The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-11

occasion, which occurred before any,
living inhabitant Of this city was
born, and of which it is probably the
only existing memorial.
This Bronze Tablet is history itself,
not only Of our Order, but Of our city
also. For we read upon one face the
following:
The Corner Stone of Newberry court
house; Laid. Jan. l8, Ammo Lucis,
1927. Gam. Dom. 1929.
By
Job Johnston, W. NJ. Of Lodge n. II.
A. F. NJ. S. c.
A number Of other Brethren,
Acting.
Under a dispensation
From
John S. Cogdell, Most WorshipfH'
Grand Master Of the Ancient
Free Masons Of South Car
olina.
On the other side the plate bears
the following inscription:
"Defend the Poor & Fatherless. do
Justice to the Afflicted & Needy.
Deliver the Poor & Needy: rid thela
out of the hand of the wicked.'
Psalm 80, 3 Cd.
This tablet with Masonic Ceremon-
les was laid in the Corner Stone Of
the second Court House erected in the
District Of Newberry, and in the city
of Newberry. That building stood l.
the public square, upon the site NV
occupied by what is known as the Old
Court House Building. (The third c.
H. And was removed in 1851, for
the erection of its successor. This
tablet was then removed from the
Corner Stone by members of the
Lodge No. A, who thirty years pre-
viously had assisted and witnessed the
LAYING Of it as the Corner Stone of
Lodge No. II. There being no lodge IN
existence at Newberry at that time,
1851, it was taken charge by Broth
er F. B. Higgins, Past Master of for
mer Lodge No. a, by him it was
carefully preserved up to his death,
when it passed into the possession OF
his family, and now in the name OF
our deceased Brother and his family
I place it in your hands for future
preservation and safe keeping.
And now Worshipful Master at
your suggestion in attempting to
gather the above in regard to the tab
let, have failed to secure any local
Masonic history Of our Newberry
Lodges. As the records Of all the
lodges existing prior to the revivins
of our Lodge in 1853 have disappear
ed, and no trace Of them remains so
far as have been able to search the
past. But with the kind assistance
of Past Master G. S. Mower, have
been able to gather the following
from the records Of the Grand Lodge
of South Carolina. and Mackeys His
torv of A. F. NJ. in South Carolina.
At a meeting Of the Grand Lodge
Officers on December 20, 1922. the re-
cord shows the following entry.
"The Most WorShipfull Grand
Master read letter from Bro. Y. j..
HARRINGTON. Worshipfull Master OF
Lodge No. II. Newberry Court House
praying for a dispensation for the
purpose of laying the Corner Stone OF
Court house-referred to the Grand
Lodge -
At an adjourned communication Of
the Grand Lodge Of Ancient Free Ma
sons of South Carolina held - De-
cember. 1922. the following appears
in record.
"a communication from Brother 7.
J. Harrington. Worshipfnll Master
of Lodge No. II, was received, pray
ing for a dispensation to lay Cor
ner Stone of new Court House in
Newberry District: on motion order
ed to be granted.'
This Newberrv Lodge seems to
have had two numbers, older one No.
II. and then a new one rs No. A.
And there WAS Newberrv District
Lodge of Ancient York Masons No.
81. at Hogs store near Enoree, that
afterwards had its number changed to
No. q.
! The Grand Lodges records sho"