The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-06
INDEPENDENT LODGE A. F.M.
Its Birth, It's Prosperous Career, It's
Death, and Its Revival.

Deatn, anu 4te heFlSdl.
DIR. Harrison went to Donaldsville yester.
day afternoon In his official capacity as Depu.
ty Grand Master 10 take part In the reorgani'
was originally organized in Due West In the
Al that time that community was com:
posed almost entirely OF Associate Reformed
Presbyterans who were then ne W very ,r,s macn sp, sSp,
there were q few men In the neigh borhood
who were outside the pale OF the church, and
they had conceived the idea that the fraternal
relations which we're cultivated In Masonic
Lodge would be good for them, and 80 they
withdrew their membership from Clinton
Lodge at Abbeville, and organized tndepend-
ent Lodge at Due West. This organization
sons who were exceedingly jealous in their
attachment for the Order. They attended the
monthly meetings OF Clinton Lodge, and II
was always late In the night or exceedingly
early next morning hen they returned rom
Speaking from memory: The Lodge was
organized In the upper room OF q store which
was then owned By Moses Wlnstock, and is
dwelling which was then occupied BY DR..
Archer, and afterward occupied by Prof. WIN.
Hood.
Magill. shoemaker; Peter johnson; tailor; J.
Y. SittoD, carriage Iuaker, and DIR. Pleasants.
Honea Path sent her contribution In the per.
son OF DR.. McBeth.
whose names we never knew or have forgot
The pious community was greatly shocked
at the organization, OF Masonic Lodge. IN
their midst. Besides the pernicious effect OF
having 10 the com munity secret organlza'
ton, where member thereof "winked with
his eyes, speaketh with his feet, and teacheth
with his fingers" It was feared that the ga
cred custom OF church burial would be in
vaded. The Church at that time did not be.
Iieve in funeral services as now conducted
and objection to the Lodge WAS urged for one
reason because those who taught ana spoke
by mystic signs and 81 mbols would possibly
desire to exercise their right OF burial In case
OF the death of one Of their members. Ma.
sonic funerals being conducted with great
pomp and ceremony, with white aprons and
bearers, with members standing. around
the grave giving the Public Grand Honors
TO the desetEas an innovation which WAS not
pleasant~or the pious churchman to contem'
The Lodge was born. lived, fourished and
died. It's founders have either gone to the
four quarters of the earth, or have passed be-
yond the veil. Their lives remain but as
land is in Cotton Plant Mississippi, but we
do not know II be has repented Of bis sin In
organizing the Due West Masonic Lodge
Moses Winstock lives 10 Charleston. sleeping
nocence In tho good work Of helping Holland
James Magtil atoned for his evil doing In ref
erence to organizing the Masonic Lodge by
marrying one OF the best and most devout
Associate Reformed Presbyterians that ever
partook OF the most comfortable sacrament o.
our Saviour. Peter johnson was good old
tailor, and, as the world goes, he was
a good old man. He never renowned
tion Of the Lodge he tiled It's meetings faith
fully until the day Of his death. He. was q
stranger in the community: He had no Kin.
folk thereabout, and the old waif felt more al
home at the Lodge than anywhete else on
earth. Those who knew him trust that he is
now at rest. May obedience to the lessons
and rules Of the Lodge on earth entitle him
to "a place In the supreme co9nSl 4nS OF thai
For time Independent Lodge dourlshed
aud grew apace. II had more work" than
any other Lodge Of which we have had any
aoqnalntance. NoIw!nsIannIing tne a sOtio Up Up
frowning attitude OF the church great mum
bers knocked for admission at the door OF the
Lodge. B. M. Winstock, 9. A. Winstock, g
Visanska. T. G. Seal, John w: Rowland, John
D. o. Hawthorne. we're among some OF the
men who Joined the Lodge.
Col. D. o. Hawthorne, most useful mem
Der OF the Associate Reformed church either
Order, or as his brother church members were
disposed TO put It, from perverseness OF hear
at the instigation OF the devil. cast bis lol
with the mystic crew. The church people
excellent character and his zeal for church
work. nothing was done about 1t In the
church, and 80 we believe 1t was. that Col. d
o. Hawthorne was the first Associate Reform
ed Presbyterian who became Mason wlthou
losing his churchly connection. Col. Haw
thorne's power was such, that, although The
silent influence OF the members was agalns
the Masonic order, yet the church from tha
time on, as far as we know, never interferec
with the members action In that particular
and since then some OF the best and brighes
| Masons have come from among the A. Il. P
But Masonic Lodges. like other great thing
OF earth, have their rise and fall. Masoni
zeal expended Itself. and the Lodge went Il
were closed. Its jewels were neglected. IL
EN- blems and working tools were rusting
Its hold on the public at Due West was lost
and II Ia now sought to organize Lodge b.
the same name In the peighboring town o
Donalds.
But the church at Due West remains and II
still extending it, usefulness In serving tn
purposes Of its divine appointment, giving a
all times the sweetest consolation TO tn
children Of the Father OF Us all.
At the time OF the organization OF th
Lodge at Due West this editor was boy, ant
the Rev. w. r. Hemphill was associate edito
names. As writer be was entertaining ant
resourcefui. He had two subjects which wer
| mex haustible, and about which be had some
thing to say which was always readable
namely: Masons and Catholicism. Tn
fact Ia, he knew very little about Masonary
however we'll informed he may have beer
about the Catholics. The Lodge was grea
evil which was about to spring at up the YER.
fountain head Of the learning and the piet.
of the church. and II was necessary I
fight 1t, through the columns of the churc
/ paper. This editor hardly knew which wa
worse. the Catholics or the Masons. But W
thought we could avoid the fate OF Morgan
! who, 1t Ia alleged, the Masons drowned 70
! telling their secrets. But in the childhood @
! this editor, Mr.. Hemphill excited fears tina
troubled him In the night. We thought thl
country would sooD be turned over to tn
eatholiss, and then the ProteGtanM woul