The assembling in Lincolnton of the North Carolina Grand Lodge of Masons and the ceremonies incident to the cornerstone laying of Lincolnton’s New High School building today at 3 p.m. were very impressive, and the occasion will go down in history as one of the most notable events in the history of Lincolnton. The ceremonies were directed by Grand Lodge Master H.M. Poteat, of Wake Forest, assisted by other Grand Lodge Officers.
A large throng of humanity was present from town and county, including school faculty and school pupils, and school officials. Business was suspended during the eventful history-making ceremonies.
At 2 p.m. today, April 5th, 1923, the Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina, convened in the Lodge room of Lincoln Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M., with Grand Master Poteat of Wake Forest presiding.
Under the direction of J.S. Armstrong, Grand Marshal, the local lodge of Masons acting as escort to the Grand Lodge, the procession formed at the lodge room at 2 p.m. and marched in procession to the school building site, in the following order:
Order of Procession
Tiler with drawn Sword, C.H. Hinson.
Stewards with rods, S.W. McLean and E.L. Rudisill.
Master Masons.
Two deacons with rods, J.L. Thompson and J.W. Barineau.
Secretary S. Alexander, Treasurer J.K. Cline.
Past Warden.
Two Wardens.
Past Masters.
Music.
Grand Tiler, with Drawn Sword.
Grand Stewards with white rods, William Lander and O.A. Costner.
Principal Architect with square, level and plum, {plumb??}, G.W. McAlister.
Grand Secretary W.W. Wilson and Grand Treasurer J.K. Cline.
Bible, Square and Compasses, carried by a master of a lodge and supported by two stewards, Jas. Shuford and Lee Cline.
Grand Chaplain, W.W. Rimmer.
The Five Orders of Architecture.
Past Grand Warden.
Past Deputy Grand Masters.
Past Grand Masters.
Junior Grand Warden, carrying the Silver vessel with oil, Harry Page.
Senior Grand Warden, carrying the silver vessel with wine, T.C. Abernethy.
Deputy Grand Master, carrying the Golden vessel with corn, C.C. Crowell.
Master of the oldest lodge, carrying the book of the Constitution, K.B. Nixon.
Grand Master, Deacons with rods, W.K. Rodgers and Bruce Lander.
Grand Persuivant, E.C. Baker.
Grand Sword Bearer with drawn sword, D.H. Shields.
Cornerstone Laying Ceremonies.
The ceremonies were begun by a song, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” by the Audience.
Prayer, by Grand Chaplain Rev. Bruce Benton.
Dr. I.R. Self, Chairman of the Lincolnton Board of School Trustees, and representing the building committee requested the Grand Master to lay the cornerstone according to ancient usages of Free Masons.
Music by the choir.
Grand Mater H.M. Poteat then stated his purpose to lay the cornerstone.
Grand Treasurer John K. Cline reported that the copper box had been prepared and that the contents had been placed therein.
Grand Secretary W.W. Wilson read a list of the contents of the box, after which the Grand Treasurer John K. Cline deposited the box in the stone and placed the granite cap thereon.
The stone was then lowered to its position under the direction of Grand Marshal J.S. Armstrong. Following the placing of the stone Grand Honors were given by the entire body of Masons.
The square, level and plumb were then applied to the stone by Deputy Grand Master C.C. Crowell, Senior Grand Warden T.C. Abernethy, and Junior Grand Warden Harry Page, respectively.
Deputy Grand Master C.C. Crowell, carrying the silver vessel with corn, scattered it on the cornerstone.
Music by the choir.
Senior Grand Warden T.C. Abernethy, carrying the silver vessel with wine, poured wine on the stone.
Junior Grand Warden Harry Page, carrying the silver vessel with oil, poured it on the stone.
Song by the choir.
Following prayer by Grand Master Poteat, he then struck the stone three times with the gavel, and the grand honors were given.
