Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-08-19
Masonic Fraternity Of TaZeVell and Of Sister
Lodges to Participate in Ceremonies.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR WILL ACT AS ESCORT.
The Laying Of The Cornerstone the New High SchOO Building This Place
Today Will bs Entu in the History Of TazeWs-SkGh of Ta
we'll Lodge No. 62 L. and A. NJ; GKeeHe Royal Arch
Chapter and Of CinCa Valley COmmandery

This day, the 10Th of August, 1909,
will be an eventful one in the history of
Tazewell, and especially so in the his
tory of Masonry in this town. On this
day the cornerstone of the splendid new
High School building, now in course of
construction, will be laid with impress
sive Masonic ceremonies. These cere-
monies will be performed by Tazewell
Lodge, No. 62, A. F. and A. M, assist
ed by large number Of members from
sister Lodges and distinguished MEM
bers of the Fraternity from other sec
tions of the State. Right Worshipful
George w. Wright, Past Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge of Virginia and now
Grand Lecturer, will act as Master and
have charge of the ceremonies. Past
Grand Master, r. T. w. Duke, of Char
louisville, Va, will deliver an address.
He is an eloquent speaker, and his ad
dress will be listened to with pleasure
and profit 10y a large gathering of the
Fraternity as well as large number of
ladies and gentlemen Of the town and
vicinity.
William c. Pendleton will act as Chief
Marshal, and number of Sir Knights
from Clinch Valley Commsndery, No.
20, K. T., and from other Commander
les, will act as an escort. The gather
ing is expected to be the largest that
has ever been seen at Tazewell. Two
hundred of more visitors will be in line
with the home Masons. The procession
will be formed in front of the Masonic
hall and will escort the distinguished
speaker to the Colonel May property,
where the address will be made in the
open air. II the weather is inclement
the address will be delivered in the
Methodist church. At the conclusion
of the address the lines will be reform
ed and the procession will proceed to
the High School building. where an in
vocation will be offered by the Rev.
VIM. H. Kelly, the most venerable
member of TazewelI Lodge. The re-
manning ceremonies will then follow.
When the ceremonies are over, the Wis
itors will be taken TO the hotels, where
specially prepared dinners are to be
served.
Perhaps it will be of interest to Ma
sons and even to many others to give a
brief history of Masonry as it has ex-
listed and been known at Tazewell.
TA2EwELL LODGE, NO. 62.
In 1852 charter was granted by the
Grand Lodge of Virginia to Tazewell
Lodge, No. 62. The first Master of the
Lodge was the late Major w. P. Cecil.
And the records disclose that the Lodge
has been presided over by the following
as Worshipful Masters;
1852, w. P. Cecil; 1853, G.: w. Spottsi
1s54-5, no return; 1S56-57-59, G. w.
SPOTS; 1859-60, no return; 1861, sus-
pended by Civil War; 1s62-63, G. w.
Bottimore; 1964-65-66, ]. W. Anderson
1867, no return; 1868, A. P. Brown
1869, P. R. Sprscher; 1870, A. P. Brown
1872, ]. d. Alexander; 1873, S. d.
Painter; 1874, w. 81. Suthers; 1875, A.
P. Brown; 1876, j. D. Alexander; 1877,
A. D. Estill; 1879, w. H. Suthers; 1879,
no return; 1880, s. C. Graham; 1881, nc
return; 1882, 8. C. Graham; 1s83-84-s5,
]. D. Alexander; 1886, A. P. Brown
1888, w. A. Lyons; 1889, H. P. Brit
tain; 1890, C. A. Thompson; 1891, T. R.
Peery; 1892, j. S. Bottimore; 1898, w.
G. Young; 1894, C. 7. Peery; 1895, j,
Il. Lewis; 1896, E. T. Wright; 1897, H.
w. O'Keeffe; 1893, o. G. Emschwiller
1899, L. C. Wingo; 19cO-1-23, James
O'Keeffe; 1904, ]. F. Hurt; 1866, w.
T. Gillespie; 1907, J. P. Royal; 1908, R.
o. Crockett.
The present officers Of the Lodge are
r. O. Crockett, Worshipful Master; C,
T. Patton, Senior Warden; e. L. Gree
yer, Junior Warden; W. T. Gillespie,
Treasurer; John S. Bottimore, Secre-
tary; F. w. Pendleton, Senior Deacon
Roy S. Thompson, Junior Deacon; VIM,
Fl. Kelly, J. E Linkous, c. r. Brown,
G. G. Rector and C. w. Kelly, Chap,
lains; o. A. Bennett, Tier.
The Lodge now has membership o1
165, with several applications for the
degrees.
We are unable to learn in what build
ing OF buildings the Lodge held its com
munications previous to 1872. In tha
year 1t began to hold its communica
tions in the court house and continued
to do so until 1898, when the building
now owned by the Order was erected OIL
Main street in front Of the court house
The Lodge is in splendid financial condi
ton; owns property worth eight or tel
thousand dollars; has money in tn