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Etiwan Lodge History

On November 18, 1859, a Warrant of Constitution was given to Etiwan Lodge No. 95 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.  Names to serve as the first officers of the Lodge were Thomas D. Jervey, Worshipful Master; Henry Cranston, Senior Warden; and D.R. Williams, Junior Warden.

Prior to this, on February 19, 1859, the Lodge organized under dispensation.  The First meeting was held in Town Hall on March 4, 1859 and on October 28, 1859 the first annual election of officers took place.  Added to the above list of elected officers were E.M. Royall, Treasurer; and W.D. Rivers, Secretary.  Appointed officers were C. Erickson, Senior Deacon; and J. Smith, Junior Deacon.

The Town Hall was used as the Lodge for the first two years and then the building which the fraternity now owns and occupies was purchased.  This building was built in 1835 and originally served as a Chapel of Ease for the local members of the Christ Church Parish congregation.  When the present Saint Andrews Episcopal Church was built some twenty-two years later, the chapel was sold to the Mason of Mount Pleasant at the cost of $500.  However, it was not until 1874 that the Lodge completed payment for the building and the mortgage held by the church was cancelled.

In the dark days of the Civil War and immediately after, no meetings of the lodge were held for the period of April 16, 1863 to July 26, 1866 because of "a war of invasion -- brethren in the field of duty".

Typical of the hard times our fore fathers went through after the Civil War was the necessity of canceling the dues.  In December 1871, it was resolved that any member in arrears for over one year, by paying one half his dues, would be accounted as setting in full.

Etiwan, for a number of years, was the home lodge for the entire area east of the Cooper River in Charleston County, including Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, McClellanville and Awendaw.  Mount Pleasant was the county seat of Berkeley County from 1885 to 1895 and some brethren from Moncks Corner and other towns affiliated with this lodge during that period traveled by horse and buggy to attend lodge meetings.  This was at least a two-day trip for brethren; nevertheless, they attended regularly.

On December 31, 1874, the Grand Lodge set the third Thursday in each month as the date of regular communications.  In July 1886 this was changed to the first Wednesday in each month and was not changed to the first Thursday in each month until this past decade.

From the minutes of June 4, 1913 we learn that it was moved that Etiwan contribute $25 to the Order of the Eastern Star, to help then organize and purchase paraphernalia.  This was only one of many beneficent contributions, including the Industrial Home of Orphans of Masons, Charitable Institutions in Charleston, George Washington Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, the Shrine's Hospital for Crippled Children in Greenville, assistance to the Grand Lodge for a Tuberculosis Hospital in Columbia, and individual contributions to ailing or unfortunate brethren.

On January 2, 1924 it was decided that all Past Masters, upon retiring from position, be presented with a jewel at the annual meeting, a custom which is still in practice.

Etiwan has steadily grown in size.  In 1908 there were sixty-seven members; in 1945, there were 203 members in good standing.  Today there are over 350 members.  Many of these men deserve high praise for their unselfish loyalty and service to this lodge.  Brother Thomas D. Jervey served in one capacity or another from its beginning until his death in 1878.  Our late brethren Edward M. Royall and his son Robert served, first the father alone, then father and son together, and then son alone from 1859 to 1935.  Brother R.S. "Uncle Dickie" Venning, who lived to be ninty-six years young, served this lodge as Worshipful in 1869, 1870, 1876, 1878, 1879, 1885, and 1886.  Brother and Doctor John Y. DuPre for over thirty years was a strong pillar of the lodge.  Brother W.E. Freeman served as secretary from 1909 until his untimely death at the age of forty in 1916.  The "gold dust twins". Brother J.O. Freeman and Brother S.A. Guilds supported the lodge for more than forty years, and Brother Isaac Limbaker served the lodge for sixty-five years until his passing in 1956.

May we always be reminded of the heritage that is ours.  Nearly one hundred and fifty years of constant work for masonry and the ideas for which it stands, by our predecessors, the majority of whom have gone to that "house not made with hands," has made our lodge enjoy prosperity and prestige.  It is our hope that the brethren will emulate the good work and pass on to our successors the sound and honorable fraternity which we inherited.