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~ Masonic Building Sites in Charleston ~
By McDonald “Don” Burbidge
Along with the many important Masonic events that took place in Charleston it
should also be noted where some of these important events took place. Some of
the building still exists today and some have been replaced with modern
buildings. The one thing that can never be replaced is what important events
took place at these sites.
46 Broad Street - Site of “Brother Charles” Shepheard’s Tavern
Site of Shepheard's Tavern, also known at various times as Swallow's Tavern, The
City Tavern and The Corner Tavern. Charleston's taverns were more than just
eating and drinking establishments, and at this location occurred many
historically important events. One was the organization of one of the first
Masonic lodges in the United States.
Solomon's Lodge No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized on Oct. 29, 1736,
at 'Mr. Charles Shepheard 's in Broad Street ‘. The first Scottish Rite lodge,
the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, was
organized at the same location in 1801. The first record of a theatrical season
in Charleston, and one of the first in the country, was announcement in the
South Carolina Gazette, Jan. 11, 1735, that on the following 24th, a tragedy
called The Orphan, or the Unhappy Marriage, by Thomas Otway, would be
"'attempted'' in ''the Courtroom.'' The ''courtroom'' was the long room of
Shepheard's Tavern, which was rented for several years prior to 1738 to the
provincial government for meetings of the court, since the Province had no
suitable building and the Governor and Council could not agree on where one
should be built. The use of the same room for court sessions and entertainment’s
was not unusual. A dancing master, Henry Holt, gave a ball in the Courtroom a
month before The Orphan was presented there. (The Orphan was not the first
theatrical production in Charleston. Tony Aston, an English actor, in 1703,
wrote and acted what was probably the first professional dramatic performance
written and acted in the American colonies.) Shepheard's was also one of the
city's post offices. In 1743, Shepheard received and distributed mail arriving
on ships and by land. In 1773, when the establishment was Swallow's Tavern, the
first Chamber of Commerce in America was formed. Banquets were given for
arriving Royal Governors at Shepheard's Tavern (also at Dillon's and
Poinsettia’s taverns). The St. Andrew's Society, and other fraternal
organizations in the city, held their meetings and dinners at Shepheard's (and
at Dillon's, Kerr's, etc.) The Corner Tavern (and Charles Town's other taverns)
also hosted meetings of the Sons of liberty during the Revolutionary period. The
City Tavern burned in 1796 but was soon replaced. The tavern building was
demolished in 1928 for the construction, in 1928-29, of the present building.
The Classic style building faced with Indiana limestone, which cost $280,000 and
was known as the Citizens and Southern Bank in 1906.
106 Broad Street - Brother John Lining House
When William Harvey and his wife Sarah sold the property to Charles and
Elizabeth Hill, it was described as having a "Large Dwelling house thereon
erected." The Hills were the parents of Sarah Lining, wife of Dr. John Lining.
Charles Hill died after making his will in 1734, leaving the property to his
wife Elizabeth, whom in 1747, married the Rev. Samuel Quincy, then of Dorchester
and later of Bewly, Hampshire. She subsequently died, bequeathing the property
to her daughter Sarah Lining, and in 1757, Jacob Motte, as her trustee, conveyed
the property to the daughter. On March 5, 1757, Quincy gave a quick claim to
John and Sarah Lining. On the same date, they conveyed the property to John
Rattray. Lining's residences and the locations at which he conducted his
scientific experiments have not been documented. In 1733, Dr. Lining advertised
his address as Broad Street "opposite Mr. Crokatt 's."
Dr. John Lining (1708-1760), a native of Scotland came to Charles Town at the
age of 22, and in 1737 began the first weather observations made with scientific
instruments and systematically reported, on the American continent. He also
conducted on himself experiments in human metabolism (1740); believed to have
been the first such experiments made anywhere. He corresponded with Benjamin
Franklin of Philadelphia on the subject of electricity and carried out
Franklin's famous kite and key experiment in a local thunderstorm. Dr. Lining
also made studies on yellow fever and wrote one of the first published accounts
of that disease. The results of Dr. Lining's experiments were published in the
Transactions of the Royal Society of London, and in Gentleman's Magazine,
resulting in correspondence between Lining and European scientists.
