The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-15

HZ-.HeNErs III 1oINs Ne fs1
Dec. 9Th, 1896.
DEAR ADVERTISER: They say: "a
little folly now and then"is relished by
}tne "wisest men," So q little diver
sion from commonplace and ever
$iaeting politics will not offend the good
ssense aud good taste OF the readers OF
THE ADvERTIsER. Let Ole land and
sTillman and Mckinley alone for the
moment. We are down in Charleston
ito see our boy, to attend the annual
Communication Of the Grand Lodge of
2Bfasons, and to have a ''day off" from
the tread-mill existence of q country
town. (.
ST 10 really advantageous to get out
B6m home now and then and to see
fsnd catch the brisk and crisp move
5ments of the rest Of the world. 1t will
enlarge the view and lesson our self
Importance and we will come home
like the boy who went to mill and
when he got home safe, exclaimed If
the world was as big all around as the
way he travelled 1t was indeed q whop-
1per. The Grand Lodge of Masons
meets here annually in December, each
Lodge in the State having one or more
representatives and consits usually of
about two hundred and fifty brethren
liable and most substantial citizens.
Here, in Masonic ~parlance, is situated
1.-The "Grsnd East" and here the Grand
Lodge owns q handsome Temple on
King Street, whore the body holds It's
sessions. But it is not my purpose to
discourse about Masonry. 1t is sufficient
to say that every nook ard cornerin
the State are represented in these an
nual assemblies. The Masons claim that
they are the Oldest institution in the
world and date themselves back to the
beautiful temple erected at Jerusalem
bythat great and splendid Prince, King
Solomon, and they claim him for their
fret Grand Master. Whether this be
well or i'll founded undoubtedly it is
the oldest society in the world, the
most extensive and universally immi-
tated by the secret conclaves through
out the land. Representative J. r.
Smith, B. L. Henderson, Lafayette
Gray, l.. G.. Bale, DR.. Wofford and
DIR. Robert Culbertson are here re-
presenting Laurens. To-day the
hospitalities of the city we're extended
the body by Mayor Smythe on the be-
half of the city authorities and to-mor-
row ar excursion around the beautiful
harbor is rendered the order by the
city Lodges. The antiquity Of the
city makes it unique in South Caro-
lima. We are domiciled close on to
the "battlements Of the battery" a
phrase classic in South Carolina
from the lips Of a now prominent office
holder in the State and used in one of
the campaigns about six years ago.
1t is very beautiful. Not far up Meet
ing Street, Broad Street, the Wall
Street of the old city, i%ntersects it and
there you find the City Hall, the new
Public Building, the Court House, and
old st. Michael. This church belongs
TO the continental epoch, is very beau
Stiiul and you can't tell wherefore, but
you still look and still look at it and
look delighted. The pleasure lies no.
doubt in It's just proportions. 1t has
historic interest, its chimes were pre-
laented by one of the Kings of England,
the steeple was the target Of the
Federal guns during the great invest
ment in the civil war, just as it is the
target of all eye in these piping
ltimes Of peace.
CHARLESTON, s. o.
Dec. 9th, 1896.
In my letter OF yesterday I alluded
TO churches and public buildings
There are many beautiful churches in
this old city-a distinctive feature
but this characteristics all cities, taste
and display in religious edifces,
pioneering all civilizations. In this
city they as q rule wear an ancient
look and therefore are the more
beautiful and interesting. Within
aglast few years following the great
Eth quake a Post Office Government
hilding has been completed on the
corner of Broad and Meeting Streets
OF considerable p~retension. Archi-
tecturally 1t cannot be called o failure
and In fact adds greatly to the at
fractions of the city. AT the same
time, 1t is to be observed that 1t has
strikingly the a marks OF a Federal
building-cannot be mistaken, and
looks as IL 1t had been moved down
from Washington, where all the pub
lie buildings have the same earmarks
and the observer will conclude that
the same author inspired all the
creations. The White House and
Capital at Washington are possible
exceptions, both belonging to the first
and second quarters Of this century,
But this new country is not o land Of
Neutrality-suspicious. and we may not
look for taste and high art where the
utiiitarian spirit has cornered the
very soul OF the age. When the Cot
tom Mill and the cotton seed mill or the
grain elevator are going up the laws
OF harmony and proportion are not
expected to be regarded. II the time
should come that the luxuries of art
Ia architecture, painting, and statuary
should be manifested In this country
- l-.1 1900 1.-t