Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18
CENTURY AND AHALF OLD
sOLOmoN's LODGE CELEBRATES
ITS SESQUI-CENTENNIAL.


Night-Omoers Elected for Next Year
The Early History Of Free Masonry In
this Country.
There was q large attendance Of the
Masonic fraternity last evening al Ma
sonic Temple. The occasion was the ses-
gui-centennial OF Solomon's Lodge No. /,
Free and Accepted Masons. w. NJ, j.
r. saussy, occupied the East, with the
proper officers in their respective stations.
Among those present we're Brothers Chas.
L. Damour, W. NJ. of Macon Lodge, No. B;
l.. Harris. W. ". Of Live Oak Lodge, Flor
sida: W. ". A. c. Harmon, OF Zerubba5el
Lodge. No. Is: ?. NJ. Edward Hopkins;
Past Masters, ;. p. Hamilton, samuel b.
Palmer and j. II. Estill Of oOlOmOn's
Lodge. No. l, Rev. DR.. j. E. L. Holmes,
and others.
The NJ. NJ. degree was conferred on two
afelloworafts. which is something unusual
at an annual communication, and tended
10 make the occasion more than usually
The annual election tor officers resulted
as follows:
". Nj. r. Saussy.
$. w. Z. /. Holmes.
i. Wv. b. Spann.
Treasurer. II. Lewis,
Secretary-T. h. Laird.
Tiler-John II. Fox.
Trustees-D. g. Purse, j. Z. hoWland
and J. Il. Esul.
The officers who had not been previ-
ously indicted into office were installed
by Junior Grand " arden J. II. Estill. p.
n. ). 2. Hamilton acting as Grand Mar
shal.
P.M.s.P. Hamilton, on behalf Of Mrs.
d. p. Myerson, the wife n member or
rpH e.-ff "a haafrfffll altar
ering. The presentation was preiaced
with a few appropriate remarks. The
cloth is Of blue. and the trimmings and
lembroidery Of gold. W. N. Saussy ac-
.knoWledged the gift in a very feeling
speech. w. NJ. Saussy then announced
that Brother Estill had kindly consented TO
make a short address on the early history
of the lodge.
HISTORY OF THE LODGE.
Brother Estll said:
Undoubtedly masOns were employed at
the erection Of the Tower OF Babel, where,
as we are informed in some OF our rituals,
itlanguage was cOnfounded and masonry
Cost" 1t is equally as certain that ma
sons were important and necessary work
men at the building Of the Temple which
Solomon erected at Jerusalem to the
Ever Living God. That masonry Of the
present day has, however, anything ex-
NeDL us UdLlE " tUAlEJA AZ win NAp1C fAAA-
cient workmen is, to say the least, very
doubtful.
It's not intended. however, TO discuss
the origin Of masonry. To begin where
there appears to be at least a foundation
for some Of the traditions Of FreemasOnry,
we ind that in the 18th century, there
was great demand for skilled builders.
There was an immense awakening In
ChristendOm. The first thousand years
since the coming Of Christ mad been com
pleted. and religionists thanked God, that
they were still permitted to worship in
the flesh.
In their gratitude they began the cree
ton OF magnificent religious buildings.
Many Of these buildings were so large and
expensive that it took generations to
complete them. One OF the most magnif-
cent monuments TO those ancient fellow
craftsmen. the Cathedral at Cologne, was
finished only few years ago lSSO).
Father and son worked on the same
edifce, and BY the same ''plumb line and
level" Priests labored side by side with
the lay brethren and encouraged them in
their work.
Stupendous undertakings, such as have
been referred to, required the services OF
many wOrkmen. Masons from distant
countries came in bands or companies,
and camped in huts OF lodges in the
vicinity Of their work. A master, we are
informed, was placed over the workmen
80 assembled. and 10 every ten men there
was a warden or foreman.
EARLY MASONIC GUILDS.
In these gatherings OF masons doubt
1ess originated early Masonic lodges or
guilds. Like the trades unions and the
knights Of Labor OF this day, they or
gained for mutual protection and assist
ancs. Thus united they were able 20 re-
Eist the expressions Of the nobility and
The priesthood. and even secure for them
selves certain privileges not enjoyed by
other laboring classes. Secret signs and
ceremonies were instituted 50 that work
men would know their fellow-craftsmen.
Written evidence Of their standing and
their right 10 the privileges Of the frater-
nifty was not obtainable. and had it been
IL would have been OF little, II any, value
They could not have read the certificate
themselves. nor could their associates
have done 50. But few people could read
in those days. Education was confined
70 the clergy and few OF the privileged
1aity.
BY Masonic signs and tokens craftsmen
were enabled TO travel in foreign coun
tries and obtain better wages. Wayfar
ing brethren gave the Masonic sign anC
were welcomed in the rude hut or lodge
and, after refreshing themselves, began
their labors, and further proved thei
Masonic knowledge Dy Luelf WORK.
We are told that large bands Of opera
tive masons travelled together, and en-
tered into contracts for building churches
castles, and other edifices. They cam
from the Continent TO England. Severa
hundred years after England gave to tn
Continent Of Europe and the rest Of IN,
world the present system OF speculative
masonry, from which has originated all o
the many systems or rites, divisions o
degrees, known 10 the craft.
From lodges Of operative or practIca
Ynasons and builders sprang the trad
guilds, and from the latter originated
masonry as we have it.
A CHARITABLE SOCIETY.
In the latter part of the seventeenth
century a number Of prominent men, no
practical mechanics, but identified wit
operative masOns In a business way. be
came members az the masonic organiza
tions, among others the celebrated archi
tect, lingo Jones, who was about tina
time made Grand Master. IL was tbel
that the institution began 10 take its pres
pnt form of "A charitable society
teaching brotherly love and r.
lief, and civil and religious fire.
dom. Those masonic organizations wer
Independent bodies, and were known a
Stree and Accepted Masons. "Free,