Lewis Timothee who was a protege of Benjamin Franklin operated his newspaper
from this house after he replaced Thomas Whitmarsh when he passed away in 1734.
When Lewis died in 1738, his widow Elizabeth, with the help of her half-grown
son Peter, continued the paper as the first woman editor and publisher in
America. Later Peter Timothy, aided by his wife, the former Ann Donovan, made
the South Carolina Gazette a major Patriot organ. For that reason, it was
suspended during the British occupation, 1780-83. In 1783 the widowed Ann
Timothy revived the paper as the Gazette of the State of South Carolina, which,
after her death in 1793 was continued by her son Benjamin Franklin Timothy until
1802. During the Timothy family ownership, the paper was published in this
house.
In addition, the apothecary of Dr. Andrew Turnbull occupied the building, some
time between his arrival in Charles Town in 1781 and his death in 1792. His was
the first of a series of drug stores in the building and when Schwettman's, the
last establishment, closed in 1960, the apothecary shop interior was moved to
the Charleston Museum. Dr. Turnbull previously had founded the Greek colony, New
Smyrna, in East Florida. He refused to renounce his loynalty to the Crown, but
remained in South Carolina after the British evacuation in 1783. His wife Maria
Garcia, a native of Smyrna is believed to have been Charleston's first Greek
resident. The Lining House was in danger of demolition in 1961, when the
Preservation Society of Charleston bought and restored it. The Society sold it
in 1972 for use as a private residence.
160 Calhoun Street - Formally the Site of the Charleston Orphan House
From its founding in October 1790, Ill. Brother John Mitchell was one of the
Commissioners of the Orphan House at Charleston, A tablet commemorating the
first meeting of the Commissioners on October 28, 1790 lists Mitchell second
after Major Charles Lining, and he is recorded as being present at every meeting
thereafter until 1794. The minutes show no one more active than Colonel Mitchell
in promoting public support for the Orphan House and in the management of its
affairs during the difficult first years. On Saturday May 7, 1791 President
George Washington, with the City Intendment and Wardens, visited the Orphans
House, and Mitchell is listed as the senior Commissioner receiving him,
afterwards entertaining him at breakfast in the Commissioners’ Room.
The Charleston Orphan House, the oldest municipal orphanage in the United
States, was founded October 18, 1790, at the instigation of John Robertson, a
philanthropic citizen and a member of City Council. It’s main purpose was to
establish the Institution for the “purpose of supporting and educating poor and
orphan children and those of poor and disabled parents who are unable to support
and maintain them.
The children were fed by homegrown food, dressed in homespun clothing, and
educated in the building by former students trained by the Principal of the
School. This method of management was established in order to reduce the cost of
maintaining the children.
Commissioners of the Charleston Orphan House list John Mitchell as one starting
on October 25, 1790 and ending on November 27, 1794.
The Charleston Orphan House stood at the corner of Calhoun and St. Philip’s
Streets. Built on the former site of the Revolutionary War Barracks, the
Institution was officially occupied October 18, 1794.
A set of tablets containing the names of the first commissioners- Arnoldus
Vanderhorst, Charles Lining, John Mitchell, John Robertson, Richard Cole, Thomas
Corbett, William Marshall, Thomas Jones, and Samuel Beekman, and also,
individual tablets to John Robertson, was made and put on pubic display at the
Orphan House.
At the one-hundredth anniversary of the Orphan House a banner was made. On the
front of the banner it had written; 1790 Charleston Orphan House 1890. On the
back of the banner located in the center was a drawing of a ship anchor with a
chain on it. Above the anchor is the word “Faith” and below it is written
“Charity.”
270 King Street
The Masonic Temple in the Tudor Gothic style was built in 1871-72 of brick and
stucco. The architect, John Henry Devereux, though a Roman Catholic took the
Entered Apprentice Degree of Masonry in orders to curb possible criticism that a
non-Mason designed the building. The building has been remodeled several times,
but the beauty of the original design has not been totally obliterated.
Mazyckborough - Site of The Liberty Tree
Joseph Purcell, surveyor, laid out Mazyckborough for Alexander Mazyck in 1786.
