Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-02
FREEMAsONRY IN SAVANNAH.

| The Sesqui- Centennial of the Introduce
ductIOn of Masonry into GeOrgia-In-
teresting Oeeedings-PrOpOsed Cele-
bration.
At the regular communication of
SolomOn's Lodge No. 1, F. A. NJ, held
last evening at Masonic Temple, the
Finance Committee, through its Chair
man, Senior Warden ID. G. Purse, pre-
scented their annual report of the condi-
ton of the lodge. As: the report en-
braces matters which are Of
interest to the public, as well as the Ma
sonic fraternity, a few extracts from it
are given below. This is the sequi-cen-
tennial year of the institution of Solo
mons Lodge, its charter having been
granted by the Grand Lodge of England
in 1875, Just two years after OglethOrpe
landed at the bluff on which the city now
stands.
SOlomon's Lodge has been in debt for
several years owing to expenses incurred
in building the Masonic Temple. Part of
the debt was liquidated by the pro-
ceeds of a fair held three years
ago, and in consideration of the
efforts of the brethren of the other
Masonic bodies of this city on that occa-
sion, the lodge promised to give them the
use of the lodge room free of rent so soon
as the entire debt shall have been paid.
The committee, it will be seen, propose to
have a sesqui-centennial celebration and
gift concert some time during
this year for the purpose
raising funds to pay off the balance OF the
Indebtedness of the lodge and to make fur
Their Improvements to the Temple for the
better accommodation of the fraternity.
The report, after giving detailed state
ment of the financial condition of the
lodge and making certain recommends
tions, is as follows;
Another change that should engage atten-
ton IN the near future is more convenient
aud less trying means of access to the lodge
room, which may be accomplished by an ele-
vatOr. II is the general opinion that such
step would insure increased attendance at
meetings and enable brethren crippled by ac-
cident, or lntirm from disease or advancing
years, to he with Oftener, for, it is not to be
denied the present mode Of ascent to the
lodge room is bar to the presence of many
so circumstanced. And, as soon as the fra
ternitv shall feel itself strong enough to enter
upon the undertaking, the second story, now
rented as public hall, should be converted
INTO club room, for the assemblage of the
craft, 10 enable the members to employ their
leisure hours in intellectual pursuits, recrea-
tive amusements and social Intercourse. A
library, billiard tables, and other similar
means of entertainment and amusement.
would make it very attractive place, and it
might become conspicuous agency in ele-
waiting and refining the moral, intellectual
ana social standard OF the fraternity outside
the lodge room.
=
To relieve this strain upon our income per-
nit the Inauguration of the suggestions of the
committee in regard to an elevator and max
ing the second story of the Temple club
room, if cOncurred in by the lodge, and, to
hasten the time when SOlOmOn's Lodge can
redeem her pledge of free rent to sister lodges
for their munifcent aid few years since, the
committee recommend the organization of
gift concert for the purpose Of raising funds to
extinguish the remaining bonded debt OF the
Temple, or as much thereof as possible, and
invite the cooperation of sister lodges and
the order generally in making the concert
grand success.
If the lodge agrees with the committee in
this recommendation suitable resolutions
should at once set the machinery of the enter
prise in motion, that the sesqui-centennlal OF
the establishment of Masonry in Georgia and
the organization of SOlOmOn's Lodge by Gen.
James OglethOrpe and his associates may find
SOlOmOn's Lodge in position to celebrate by
Il and appropriate ceremonies the cOnjunc-
ton of such glorious epoch in her history
and the founding of Masonry in Georgia.
A committee consisting of the Master
and Wardens of the lodge and the Finance
Committee was appointed to carry out
the recommendations made in the reDOrt