The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-08

W. l.. smith and Others Speak.
Manning, Jan. 5.-Todav onened
most unauspiciously for the notable
| occasion set for this date. Acold north
wind and fine, drizzling rain that
| froze as it fell did not offer ideal CON
dltions for such an event as the for
| NAL laying Of the corner-stones of
two public buildings with Masonic
ceremony
Though the rain held up about 10
O'Clock. the weather was still very
| lnclement when the ceremony began
| at the school house at II o'clock.
Masons Perform Ceremony.
Despite this fact, however, there
was large concourse of people, in
Guiding many ladies, gathered for the
| occasion. The Masons to the num-
! Der Of about one hundred assembled
| LII the auditorium of the school
| building and thence, headed by
Metz's Band from Charleston, march
ed to the northeast corner of the
| building, where the ceremony of lay
| ing the cornerstone took place. All
| the school children were assembled
In grades around the scene. Past
Grand Master ]. L. Niche, of Darl-
ington, presided. Leaving the school
building the procession moved to
the Court House, where like cere-
mony was performed. In the two
cornerstones were placed a number
of interesting articles.
After the second ceremony, the
| Masons and hundreds of. others as
sembled in the Court room Grand
Master Niche called the audience
to order and delivered an grafton on
Masonry. which proved SO interests
Ing and Instructive that the entire
audience was held speiibound ne
explained why the Masons were call
ed upon to perform the ceremony of
laying cornerstones and gave quite
an interesting historical sketch of
Masonry and instances of the services
| or. that organization in connection
with the ancient buildings in the ORR
ent. After the address of Mr..
Niche Judge John S. Wilson and
Judge r. w. Memminger took their
seats on the Judges bench, Court
was called to order and the Court
rfer formally opened the Courts of
General Sessions and Common Pleas
Thereupon the grand jury was called
and instructed by the Court to retire
to Its room and select a foreman. Mr..
A. S. Briggs was selected as the fore
man and Judge Wilson then proceed
ed to deliver his charge to the grand
jury. Before he entered upon his
charge, however, he gave an histori-
cal sketch Of the Court House here
and some of the Judges who had
presided at this place. He then took
up the oath of grand jury and an
| alyZed 1T and stressed the different
parts OF the oath. He laid special
stress upon the fact that they should
keep secret whatever transpired in
the grand jury room, and also en-
phasized the fact that they should,
at least once a year. examine the diff
ferent offices Of the Court and let the
public know whether or not the Off
GERS were discharging their duties to
the public in faithful, efficient man.
ner.
| Hon. Nj. l.. Smith Speaks.
| Col. Jos. +. Rhame then rose to
introduce the Hon. M. L. Smith. of
| Camden, as the representative of the
Bar of South Carolina Before in
Producing Mr. Smith, Col. Rhame
spoke of the early history of Man.
ming, OF her local Bar, and the Court
houses, and gave the names of those
members of the Manning Bar who
volunteered in the Confederate war
| ana paid quite tribute to their
| memory. He then introduced Mr..
| Smith, who held the undivided atten-
| ton of the audience for about twen-
ty minutes. He spoke Of the build
ing of handsome edifces by the an
Client countries as an evidence of their
regard Tor peace and law and love
| OF knowledge, OF the importance of
strict observance of the laws of the
country, and Of the responsibility of
starting child right at the home as
the first place. He also referred TO
the hand-in-hand work of the schools
ana the Courts and the Church in
promoting the highest standard of