Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18

THE FIRST GRAND LODGE.
! In the year 1TI5 movement was inau-
gurated in England 70 organize a perma-
nent Grand Lodge. Two years after
wards, namely 17l7. a constitutional
Grand Lodge was organized in London.
and assumed supreme jurisdiction over
all Independent lodges Except the -Four
Old Lodges" in LOndOn) with the exciu-
siYe right TO issue charters % new lodges.
Eighteen years after this important
event in Masonic history, namely in ll33,
~0lomOn's Lodge OF savannah was char
tered. Ii is not TO be wondered al that
the members of this venerable lodge
should be proud Of its antiquity when II
brings its organization so near 70 nose
distinguished brethren who threw around
the institution Of Masonry those constitu-
tional safeguards and landmarks that
have made il the most perfect organZa-
ton ever instituted by man.
On the 18th day of February, I53, y.
I = }, James OylethOrpe and his colony
/ OF ll6 persons landed at the blum upon
/ which savannah now stands, There ap-
pears 10 be unreasonable doubt that there
were prominent Masons in that little col
/ Ony, one Of whom was perhaps the soldier
phllantluOpist. OglethOrpe. as II IS re-
/ corded that al the meeting OF the Grand
I Lodge in London in the same year.
/ Deputy Grand Master Batson 're-
| commenced the new colony Of Georgia IN
/ North America TO the benevolence Of the
/ subordinate lodges" This was an ap-
I prOpriate Enforcement when we remem-
( Der that the colony was founded for be-
neyolent and charitable purposes.
Roger Lacey, afterwards Grand Master
/ Of Georgia from 1875 to 100, was Grand
| Steward Of the Grand Lodge Of England
| in 1870, and George Carpenter, one Of the
/ Trustees of the colony, and after whom
/ one Of the tythings Of Savannah Ia named.
/ was Senior Grand W arden il the follow
{ .ng wear. 1t Is therefore. probable that
the Lodge in Savannah was organized
soon after the cOlOnists were settled in
their new home. In those days, however,
communication with the mother country
was slow and difficult, and it was not
until 1873 that a charter was granted.
There is a tradition which gives 10 the
old and now dead town of Sunbury the
honor Of being the birthplace Of Masonry
in Georgia, and it is said that the lodge
was instituted by Gen. Oglethorpe. This
story IS entirely mythical. The town Of
Sunbury was not laid of until 175S. At
that date OglethOrpe was in England
commanding q division Of the British
army. He left Georgia for the last time
in 1913.
Grey Elliott, Grand Master Of Georgiai in
1155, was one Of the original settlers Of the
town Of Sunbury. He was doubtless one
Of the first Masters Of SOlOmOn's Lodge,
and afterwards moved from Savannah to
Sunbury, which, for time. was the rival
Of the older town for tina trade Of
the colony. Brother Elliott was an
active and influential citizen, and was
chosen by the General Assembly as as
sistant, from the colony of Georgia, to
Benjamin Franklin, who had been ap-
pointed by the colonies as a commission
er II present to the King OF England,
their grievances, and demonstrate against
the expressions of the crown, and to OPP
pose taxation without representation.
THE LODGE AT sUNBURY.
There was a Masonic Lodge at Sun
bury, however, either Just previous to the
war Of the revolution, or soon thereafter,
but it appears to have been irregular or
clandestine. In the records Of SOlomons
Lodge 1t is stated that brother, COmmO-
| dore Oliver Bowen, an officer Of the navy
of the Revolution, was reinstated, he
| having been member of spurious
''Lodge At Sunbury.'
According to tradition the first meetings
of Solomon's Lodge were held in build
| ing which stood on the present site Of the
| custom house, or somewhere on that block.
| There is no evidence, however, to sub
! stantiate the tradition. If the public
house, or hotel of the town was on that
site, the story is probably true.
In the returns Of the Grand Lodge of
| England for 1740 the lodge in Savannah IS
designated as "Arms" Lodge, No. 1874.
/ This title probably gave rise to another
/ tradition. namely, that SOlOmon's Lodge
/ was at one time a military or soldiers
| lodge. This conclusion is not correct,
| though it is very natural one when we
| consider that the colony was OF necessity
\ a semi-military settlement, owing to the
close proximity Of savage Indians and
/ hostile Spaniards.
Masonic gatherings in the last century
were, as a rule, held in public houses or
! hOtels-they were called in those days
taverns-and the lodges often took their
names from them. Public houses in towns
IN England were usually named after the
local magnate.
In the colonies the loyal publican gen.
orally named his hostelrie after the king
or some member OF the reigning family
| Nine host who in those by-gOne years en-.
| tertaned the brethren OF Savannah
probably called his house the "king's
Arms" Many of the older lodges In
England are still known by the names Of
old taverns, which have long since dsap
peared. This is probably the origin o.
the temporary name given to our lodge.
THE SAVANNAH LODGE,
The lodge in Savannah makes its frs
appearance (l736) on the records of tn,
Grand Lodge Of England as No. 1879; III
next number (1740) Is 1874; in 1856 it Il
No. 70, in 1870 It is No. So. In a recapitu
lation in the Grand Lodge of England
records in the year 1912 the lodge i
designated as SolomOn's Lodge No. o
Savannah, Ga, and is put down as No. 4
on the register. This is the last time tn
name OF Solom0n's Lodge appears as al
English lodge. In the following year
1913, the three Grand Lodges Of England
two Of which were instituted after Solo
mons Lodge was chartered, were con
solidated under the name OF the "Uniteo
Grand Lodge OF England" the presen
title OF that grand body.
There are two Masonic Lodges il
America that claim to be as old, if no
older, than SolomOn's Lodge. Withou
going into the evidence, the question hav
Ing been the subject of controversy man,
years since, will simply say that an ex
animation of the records OF the Gran,
Lodge Of England will satisfy anyon
that while the claims OF our rival
for this honorable position have som,
foundation TO rest upon, the proofs are II
favor of SOlOmOn's Lodge OF Savannah
The Charleston Lodge. also known as Sol
onions No. /, does not appear on tn
records until 1861, and the Royal Tx
change Lodge No. 1876, Of Boston In New
England" chartered in 1888. has no wei