Chapel, Elizabeth and Calhoun streets and the Cooper River bound it.
Before its development, the tract was known as Mazyk’s Pasture, in the corner
of, which stood a large oak tree, which became known as The Liberty Oak because
it was "formally dedicated to Liberty" by a group of "Mechanics" and other
inhabitants of the town.
The Sons of Liberty meet the live oak tree in the pasture of Mr. Mazyck’s
property, which they named on October 1,1768, “The Liberty Tree.” Under this
tree Christopher Gadsden first advocated colonial independence in 1766, and
where 10 years later the Declaration of Independence was first heard and
applauded by South Carolinians. Gadsden and his fellow revolutionaries, who led
public meetings protested the British Stamp Act and later the Tea Tax.
George Flagg drew up a list of people meeting under the Liberty Tree, in 1766.
Among the meetings held at the Liberty Tree were public meetings, which
continued as such during the Revolutionary period.
In the South Carolina Gazette the following was published about a meeting held
by the “Club 45” members.
About 5 o’clock they all removed to a most noble “LIVE OAK” tree, in Mr. Mazyk’s
pasture, which they formally dedicated to LIBERTY, where many loyal, patriotic,
and constitutional toasts were drank, beginning with the glorious “NINETY-TWO”
Anti-Rescinds of Massachusetts-Bay, and ending with, unanimity among the members
of our ensuing Assembly not to rescind from the said resolution (to boycott
England), each succeeded by three huzzahs.
In the evening, the tree was decorated with 45 lights, and 45 skyrockets were
fired.
About 8 o’clock, the whole company, preceded by 45 of their number, marched in
regular procession to town, down King-Street and Broad Street, to Mr. Robert
Dillion’s tavern; where the 45 lights being placed upon the table, with 45 bowls
of punch, 45 bottles of wine, and 92 glasses, they spent a few hours in a new
round of toasts, among which, scarce a celebrated Patriot of Britain or America
was omitted; and preserving the same good order and regularity as had been
observed throughout the day, at 10 they retired.
When the British occupied Charles Town in 1780, they cut down the Liberty Tree
to prevent its becoming a Patriot shrine. So that the destruction would be
complete, they built a fire over the remaining stump. Later the root was dug up
and made into cane-heads, one of which was given to President Thomas Jefferson.
Marine Lodge No. 38 - Located on “Lodge Alley”
The Marine Lodge of Masons, which is the “Junior” in this Town, is the First
that is possessed of a Lodge Room, having lately purchased a very convenient
one.
The South Carolina Gazette
May 31, 1773
South Carolina, during the Colonial period, and after the close of the
Revolution, proved a fertile field for the various Masonic Bodies; thus, in the
early days, we find a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, “Moderns,” with a
number of Subordinate Lodges. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina Ancient York
Masons, Lodges working under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and another St.
Andrew’s, under a warrant from the Grand Lodge at St. Augustine “The Grand Lodge
of Perfection,” and later the Cerneau Rite of Perfection, and others of lesser
importance.
When the “Grand Lodge of South Carolina, Ancient York Masons,” was formed by the
five “Ancient: Lodges in Charleston, January 1, 1787, in which movement Marine
Lodge, No. 38, was a prominent factor, it is a noteworthy fact, that at least
three of the principal officers were Pennsylvania Masons, viz. Hon. William
Drayton, Grand Master; Hon. Mordecai Gist, Deputy Grand Master; Edward Weyman,
Esq., Senior Grand Warden.
Lodge No. 38 appear to have been represented by proxy upon the September 25,
1786, when the Grand Lodge asserted its Independence. No returns or further
reports from this Lodge have been found in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania. It is known, however that Marine Lodge, No. 38, became an active
body, spreading Masonic light and charity in the town wherein it was located,
and in 1787, became one of the five “Ancient” Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge
of South Carolina Ancient York Masons.
The Hebrew Orphan House of David Lopez who became its first president founded
the Hebrew Orphan Society in 1801 in Charleston, South Carolina. David Lopez was
laid to rest in the Jewish Coming Street Cemetery.
At the first meeting of the Hebrew Society for the establishment of the Jewish
Orphan House was attended by twenty-three Charleston Jews which comprised of two
of the founding fathers of the Supreme Council.
