The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-06-28

Mason for Another, On the Battle
field and Elsewhere-An Incident
That Occurred at Spottsylvania.
All through the pages of history
are found records of Free Masonry
playing prominent part in the af-
fairs of nations, not in an official
way, for this Order is perhaps the
most cosmopolitan of all secret So
cieties, but among individuals. The
bond existing between brethren of
this Order is so strong that no diff
erences of religion or politics can
sever it. A Mason is Mason the
world over, no matter what his creed
or race, and when one Mason meets
another, though they may be sworn
enemies according to views other
than Masonry, they are Immediately
at the service of one another. This
has been proved in civil and military
courts, political campaigns, deadly
wars and religious controversies.
The person of a Mason, his wife, his
sons and daughters, his property are
all sacred to his fellow Masons; not
only will they refrain from injuring
any of his belongings, but they will
protect them from another. Vol
umes have been written, and vol
umes yet could be written of deeds of
heroism, self sacrifice and loving
mercy wrought by one Mason for an
other. In all the chief wars Of this
country are recorded incidents that
stir the heart and in every campaign
South Carolina has been we'll repre-
.sented on the field of battle by her
Masonic soldiers.
Mackey's History ef Free Masonry
in South Carolina tells us that in Oc-
tober, 1778, the Grand Lodge met
with loss in the death of it's Grand
Master, the Hon. Barned Elliott. He
was a member of the General AS
sembly and a lieutenant colonel in
tn ontinental artillery corps. Dur
ing Tie terrible struggle of the Rev
Olution the lodges had much trouble
in keeping up with their work; how
ever, all that was possible was done
to retain the standing of the Order.
OF course, it is a we'll known fact,
even among those who are not di-
rectly connected with Masonry, that
our first, and perhaps greatest
President, was Mason, and very
ardent Mason.
On December 10th, in 1847, Gen.
James Shields, Past Master of Ma
tional Lodge No. IL, in the District
of Columbia, with Gen. j. A. Quit
man, Past Grand Master of the
Lodge of Mississippi, were enter
tanned at dinner by the M. w. Lodge
of South Carolina. At this dinner
the following address was made by
the Grand Master, which is a strik-
in gexample of the attitude of the
Masonic Order in times of war:
SIN the name of the Grand Lodge
of South Carolina and of the mem
bers of the Masonic fraternity here
present l welcome you among US
Your Masonic brethren, in common
with your fellow citizens generally
highly appreciate the services you
have rendered to our common coun-
try. They with pleasure embrace an
opportunity to give expression to
their feelings. Indeed, in recogniz-
ing you as brethren, they find an ad-
ditional motive for rejoicing in your
success. The Masonic institution, ii
is true, is devoted to the cultivation
of those virtues which find their
more common exercise amid the oc-
currences of ordinary life, and may
seem hostile to military profession
But nature has stamped upon the
human mind the principle of self-de-
fence, and under the influence of that
principle Masons may go forth to
battle when the voice Of their coun-
try summons them to the conflict. In
the stern strife of battle, when life
is pitted against life, the voice OF
mercy is stilled; but who can say
that the asperities of war are not
mitigated under the influence of Ma