Grand Master Poteat announced the stone had been laid and requested the Grand Marshal to inform Dr. I.R. Self, chairman of the building committee, that the stone had been laid with Masonic honors and if approved to receive it. Chairman Self in turn received the work as well and truly done.
Music by choir.
The principal address of the afternoon was delivered by Dr. A.F. Bishop, noted Evangilist, and 32d degree Mason of Athens, Ga., who was introduced by Attorney W.H. Childs. An April shower broke into the ceremonies just as the stone had been placed in position, and the address by Dr. Bishop was delivered in the packed school auditorium.
Grand Marshal J.S. Armstrong then by order of the Grand Master proclaimed that the cornerstone of the structure, to be here erected, has this day been found square, level, plumb, true and trusty, and laid according to ancient custom.
The ceremonies ended with the benediction by Grand Chaplain.
Contents of Metal Box
The list of contents placed in the box at the cornerstone laying of Lincolnton High school building April 5, 1923, is given below. The contents were collected and prepared by Summey Alexander Sr., Secretary of the Lincoln Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M. The list follows:
The Holy bible, presented by Barbara Hinson.
[Yes, they capitalized Holy but not Bible in the paper] Copy of Bond issue for Graded schools, 1921, (Vote 2 to 1).
Copy of Deed of Land to school Trustees by Mrs. May Wright Cobb.
Board of Trustees Lincolnton Graded School—I.R. Self, Chairman, Harry Page, vice-Chairman, Marcus H. Hoyle, Secretary, J. Frank Love, Treasurer.
Superintendent of schools, E.D. Johnson (City).
Construction Supt. of High school building—Henry A. Kistier, Lincolnton, N.C.
Architect—Jas. A. Salter, Raleigh, N.C.
Building committee—I.R. Self, Harry Page, M.H. Hoyle, J. Frank Love and E.D. Johnston.
List of teachers and pupils in Graded Schools of the city—(white and colored) furnished by Supt. E.D. Johnston.
List of teachers and pupils in County schools (rural) white and colored, furnished by Prof. L. Berge Beam, County Superintendent of schools.
Public school law of North Carolina.
List Material used in new school building and from whom purchased.
Contractors on excavating, plumbing, heating, electric wiring and painting.
County Board of Education, Lincoln County—K.B. Nixon, chairman, L. Berge Beam, Secretary, M.S. Rudisill, J.W. Little.
List Officers and members of Lincoln Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M.
List Officers and members of Lincoln Lodge No. 48 K. of P.
List Officers and members of Eastern Star.
List of City officers.
List of County Officers.
List of officers and members of Troop “E” 109th Cavalry and Medical detachment, with program.
Grand Lodge special communication for purpose of cornerstone laying, with program.
Committee appointed by the Worshipful Master of Lincolnton Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M. to arrange and get out program for the cornerstone laying of the High School Building:--J.S. Armstrong, A. Nixon and J. Loyd Thompson.
Copy of School Board’s request for Lincoln Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M. to arrange and invite the Grand Lodge of N.C. to lay the cornerstone.
One copy each of County papers, also a copy of the Masonic Record.
List of the surviving veterans of Lincoln County, N.C.
Pastors of the different denominations of our city.
Roster of 1,300 Confederate Soldiers from Lincoln County.
Roster of 3 Confederate Generals, 4 Colonels, 4 Lieut. Colonels and the officers of the Ten Companies from Lincoln County in 1861 to 1865.
Roster of the 71 living ex-Confederate Soldiers in Lincoln County April 5, 1923.
From page 2 of The Lincoln County News, Lincolnton, April 5, 1923. To learn more about today’s South Aspen Street Historic District in Lincolnton, N.C., go to South Aspen Street Historic District, Lincolnton City, Lincoln County, Lincolnton, NC, 28092 (livingplaces.com)
Old Lincolnton High School, built in the 1920s, is now used as a Lincolnton Campus of Gaston College.
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