Emmanuel De La Motta who was a commission merchant and auctioneer was an active
33° Mason who was one of the original founders of the Supreme Council of the
Scottish Rite and held the office of Treasurer-General.
Moses C. Levy a prominent merchant was also one of the original founders of the
Supreme Council with the title of Inspector Generals of the Supreme Council 33º.
No records have survived prior to 1850 due to the Charleston fires and storms.
Since then the minutes of the Society are continuous except for the Civil War
period, 1862-1866.
Except for a brief period in the 1860s. The Society did not maintain an
orphanage, but domiciled orphans with selected families. Said Elzas, the Jewish
historian, "In this way, in addition to the pecuniary assistance given, the
misfortune of orphanage was softened and the little ones were permitted to live
in a healthful family atmosphere." Following the great fire of 1838, which
destroyed the synagogue on Hasell Street, the congregation of Beth Elohin
worshiped here until the present synagogue, was completed in 1840.
Like the Charleston Orphan House the Hebrew Orphan Society had one rule that
determined if a child could or could not be admitted, “No child under two years
of age and none over 14 years be received, except in special cases.”
St. Michael's Church
St. Michael’s church was completed in 1761 and is the oldest church edifice in
the city of Charleston. Built on this same spot was the first church of St.
Philip’s or as the population called it, “Church of England.” By 1727 the town
had grown too large for the small church and a more spacious one was built of
brick on Church Street which was called St. Philip’s II for a time.
When George Washington tour through Charleston in 1791 he attended church
services here at St. Michael’s. The clock and ring of eight bells in St.
Michael's steeple were imported in 1764 from England.
During the year 1811-1812 Ill. Brother Frederick Dalcho and his wife owned pew
number 89. The location of this pew is in the same location today as it was in
1811.
St. Michael’s church has a rich Masonic history from it’s early years on. Ill.
Brother Frederick Dalcho was the Assistant Rector along with being the
superintendent of the Sunday school children. In a recently discovered letter
written by Dalcho he asks the Warden’s of the church for permission to locate a
book shelf in the balcony of the church for the Sunday School children to store
their books.
Following a number of part-time associations with St. Michael’s Church in
Charleston, South Carolina, he was retained as an assistant minister on February
23, 1819. In 1824 he established with others, “The Charleston Gospel Messenger
and Protestant Episcopal Resgister”, a monthly journal of the Church’s
activities. This paper was published monthly until 1853. His monumental work at
this period was a history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina,
the first published history of any diocese in America. Consisting of more than
600 pages. All of Dr. Fredrick Dalcho’s book were sold at the, ”The Theological
Book Store” in Charleston, South Carolina located at 51 Board Street.
At and after the installation of The Grand Lodge officers were complete, a
procession was formed and paraded to St. Michael’s church where Rev. Brother
Dalcho, Grand Chaplain delivered the Divine Service. His sermon was based on the
text John12: 36, “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the
children of light.” Dalcho remarked in his sermon that;
Free-Masonry, like the Religion of the Redeemer, is eminently calculated to
dispense “peace on earth, and good will towards men.” And if the moral and
religious state of the community in which it flourishes, be not increased and
refined by its influence, it must be charged to the perversity of the
Brotherhood, and not to the principles of the Institution. The general
application of its principles and practice to the spiritual and temporal welfare
of men cannot be doubted. It binds its members by the strongest sanctions, “to
do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly before God;” and to “love the
Brotherhood.”
Ill. Bro. Frederick Dalcho, M. D. and his wife is buried in the graveyard of
this historic churchyard.
St. Philip’s Church
St. Philip’s church was first erected at the corner of Broad and Meeting Streets
between the years 1681 and 1682. The structure was made of black cypress and the
foundation was made of brick. After a prosper start it was usually referred to
as the “English Church,” but the real name was St.Philip’s.
As Charles Town evolved into prosperous colonial metropolis, the need for a new
church was realized. As early as 1711 the Assembly authorized “a new church
built of brick with a tower or steeple, and a ring of bells therein.” A decade
later the “brick church” was still incomplete. The Assembly passed another bill
in December 1720, which empowered the Commissioners to determine the dimensions,
materials, and finish the church. To raise the money for this, the bill also
called for “An additional duty of three pence per gallon to be laid on rum, and
five pence per gallon on brandy and other spirits.”
