The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-05-09
oneninc the Old Corner Stone.

Last Friday morning the corner stone of
the old Masonic building was taken from
It's position and opened by the present
Worsbipful Master Of Hiram Lodge, Mr..
r. 8. Hill. Quite number of our citizens
bad gathered at the building, and before
moving the stone from its position Grand
Master Diver made few appropriate re-
marks, and announced that it was the GUS
tom of the Masonic fraternity to take up q
collection On such occasions for some char
table object. The collection on this occa-
sion, he said, would be for the benefit of
the workmen who were injured while at
work on the building few days before.
The stone was then removed to Messrs.
ed. Every one who came in to look at it
was asked to make contribution, and
about fifteen dollars was collected.
This corner stone was laid on Friday
October 18th, 1866, but there is no record
Of what was placed in it. 1t was not air.
tight, consequently everything in the re-
ceptable, except silver plate and ten sill
yer coins, had crumbled to dust. None of
the coins were very old, the dates running
from 1884 to 1853. Among the coins were
o. oll-fashioned seven.pence and Span
ish quarter-the latter equal to about three
cents of our money. The plate bore the
following inscription:
Erected Jy Hiram Lodge, No. 6S, A. F.
NJ, a. =. 1855, A. D. 1855. Building COM
menced October 18th. Alfred Price, Grand
Master, Grand Lodge, S. G. +. E. Harri-
sou, w. NJ; S. H. Langston, S. W.; B.
Clark, j. w. A. M. Holland, Sec. A. o..
Norris, Treas. ]. V. Moore, S. D.. e..
bfurrah, ]. D.; Jos. Byrum, Tyler, of Hi
ran, Lodge, No. GS. John T. Sloan, Archi-
tcct."
The above named gentlemen are all
dead, except Mr.. John T. Sloan, who is
now resident of Columbia, S. G.
new building, and new corner stone will
be laid on top of it as soon as the walls are
ready.
In speaking of the laying OF the old cor
ner stone, the old Anderson Gazette and
Aduocate. under date Of October II, 1856,
says:
On last Friday the laying of the Corner
Stone Of the new Masonic Edifca about to
be erected in this town by the members of
Hiram Lodge, was celebrated with appro-
pirate honors and ceremonies. at 10
o'clock, q. NJ, the members of Hiram
Lodge, accompanied by large delegations
from the Abbeville, Cokesbury, Due West,
Williamson, Greenville and Pendleton
Lodges, marched in procession through the
public square, under the direction of the
Marshal, w. H. D. Gaillard, to the site of
the building. The fraternity having formed
q hollow square, an appropriate prayer
was offered up by the Rev. T. s. Arthur,
after which the beautiful and impressive
ceremony Of laying the Corner Stone. vas
conducted by T. z. Harrison, Worshipful
Master of Hiram Lodge. Maj. John V.
Moore was then introduced and proceeded
to deliver most forcible and glowing ad-
dress, every way suited to the occasion.
Although Maj Moore had but short time
to prepare his address, it filled the mouths
Of eil present with praise. With master
tcrly hand he sketched the rise and progress
OF Masonry portrayed i'm vivid language
lis days of persecution and prosperity, and
vindicated the noble principles and beneh-
cal operations of the system, in style OF
manly eloquence. His remarks to the ladies,
in concluding, were touching and in good
taste We hope to be able to lay before
our readers, an address go replete with
glowing thoughts and so many evidences ol
a strong and well cultivated mind.
The Rev. T. s. Arthur was next intro
6uced, and eloquently vindicated Masonry
from the charge, that it attempted to usurr
tDe ClLCe OF Tue CQuTCll, auu dlSO pTOfcu
that the Order imposed no obligations
upon it's members that at all conf1icted with
their obligations to the Government, to
Society, or 10 the Church. After the speak.
ing the fraternity adjourned to sumptuout
dinner, prepared for them at Hubbard's
Hotel. On the whole it was quite en- i'm
posing spectacle, and we wish the Order
great success in the erection of their edifice
1his community will be under great obli'
cations to them upon its completion, for il
will prove not only useful building bu
quite an ornament to the town.