Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-07
THE OLDEST MASON LIVING.
An Ancient Member OF SOlOmOn's
Lodge. Savannah-Nketeh of His
Noted Career.

The statement made in a recent issues Of
the Chicago Weekly Nescs, that Elijah
Stansbury, of Baltimore city, Nd, was
probably the oldest Mason in the United
States, attracted the attention of q gentle
man living in Indianola, Calhoun county,
Texas, who furnishes the following inter
esting sketch of citizen of that county,
who became a member of the mystic fra
ternity several years previous to Mr.. STAINS
bury, and who, therefore, may be pro-
nounced the oldest Mason in
this country, which statement
possesses peculiar local interest from the
fact that the citizen referred 70 was made
Mason in the city of Savannah. Upon re-
ference to the minute books of Solomon's
Lodge No. 1, T. A. NJ, of Savannah, Of 1909.
in possession of the Worshipful Master OF
the Lodge, Bro. ]. H. Estill, we fnd that
Capt. Sylvanus Hatch was made an Entered
Apprentice Mason on the 10th February,
1909, at meeting of Solomon's Lodge held
in this city, at which meeting were present
]. F: Everitt, W. M; Charles Pope, :; W.;
A. w. Scribner, j. W.; j. Manly, Treas
urer; J. Delberghe, Secretary, and
a number of members. We further find
on the 10th of March, 1909, under a dispen
sation granted by R. w. William Stephens,
G.. NJ OF the State of Georgia, Capt. Hatch
was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft and
raised to the degree Of Msster
Mason. In the June following,
desiring to leave Savannah, he
obtained his certificate of membership in
the Lodge (Which he still holds), dated
June 9, 1909. over seventy-two years ago,
nearly three-quarters of a century. IL 1t
were possible for him in his old age TO re-
turn to Savannah and visit Solomon's
Lodge, he would have a most cordial frateT-
nal greeting. The following is the sketch
given by the correspondent Of the Gal
weston (Texas) Ne1gS of this venerable
brother, whose pride and love OF Masonry
has caused him to preserve the certificate OF
his membership for these many many years.
We find the sketch in the Masonic column
of the Nel0 York Sunday Courier, with the
comment that it is given for the benefit OF
the craft:
Capt. Sylvanus Hatch, of this calhoun
county, whose ninety-third birthday was
celebrated on the LIST June, 1881, showed me
his certificate of Ancient York Masons of the
city Of Savannah, Georgia, dated the oh of
June, in the year Light 1909, which is sew
eral years older than Mr.. Stsnbury's. He
wishes you to publish this in your weekly
edition, and If there are any older Masons
he would be very glad to hear from them.
His address is Port LaVaca, Calhoun county,
Texas.
Captain Hatch was born 10 Falmouth,
Massachusetts,; came down South when
quite Young; lived in several States;
was Adjutant under General Jackson
at the battle of New Orleans, and passed
through all that campaign; afterwards
came to Texas in 1928; went back and
brought his family the next year, and set
tied on the Lavsca river, in Jackson county.
His second son was born there and was the
first white child born west of the Colorado
river. He went through the War of INDIE
pendence of Texas, was in several fights,
but unfortunately, he says, he was not in
the battle of San JacintO, being detailed to
convey the women and children to some
place of safety, and hurried back, but
was too late to join in the fight. On
his birthday there were his children,
grandchildren and eat-grandchildren to
wish him many happy returns of the day,
and | think he may see many birthday
yet, for he is hale and hearty and has not
been confined one day in bed for the last
sixty years. He retains the full use of his
faculties and walks as firm and erect as a
man of 60 or 20. His hair Is streaked with
gray, but he has not lost any Of it. He spoke
of the early days of Texas aud the dangers
he went through, which would be too long
for letter."