The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-20
MkSONS SELL SITE
OF Old HOME
Said That An Agreement Was
Made to Leave the Bones There,
But Ancient Site May Be
come Manufactur-
ing Site.
RIG MON ID, VA.-Special.--

X ( ii Nj . y ID, NA-Special.--
Masons in South Ind are
much Interested in tha r,v0- ~
FER OF lot OF land at Firth ana ro
bridge Streets 20 firm on this sl~~
of the river. and the announcement
that the former site for the Masonic
meetings in that city is TO be convert
ed TO a manufacturing site.
The fact is that the MasonS. who.
for long time, owned the property.
stipulated that the ground surround
ing the MasOns' Hall should ever be
kept as n graveyard, and the records
show that there are buried in the plot
OF ground the remains OF many of
the brethren of the craft.
IL was i'm 1880 that the site in
question was bought by Manchester
Lodge. No. IA. Ancient. Free and Ac-
cepted MasonS. from James Lyle. ST..
and that some ten or fifteen years
later the Masons' Hall was built. In
1913 or 1914 the town seems to have
dried up to some extent and the pop
ulation dwindled. As a consequence
the number OF MaSons decreased and
the membership of the lodge at that
time was not more than six or seven.
The MasOns Hall was then sold to
pay a debt due to the Mutual AsSur-
ance Society for quotas for losses by
fire" that property being insured
with the society. The trustees Of the
town of Manchester bought in the
property. aGu in 1850, the lodge hav-
ing regained its prestige, again sought
to obtain control OF the property, and
the Masonic records show that a Pc
titiOn was presented to have the prop
erty again vested in the Masonic Or
der. and that was done.
1t is shown that the Masons' Hall
was used for all sorts of meetings.
lectures, Sunday Schools. churches
and the like, and town meetings were
held therein, the Masons refusing to
receive a cent in fees for the use Of
the building
Sold by the IdasOns.
Some fifteen years or more ago the
Nsasons, having outgrown the old hall,
the city having spread westward
disposed OF the property, and the
cords Of the MaSons show that the
)Servation was made that the crafts
Aen should ever have control and di-
fectiOn of the graveyard surround
ing the Masons' Hall. The laws of
the State of Virginia forbid the dis
turbing of a graveyard and unless the
consent OF the Masons is obtained
thereto il is not seen how the new
purchasers can even eXhume the
bodies which are now resting therein.
MaSOns Forward Petition TO Trustees.
In the petition which the Masons
presented TO the town trustees in
1850. the following language is used:
The ground on which ii stands, and
that around the house. which is still
ours, contains the moldering bodies
of many Of our brethren who have
been deposited there 1t is a sacred
graveyard. We ask you to consider
how harShly il CRATES on our feel
ings to witness it's present conversion,
when we remember how il was lost,
and we feel that we can now redeem
ii IL il suits your pleasure. but if you
refuse would you not feel and act as
we feel and act If you were one Of
us? Apply. then, gentlemen, the
Golden Rule. DO as you would be
done by and our suit is gained. Is
money the only consideration? Rather
far otherwise"
Would Retain the Graveyard
The Masons want the old graveyard
left undisturbed. There is buried in
the man who built the. first deaf and
dumb and blind school I'm America
rather. founded the first school
where the sign language was taught.
There are other distinguished dead in
the place. Whether the MaSonS will
assert their rights and rely on the law
to prevent the disturbing OF the grave
yard. or Will consent TO have the bodies
eNhumed and given a resting place
elsewhere, has not been determined.
There are many interesting stories
told of the old graveyard. Some time
ago, when earth was needed to give
a OASIS Tor the growing OF sod on the
new postoffice grounds, the old grave
yard was invaded and several cart
loads OF earth were taken therefrom.
while this was being scattered a Ma
son standing by saw piece OF metal.
and il proved TO be a button from the
coat OF some man who had, after the
Iashion or century and quarter
ago, worn the conspicuous brass but
tons of that period. There was also a
bit of the emblem OF mourning which
the MasonS OF that day deposited In
the grave with deceased members.
When that was found the taking OF
earth from the lat was stopped.
Manchester Lodge. No. Il, is con-
siderably interested in the matter and
the probabilities are that at the next
meeting OF that body there Will be
some action in the matter