Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-05-29
A Masonic Incident.
McMinnYilIe New Bra.

the Spring of 1861, on account
of the intense political excite
ment growing out of the dis
cussion of the Southern ques-
ton, and the consequent stag
nation of every class of business
a mercantile house consisting
of gentleman and his son-in-
law, doing business in Nash
vile, Tennessee, determined tc
emigrate to California. Inten-
ding to make the journey over
land, they concluded to send
their effects, except such as
were needed for use on the trip,
by way of New Orleans to San
Francisco. There being a reg
ular line of steamers then ply
ing between New Orleans and
San Francisco, there was no
thought Of any trouble in the
transit. The goods, consisting
Of choice books, family pictures,
silver and other wares, togeth-
er with almost everything they
had, either highly priced or val
liable, were securely packed in
large, strong boxes and sent to
JAS. Turner & Son, New Or
leans, to be forwarded to San
Francisco. The two families
started from Nashville, April
18th, 1861, and after the usual
incidents and troubles attending
an overland trip at that day, they
arrived in San Francisco about
the 18th of September follow
ing. Having been on the road
some six months, Of course they
expected to find their goods
stored in some warehouse, but
failing to find them, correspon-
dence was opened with N. o.,
but failed to elicit anything Of
interest in regard to the lost
goods. 1t seems, however, that
before the arrival of the goods
at New Orleans the blockade
had been declared, so they
couldn't be forwarded and had
to be stored in the custom house,
and when the city was captured
by the Union forces, these goods
were taken and confscated, or
had been previously disposed
of by the confederates. As a
matter Of course they were CIV
Ell up as lost. ~X
In 1871 a gentleni the
name Of Cross, who wassa Ma
son, found by accident or other
wise, large family Bible in
the library of deceased gen.
tleman, and on account of its
antiquated appearance, being
binding, and otherwise
he. examined it, and
found between the leaves a Ma
sonic diploma, issued from
Jackson Lodge No. So, Fay
etteville, Tenn, in 1S47, to w.
L. Berry, which he sent 10 the
Lodge from which it was issu-
ed, with the request that if he
or any member of his family
were known, that information
be sent him. The diploma was
sent by the Lodge to w. l..
Berry, San Francisco, CAL,
when q correspondence was o.
pened with Bro. Cross, who,
after making "diligent SEARCH"
and advertising in the city pa
pers for the lost goods, a full
description of which he gave,
out without finding any Of them,
ne had the book rebound and
forwarded it by express to San
Francisco, which, in due time,
came safely to hand, just little
over ten gears from the time of
is loss.
That this incident may be
properly appreciated it is nee
essary to state, that the parties
connected with it were, and are
low, entire strangers to each
other, and the whole transaction
was alone The result of Frater-
nal feeling on the part of the
New Orleans brother; and
what imparts still deeper inter-
EST in the matter to the family,
he Bible was a present from a
'ather to daughter, upon her
marriage in 1884, and contains
he record of her family from