The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-21
TIE COLORED SCHOOL HOUSE,
CEREMONIES INCIDENT TO THE LAYING
OF THE CORNER STONE.
Brass Bands-Masons-Od Fellows
Sunday Schools-and Multitude
of CoIored People In Procession.

Last Friday will always be an important
day in the history OF the colored people OF
Abberille They then celebrated an event ol
great significance to them, and their exceiient
The Masons and the Odd Fellows, formed a
| procession up Main street, and marched IN
open ranks until they Teaehed , tne s,ed papc he.
tween their ranks, and preceded them 10 tne
Everything was done in good order. Their
good conduct, their good dress, ana Inelr nne
After the procession had arrived at the
church LieutGovernor Gary, accompanied
by invited frienus-Senator Hemphill, Hon.
W. h. Maddox, and Capt. Jesse Rook-drove
over in his splendid pheaton, where the mas.
tiers of ceremonies treated their distinguished
guests with all the consideration due to hon.
The colored people Of Abbeville are not a
rich people, but when they set their heads to
building temples and churches In which 10
worship the true. and living God, and when
cate and train their children they never fall.
The building which they are now erecting is
q large two story frame structure, Whlch Will
is covered in," and up to this time the ex-
pense has been met, but when greater drafts
are made upon them, each one comes forward
with his mite, and many amickle makes
muckle."
The unanimlty and harmony with which
thew work, and the cheerfulness which they
give TO any object which appeals to their bet
ter nature furnishes 70 the world an a1ample
Rev. Isaac H. White kindly furnished the
following account:
LAYING the corner stone of Davidic High
School, new institution tor industrial edu-
cation under the auspicies of the African Nd.
E. church.
The exercises were under the immediate
direction Of Rev. Isaac H. White. or Spartan.
burg. Grand Master Of Masons, assisted BY
6. Master, T. L. Walker, Of Cokesbury. $. g.
W., W. NJ. Pope, ]. &. W.; Rev. James I.
Baker, G. Chaplain and Richard Romans.
Grand Marshal.
The procession was formed at the Furgeson
Academy, Presbyterian church. headed by
the Due West brass band. First came the
dny and Sunday School children marshaled
followed Female Benevolent Society under
their president Mrs. Maggie Mitchell, followed
by the Due West Lodge No. 1920 g. .: o. OF
line line Fs9T was he AS6evilie Lodge No. asos Odd
Fellows, James c. Davis N. g.. then came
Ionic Lodge F. A. A. NJ. with delegations
from Celestial Lodge OF Cokesbury and
Jeptha Lodge OF Laurens, acting as escort TO
the Grand Officers.
Arriving at st. James A. NJ. E. church the
order of march was inverted. The several
the tb ana pSe
lection "No Compromise" was excellently
rendered by u select choir, composed Of the
young people OF both churches. Miss jamie
Johnson OF the Presbyterian church at the
organ. Prayer was offered by Rev. Baker,
Grand Chaplain, after which Deputy Grand
Master w. NJ. Thomas was introduced and
delivered the address. This was followed by
another appropriate sele: from the choir.
Rev. w. C. johnson. of Due West, was then
called upon and made some practical re-
marks. Grand Master White being introduc-
ed said, "he could not make q speech. his
name was ON the program without bis con-
sent or previous know ledge, but he was In
terested In the object OF the meeting and
would therefore endorse, and II possible em.
phasize the leading thoughts in DR.. Thomas
address,"
Ignorance is O curse, education, Christian
education, is an imperitive necessity. "A l1t-
tie learning Is dangerous thing" The ed
ucation Of the heart, head and hands is es-
sential to the completion OF the man. The
means for this end being the object OF this
gathering. He therefore suggested they lis.
RI tn or than speech he was not prepared 10
The collection amounting to something
over Sl57 was then taken. After wh1ce the
vast concourse proceeded to the school build
Ing where the corner stone was laid with
Masonic ceremonies.
In the cavity was deposited q copy Of the
Bible, roll containing names Of those who
had contributed SIS TO the enterprise. Among
this number was Lieut.Goyernor Gary. A
copy of the Abbeville Press and Banner,
Medium, Christian Recorder, Southern Chris
tian Recorder, Pee Dee Educator. oficial or.
gan OF colored Masons and Odd Fellows.
Also several small coins Of the period.
During the exercises there were present
and on the platform, besides Lieut-Gov. Gary
State Senator Hemphill and several other
distinguished gentlemen, l. n. White.