Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-09
SIXTY YEA A MASON.
Interesting "Reminiscences of
the Past by Colonel A. w.
Johnson.

NdSnNlle AmtIichls OIL
At the stated meeting of Beulal
Lodge, Monday night, Colonel A. w
johnson, now eighty.six years of age
celebrated the anniversary of his six.
tieth Masonic birthday. Colone.
johnson was made a Mason in Cum
berland Lodge No. s, in 1922, and SC
far as is known he is the only one
living who was a member of the lodge
at that time. He delivered a most in
teresting address to the lodge, and
from that is gathered some points
which may interest the general reader,
Colonel johnson came to Nashville
when fifteen years Of age, and COM
menced clerking for one hundred dol
lars per annum. He went into the
business on his own account in 1926;
he was first married id 1923. In 1927
he built his first warehouse on Broad
street. During his early business life
he was associated with j. K. Rayburn,
John Price, James johnson, Demp-
sey Weaver, Granville P. Smith and
others.
In 1872 he failed in business, owing
to speculations entered into by a
branch house in New Orleans. In a
short time he arranged his matters
and started in business again.
In 1925 he was a member Of the
Grand Lodge, and wa chairman o
the committee on accounts. In that
Grand Lodge we're Wilkins Tannehill,
w, G. Hunt, S: r. Bucker, Moses
Stevens, r. L. Caruthers, 10 Norvell,
John Bell. W. G. Dunlap, Aaron v.
Brown, H. r. w. Hill, James Over
ton, George Wilson and others who
have figured prominently in the his
tory of Tennessee, and of all that
number only two, Judge Carnthers, Of
Lebanon, and Col. johnson are now
living! At that session, 1925, NJ. D..
Cooper was elected Grand Master; S.
R. Rucker, Senior Granu Warden;
Aaron V. Brown, Junior Grand War
den; Charles Cooper, Grand Secretary,
and David Irwin, Grand Treasurer.
This was ffty-seven years ago, and
Masonry did not number many at that
but the records show that the
Grand Lodge was well attended,
although the delegates mostly came on
horseback and one to two weeks time
was consumed in making the trip.
Many points made in his address
have no special interest to the general
public, but they were highly priced
by those who heard them, and will
doubtless result in great good, es-
pecially to the young men who were so
fortunate as to hear them.
AT the conclusion Of Colonel John
sons remarks, Captain John S.
Dashiell was called upon, and re-
sponded in a most happy vein. He
said he was made a Mason forty-nine
years ago, in Cumberland Lodge, and
that he sometimes classed himself as
an old man, but that when he listened
to a man who had been a Mason sixty
years, he thought he had better be
classed as a young man. He gave a
most interesting account Of something
that happened in his early days, and
that led him to become a Mason, He
said that he rode forty miles on the
back of horse to get his first degree,
and that Of the seven members present
that night, he was the only one now
alive.
John McClelland was next called
on, and responded in a very short and
feeling speech.
John Frizzell was then called out,
and he reviewed the main points in
Colonel Johnson'S address, and ex-
horted the brethren to treasure UP
and act upon the wise sayings to which
they listened.
On behalf of the lodge Major T. P.
Weakley made a speech, thus closing
a most interesting and profitable occa.
sion.