Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-05-24
Paper Read in Open Lodge by A. Zimmerman.l
Connected with

in the hall Of w. j. Stribling's old
store-house. The building Is now re-
moved and the lot Is owned by j. S.
Carter.
The times were hard and Masonry
progressed slowly in the beginning.
With few exceptions the furniture Of
the Lodge was cheap and BETTING
the times. The first jewels we're
made of tin, and were cut by H.. r.
CASTOR, a timer, living near West
minister. He Is now deceased, but
remembered by many Of this Lodge.
The other Lodge furniture was in
corresponding proportions, with two
or three exceptions. From that time
until now | can see but three pieces
of Lodge furniture hal have stood
the times and have been in continu-
GUS use and possession Of the Lodge
from It's organization, and they de-
serve special mention. They are the
Holy Bible, the ballot box and the
coffin. The Great God, the Supreme
Architect of the Universe, ever takes
care ofiHis Word and proves the say
ing 1T contains, Heaven and earth
shall pass away, but my Word shall
not pass away This book has been
the II we have all kissed in token
of our sincerity to the VOWS we have
taken as Masons and the one pointed
out to US as the inestimable gift
from God to Man to guide us in u
faith and practice. God grant that
1T may remafn In the Lodge for all
time and be a lamp to our feet and a
light to Il path, both inside and
outside the Lodge room. This HOLY
Bible was bought by Bro. John r.
Steele with contributions from the
brethren. The ballot box, that grim
sentinel, eve standing hard by the
Holy Bible-always on hand and
ever ready to guard the interests and
welfare Of the Lodge, TO keep out i'm
posters and deceitful bad men-be
sure to use 1t we'll, for by it's use the
honor and integrity Of the Lodge Is
maintained. This ballot box was made
by Bro. Robt. Fullerton and present
ed to the Lodge. He was a native of
Ireland, having come to this country
when II years Of age. He was a
member of P%endleton Lodge and q
very bright Mason. He was a Cana.
liel to Westminster, and, like Pau.
Gotten after Lodge work. have we
sat his feet and enjoyed and prolted
by his words Of instruction and coun-
sci. In working with him and in
nearing from him In the Lodge room
we always learned something and
went away filled with new inspira-
ton, never falling to enjoy his Irish
wit and humor, but we honored his
presence the more for it. When he
died Masonry lost one of it's bright
est jewels. Unassuming and unpre-
tentious, he was not taken for his
real worth. It was only those who
knew him best that loved him most.
He was a surveyor and cabinet work
man of no mean repute, as this bal
lot box will attest. He died at the
ripe old age OF 80.
And the coffin, that emblem OF
death, that we are taught in our
rituals will 500 hold you and me,
and that ere long the brittle thread
OF life will soon be broken, and that
we VIII be summoned to appear be-
fore the Great Architect of the Uni
verse to give an account of our stew
ardship In this world-this coffin was
made by Bros. G. G. Porter and G.. w,
Kay and presented to the Craft. Bro.
Porter relates an incident that oc-
cured when he and Bro. Kay were
making the coffin. A Mr.. Dodd called
IN when they we're at work making
the collin and inquired who was dead.
he was Informed, "Our Grand Master
Hiram Abiff.' He said he did not
know him and asked where they were
going to bury him. They told him
IN Westminster. He said he would
like to go to the burial, but he was
informed that he was too old. Hs
vent away mystihed.
a little remarkable that these
three pieces Of Lodge furniture Of all
others should have beer handed
down for these SO years, through all
It's vicissitudes, it's death, its burial
and Its resurrection, and that they all
should have been presentations to
the Craft.
And another piece of Lodge furni-
ture that deserves mention here is
the Tiers sword, which was pre-.