Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-07-01
KINGS MOUNTAIN MONUMENT.

The Masonic ceremonies Oh Wednesday of
last week, attending the laying of the corner
stone of the monument to be erected on the
battle-ground of Kings Mountain, in perpet-
uation and commemoration Of the deeds OF
the noble men, whose gallant achievement on
that historic ground was the turning point in
the drama of the American Revolution, were
of peculiarly impressive and interesting
character, and will be long gremembered by the
vast concourse of people who were present.
A pleasant drive of three hours will take
the visitor from Yorkville to the ground, over
a very good road with the exception of the last
two OF three miles, which, as it approaches the
mountain, becomes little undulating, but
not sufficiently rough as to render lOcOmotion
with carriages at all inconvenient or uncom-
Portable.
Arriving on the ground, more lovely, 70.
mantle or picturesque spot could not be well
imagined, and from the point selected for the
location of the monument-the highest eleva-
tiOn Of the battle-ground proper-a command
ing and enchanting view can be obtained, turn
the eye as it may to the north wide and
beautiful expanse of verlurous hill and dale
to the west the Blue Ridge, it's azure outline
well defined as far as the eye can reach; to
the south, verdant valleys, fields of golden
grain, waving corn and the fiourishing cotton
plant, gladdening the eye as they reflect from
their emerald surface the rays of southern
sun cleaning through feecy, purple clouds as
they chase each other in chaotic and endless
succession to the east the Pinnacle of the
mountain, rising in grandeur and looking
down in silent majesty upon the valley below,
seemingly near, but in reality many miles
away. Such is an imperfect picture of the
scenery presented from the Location of the
monument, which is near where the brunt of
the battle was sustained, and about a quarter
of mile west of where Ferguson fell.
Before O'Clock people commenced arriving,
and by II, when members OF the executive
committee of Kings Mountain Centennial
Association and eXcursionists on the Airline
Railroad had arrived from the village of
Kings Mountain and other points on the rail-
road, the number on the ground was esti-
mated at about fifteen hundred, including a
large number of ladies whose smiles and
beauty lent charm to the occasion.
Preparations for laying the cornerstone
were complete, and had been faithfully per-
formed by A. E. Hutchison, Esq, chairman
of the committee OH monument, and Mr.. F.
\. McNinch, the contractor for building it.
To the east of the cornerstone a temporary
stand had been erected, and at the eastern
entrance to the stand was a stately ''triumph-
al arch," a symbol of the craft, beautifully
wrought in branches of oak and decorated
with flowers.
About half past II the Masonic procession
was formed, at the head of which was Philan-
thropic Lodge No.,7S, bearing on standards,
'Faith," "Hope," CHARITY" "Wisdom,"
''Strength,' Beauty" and in the procession
were the members of the Lodges of Kings
Mountain, Blacks Station, Gaffney City,
Greenville, Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Chester.
Grand officers and acting grand officers took
their proper positions in the procession as fol-
lows: A. T. Smythe, NJ. w. G. NJ. James F.
Izlar, D. G. NJ; Charles Inglesby, G.. Sec. :;
E. L. Roche, G. Marshal, pro tenn; J. B. Nc
Fadden, J. NJ Elford pro tenn. Sen. G. Dea-
cons G. C. Gill, P. T. Hayne, Jun. G. Dea-
cons; G. E. Spencer, Sen. G. Warden, pro
TEN; NJ. Strauss, Jun. G. Warden, pro tenn };
Rev. E. Capers, G. Chaplain, pro tenn; W. L.
Mauldin, G. Pursuivant, pro tenn; J. Ed. JEFF
ferys, W. H. Stewart, G. Stewards, pro tenn; !;
Joseph F. Wallace, G. Treasurer, pro tenn !;
A. Cody, G. Tiler, pro tenn; P. S. Coles, G. NJ,
Virginia; H. T. j. Ludwig, Acting G. NJ,
North Carolina; j. NJ. Mobley G. NJ, Geor
gia. To music by the Rock Hill Cornet Band,
and under direction of A. Coward, Acting
Master of the Senior Lodge working, the pro-
cession moved, and on arriving at the arch,
ter and his officers passing under the arch to
the platform of the stand, and others forming
circle around it. Silence being commanded
an ode was sung; the stone was raised by
means of pulleys erected for the purpose the
Grand Chaplain offered up an impressive pray
er after which Acting Grand Treasurer J. F.
Wallace deposited in the archives the follow
ing papers and documents: List of the execu-
tive officers Of the United States list of the
executive officers of the States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennes-
see pamphlet copy of the proceedings of the
celebration of the battle in .S55; pamphlet
issued by Kings Mountain Centennial Asso-
citation, containing proceedings of meetings,
&C., address of Col. Hardeman of Georgia, on
the 21st of February last, and Mr.. Lathan's
history of the battle records Of the laying of
the cornerstone, embracing names of commit
tee Oh monument, and name of the builder {;
official reports of battle by Coils Campbell
and Sewer list of the commissioners appoint
ed by the Governors OF Virginia, North and
South Carolina and Tennessee, to act with the
Centennial Association and various news
papers of the States of Virginia, North Caro-
lima Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina,
among them copy of the YORKvILLE En-
QUIRER.
The stone, which is of dressed granite, by
3 feet, and y inches thick, and having ell
graved Oh the northern face the date A. L.
$3.50, and on the eastern the name of the
Grant Master of the State of South Caro-
lima, was then lowered to its position to the
strains of solemn music, the band playing
Nearer My God to Thee" after which it was
proved by plumb, square and level, by Grand
Masters Coles, Mobley, Ludwig and Smythe,
and by each of them pronounced to be ''well
formed" ''true'' and ''trusty" The remain
ing ceremonies of presenting the ''cOrn of
nourishment' the ''wine of refreshments and
the soil Of joy'' were performed, when an
anthem was sung, after which the Grand
Master addressed the assembly in few brief
remarks pertinent to the occasion a yolun-
tary collection was made by the Grand Stew
ards for the benefit of any workman who
might become sick or disabled during the
progress of the work, and while the collection
was hainp made q song was Sunp I'm honor of