When the new edifice of the “Established Church” rose at the head of one of the
town’s principal through fares, the street became known as Church Street as does
the present building on the same site.
On December 27, 1762 and again in December 1784 Right Rev. Robert Smith
presented to the Masons of Charles-Town a Masonic sermon, which he called
“Charity Sermon for the Masons No. 100.” This sermon has gone unnoticed since it
was last given to the Brethren of Charles-Town until it was recently
re-discovered. This sermon is perhaps one of the earliest if not one of the
first Masonic sermons of its kind presented in Charles-Town to the Masons. It
should also be noted that Right Rev. Smith established the College of Charleston
and the Society for the Widows and Orphans of the Clergy, which still exists
today. Rev. Frederick Dalcho, M.D., was also a member of the Society for the
Widows and Orphans of the Clergy.
On Christmas Day, 1805, Dr. Dalcho and Mary Elizabeth Threadcraft were married
in St. Philip’s Church, Charleston, by Rev. Dr. Edward Jenkins. This was Dr.
Dalcho’s second marriage and his wife was to survive him until December 12,
1852. There were no children, from this marriage.
During the summer months of 1814 our late Ill. Brother Frederick Dalcho, M.D.
officiated at the church as Rector for the summer months until a new Rector
could be found to fill the vacant spot left by the untimely death of Rev. J. D.
Simons.
Buried in the graveyard of St. Philip’s church you will find the grave of Ill.
Brother James Moultrie, Sr. who was a founder of the Supreme Council.
Scottish Rite Cathedral Association Of Charleston, South Carolina
When Shepheard’s Tavern was about to be torn down and in it’s place a C & S Bank
was to be erected the Scottish Rite Masons place a sealed bid to buy the
Rodger’s Mansion which was located on Wentworth Street. As a result of this
sealed bid the Scottish Rite Cathedral Association became the proud owners of a
four story, 13,881 square foot house which they planned to use as a Masonic and
Scottish Rite meeting place.
The Scottish Rite Cathedral Association paid $100,000.00 for it in 1920, which
did not include the price of remodeling it.
Only the best materials and craftsmanship went into the building of this home.
Mr. Rodgers built and moved into his home in 1886 his intentions at the time was
to have all of his children and grandchildren living in it together with him and
his wife Elizabeth.
Francis Silas Rodgers was married in 1865 to Marie Elizabeth Cochran
(1845-1916). Known as Elizabeth, she was from Anderson, South Carolina. They had
thirteen children, five of whom died as infants or small children. Eight
children lived to move into the family mansion at 149 Wentworth Street when it
was completed in 1887: Francis Silas Rodgers, Jr. (1867-1924), Clarence Edgar
Rodgers (1870-1938), Elizabeth Rodgers (1875-1963), Nellie Rodgers (1878-1960),
Eugene Anthony Rodgers (1880-1955), Ella Rodgers (1881-1946), and Lida Rodgers
(1882-1923).
In the family room on the first floor is a large gas Chandler hanging from the
ceiling? This Chandler has 6 posts to it. When the Scottish Rite masons moved
into the house they purchased 6 Masonic globes that was placed on each post of
the Chandler. The globes have a Square and Compass etched into each one.
When the “Wentworth Mansion,” was sold on May 31, 1940 two of these globes were
donated to the Scottish Rite museum temple along with some photographs showing
were they were used at. The Chandler is still hanging in what was then called
the music room of the mansion.
On August 03, 2001 Mr. Robert C. Seidler who is the Innkeeper at the “Wentworth
Mansion” gave Ill. Brother Burbidge the 4 missing globes to the Chandler as a
token of “Thanks” to the Masons of Charleston for all the good work they have
done throughout the years.
The Mansion did not have a large enough room to have a reunion in. Sometime
during 1922 an auditorium was erected south of the mansion which was connected
with a corridor with a seating capacity of 600 persons along with a large organ.
The mansion still stands today but the auditorium has been torn down.
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