonic Hall at %
o'clock a. M, and after making n necessary
appointments to fill the various Grand
Offices, marched out at 10 o'clock under
command of Mr.. J. Willet Provost, Grand
Marshal, and Maj. John r. Williams,
Assistant Grand Marshal, both of whom
were mounted on fine steeds. The pro-
cession was headed by the Palmetto
Band, followed by E. F. Murrah, Grand
Tiler, with drawn sword, and John
Alewine and W. T. w. Harrison, Grand
Stewards, with white stats. Then came
host of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Graft
and Master Masons, followed by Mr..
-Jeptha f. Wilson, the architect, with the
implements of his Office, and the officers
of the Grand Lodge as follows: w. 81. D.
Gaillard, Grand Pursuviant, with sword
of steel; J. Pink Reed, Grand Secretary,
w. D. Maroney, Grand Treasurer; j. J..
Gilmer, with open Bible on a crimson
cushion on which rested the square and
compass, supported by NJ. E. Mitchell and
L. c. Mauldin, Junior Grand Dcacons;
Rev. j. E. Carlisle. Grand Chaplain, and
Maj. ]. N. Vandiver, with Book of Con-
stitution. Next came the Palmetto Ri
fiemen, commanded by Capt. E. Allen,
followed by the Sunday schools of the
town in charge onA. B. Towers and w.
w. Keys, and civil officers Of the town
and county. The following Grand OFF,
GERS brought up the rear: ". D. Hall,
Junior Grand Warden with silver. COB
let containing the oil of joy; john c.
Cherry, Senior Grand Warden, with sill
yer goblet containing the wine of refresh
ment; R. 3. Diver, Deputy Grand Mas
ter, bearing large horn, beautifully and
elaborately decorated with flowers, con-
tanning the corn of nourishment; w. w.
Humphreys, Most Worshipful Grand
Master, supported by B. D. Dean and II.
I. Epting, Senior Grand Deacons; w. B.
Miller and VIM. Campbell, Grand Tilers.
The procession reached from the Ma
sonic Hall to Mechanics Row, and with
waving banners presented quite an i'm
posing sight. AT the command of the
Grand Marshal the Band commenced to
play and the column filed left and pro-
ceeded across the square and down
Whitner street to the gate leading into
the Presbyterian Church yard, thence to
the triumphal arch, which stood in front
of the old Church building. Here the
procession halted and opened ranks,
and the Grand Master, followed by the
Grand Lodge, marched through the open
line, and thence to the stand, which had
been arranged by laying timbers across
the north end of the building, on which
the officers Of the Grand Lodge, together
with several of the old and respected
citizens of the town and county, took
their seats. The Anderson Palmetto
Band, undsr-ths leadership of Prof J.
sHsy yon Hasseln, was stationed on the
left, and the choir, composed of the
most gifted and accomplished vocalists
of the town, and under the leadership Of
j. L. Tribble, Esq, were stationed on
the right. A large crowd, made up
chiefly of ladies, had already assembled
and were occupying the seats in front of
the stand.
+. The corner stone was about eighteen
inches square, with vault eight inches
square hewn in its centre, and, accord
ing to the ancient custom of Masonry,
was placed in the northeast corner of the
building. Inside the opening in the
stone was fixed a clcse-fitting copper
box, into which the articles were de-
posted.
On the outside Of the stone is the fol-
lowing inscriptions: on the east side
"Corner Stone laid May 10, A. L. 5s79,
by the NJ. w. Grand Lodge A. F. M. of
S. c., r. w. Bro. W. w. Humphreys, J.
G. W., acting Grand Master" On the
north side --"Anderson Presbyterian
Church. Rev. D. E. Frierson, D. D.,
Pastor. May 10, 1879. Building Com
mittee, w. w. Humphreys, NJ. L.
Sharpe, B. F. Whitner, G. F. Tolly."
The stone is of beautiful white marble,
and was prepared by MIR. T. NJ. White.
All things being in readiness, the
Grand Master then proceeded with the
impressive Masonic ceremonies of FORM
ally laying the stone. The choir sung as
the opening anthem, so, worship the
Lord" after which Grand Chaplain Car
Isle offered short prayer.
By order of the Grand Master the
Grand Treasurer then deposited the fol-
lowing named articles in the stone, viz:
Roll of officers and members of Hiram
Lodge No. 6S, A. F. NJ; roll of the
County officers, including the members
OF the Legislature, sealed by the Clerk Of
the Court; lists of the officers of the Town
Council law firms Of Anderson, oldest
citizen of the town, Mr.. Jeptha F. Wilson,
oldest man of the town, Mr.. Stephen
McCully, and the resident physicians of
the town; roll of officers and members
of Anderson Lodge No. 300, Knights of
Honor; roll OF the Anderson Palmetto
Band; report of the condition Of the
National Bank of Anderson at the close
of business April 4, 1879; business cards
of the merchants and professional men
Of Anderson; copies Of the Anderson
IsTELL1aENcER, dated May s, 1879, An
derson Journal, dated May 9, 1879, Southern
N,,-, 1,I n,,,,.;.,-