Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-05-24

as best l could, a history Of West
minister Lodge OF Masons, giving it's
organization, its trials and its
growth up to the present time. We
as a Lodge Of Masons should not be
satisfied 70 know that the Lodge sim
ply exists-whether a great big
speckled bird laid the egg, and that
by some mysterious process it gave
being to this grand organization In
Westminster, or whether it was born
of noble %parentage, sacrificing sup
porters, heroic citizens and under
trying circumstances.
This l will try to show.
Our Lodge was chartered in the
year 1876, thus doubly made men,
orable by the remarkable coincidence
that 1T was the centennial year Of
the independence of the United
States and the year when the whole
State of South Carolina was trying to-
and did throw off the yoke Of bond
age Carpet bag government) and
elected Wade Hampton Governor of
South Carolina. Then 1t was that
the few citizens of the little town of
Westminster paraded these then
stumpy streets with torches, banners
and music in honor of that memora-
bic campaign that set South Carolina
free. That was the first public dem
onstration ever had in Westminster.
? In like manner some OF the good
citizens IN and around Westminster,
being desilous of casting off some Of
the Ill effects Of a long and demon.
alizing war, began agitating a
Masonic Lodge, whose principles
citizenship, the upbuilding Of the
then rising generation, the new
South, the flower Of the old having
been destroyed in the late war.
The old records of the Lodge be-
ing lost or misplaced, 1t is with diff
Guilty I write correctly, but being one
of the oldest members Of the Lodge
] am able to remember some data
that may prove historical and of some
Interest to the Lodge n It's
members.
IN the yeaf 1878 l moved to West
mlnst4r, than in the woods, before
the towU "as laid out-no streets,
no Mc""alih. no town lots, nothing
bNt thc railroad and a strip Of forest
cleared away one hundred feet wide,
called the right of way. There were
no inhabitants in the place except
myself and family; but not for long.
The town was soon surveyed out into
streets, town lots, etc. S~tore-houses,
dwellings and bar-rooms at once be-
gan to go up, and Westminster was a
town. The great Southern railroad
was just completed, and the trains
were laundering by to the delight Of
the small boy and the wonder and
amazement of the average country
citizen. Then the settlers began to
move in-the pioneers OF Westmin-
ster. A post office vas established, a
depot built, stores opened up,
churches planned and talked about,
a school started, and next a Masonic
Lodge was proposed.
The Rev. II. l.. Sisk and w. N.
Cox (Masons) moved here soon after
did, and shortly after this Bros.
John r. Steele, G. w. Kay, G. G. Por-
ter, w. N. Cox, e. l.. Sisk, S. NJ. Pool
and David Dickson, members of Wal
halla, Old Pickens and Gainesville
(Ga.) Lodges, made application to
the Grand Master OF South Carolina
for a d~ispensation to organize a
Lodge Of Ancient Free Masons in
Westminster. Major S. p. Dendy,
now deceased, then w. M. Of Wal
halla Lodge, and once Grand Master
Of the Grand Lodge Of South Caro-
lima, rendered these brethren valua-
BILE aid, and, in fact, without his aid
and consent, they could not have or
ganized at hat time.
The dispensation was granted dur
Ing the year 1876, and District Dep
nty Grand Master Stewart was au-
thorized to organize the Lodge, which
he did by appointing Bros. John r.
Steele, w. M; G. w. Kay, s. W., and
G. G. Porter, J. W., the other ofl-
GERS serving pro TEN. The Lodge
was then named Stewart Lodge, No.
200, in honor Of District Deputy
Grand Master Stewart, the organizer.
The first meeting place for organi-
%zation, under dispensation, was in
a rough hall over my old store house,
now removed, which stood near to