The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-17
VIM. G. HILL LODGE.
No. 21S. A. +. and A. NJ.

VIM. G.. HILL LODGN.
No. 21S, A. +. and A. M.
To the Editor:
The organization of this Lodge carries
us back TO a gloomy period OF tlme-to
the year 1864. The country was then
in the throes of the Civil War, and every
mind centered its concern on that mighty
contest. War has it's horrars, and these
came TO all hearts, to be felt as much by
the people at home as they were reallz-
ed by loved ones on the tented helds,
and who participated in the combat OF
battle.
Notwithstanding the concern of that
hour, Freemasonry held itsef true to its
noble principles, and every son of the
altar was guided thereby into the dis
charge of every duty-duty to God, to
country, to man, to himself. Eminently
an institution of peace, yet Freemasonry
has always found wide field in which
to exercise its principles in times of war.
Those principles have lasted for thirty
centuries-the same now that they were
in the beginning. The brethren gone be-
fore illustrated them in their lives, and
have left them as a rich legacy to the
brethren of the present day, who should
hand them down to their posterIty to
be pc perpetuated as long as the world
stands-until all the future generations
shall have been gathered to their graves
Said Grand Master Watson in his an
nual address before the Grand Lodge in
1864: "E'reemasonry never interferes
with the affairs of government, politics
or religion, but leaves every mans con-
science free-no matter whether he be
Jew. Christian or Mohamedan. Hence
it is that Masons are to be found In
every cline ON the habitable globe, all
obeying the same landmarks of the Or
der One of the most positive injunc-
tions given to the candidate for admis-
sion into our Order is to fulfil all civil
duties in the most distinguished manner
and from the pilrest motives This is
one of the most positive and binding
regulations. Masons, as well as other
men, are members of civil society, equal
~ interested in preserving its order and
peace. They owe their personal and
their associate security to the laws,
their protection to the rigid enforcement
of those laws, while the true Mason
acts within his sphere, he us a true friend
to his government. That is the centre
of his circle, the point where his affec-
tons are the warmest. Masonry is
founded ON love to God and love to man.
1t declares and repeats to every candi-
date, and in all its Lodges that it can
never countenance anything contrary to
morals, religion or the government, and
expects and requires the highest rever-
ence to the Supreme Being, obedience to
rulers, respect to superiors, kindness to
equals, and condescension to interiors.
1t was in the midst of times that
evoked such sentiments as these that
VIM. G.. HILL in 1864, first had it's being.
Its organization was felt to be duty
and a necessity, and dispensation in
April, 1864, was obtained for that pur-
pose It's officers were: j. b. Neathery,
~. NJ; w. J. Palmer, S. w.; R. III.
Rountree, J. W.; J. ]. Chaplin, S. d.;
A. d. Register, ] d; John G. Williams,
Treasurer; It. III. Dewey Secretary. The
following tribute was paid the Lodge, NJ.
D., by the Committee on Charters and
Dispensation at the session of the Grand
Lodge in 1864: "Wm. G. Hill Lodge
We find the bylaws of this Lodge in
strict accordance with the laws of your
Grand Body, and its books kept in so
neat and business-like manner as to re-
feet much honor on its officers. Its
work is heartily approved, and we cheer
fully recommend that they be granted
charter" The records thus compliment
cd were copied and placed on the record
book by that sterling, upright Mason
and citizen, Brother w. III. Dodd.
A charter was granted in the same
year 1854 and the following-named
brethren were the charter members: J.
Il. Neathery, A. ID. Royster, w. III.
Dodd. John c. Williams, j. j. Chaplin.
w. +. Palmer, Robert Ell. Rountree, Will
liam Fl. Finch and f. HI. Dewey. The
membership in 1865, in addition to the
charter members, were Isham III. Ben
nett. VIM. n. Holt, John Armstrong, Il.
J. Parkinson. John G. Blake, FL. X.
Hooper, r. III. Bradley, Ira Beckwith,
George C. Taylor. Phil. HI. Sasser. Thos.
j.. Banks. VIM. r. Cox, Thos. G. Jen-
kins, James G. Reid, j. III. Afford, Levi
Talley, John r. Congleton and Martinez
Fleming. The great Reaper, Death, has
gathered most of these to himself, and
the few survivors are now numbered
among the most worthy Of our citizens
Any institution will largely partake OF
the spirit characteristic of it's officers.
This was truly the case in the early
career Of William g. Hill Lodge No. 21S.
1t bounded into life and opened it's doors
to the knock Of as worthy class Of men
as ever resided in our city After secur-
ing the charter, the Lodge acted wisely
in the election Of its first officers. These
We're jealous. upright members of the
fraternity. They were J. h. Neathery.
w. NJ; A. d. Register. s. w; w. II.
Dodd, J. w: John G.. Williams. Treas
urer; ]. I'll. Afford, Secretary; J. J.
Chaplin, S. D.. X. II. Bradley, J. u.
The Tyler, J. NJ. Belts, was member OF
Hiram Lodge, No. 40, and served both
Lodges in that capacity.
Brother Neathery, the first Master,
was very bright and jealous Mason.
The spontaneous suffrage Of his brethren
lnd him "a .ohn Al