Lodge 416 History

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1717

Freemasonry is the oldest fraternity in the world. In 1717 four lodges in London formed the 1st Grand Lodge of England, and records from that point on are more complete. Freemasonry is a Society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values its members are taught the precepts (moral lessons and self-knowledge) of the order by a series of rituals customs and allegorical guides.

1735

The first South Carolina lodge was chartered in 1735 in Charleston Corinthians lodge 416 AFM was chartered April 26th 1973.

1972

Brother RB Morris had a dream of the old schoolhouse at Newport being a potential building for a new Masonic Lodge after discussing his idea with other informed brethren the first meeting was held on March 15th 1972 with 17 interested brethren present right Worshipful brother Roy M Nelson presided over the election of the following:

Worshipful Master: R.B. Morris

Senior Warden: Curtis Simmons

Junior Warden: Farrell Rocks

Treasurer: Charles Morton

Secretary: Henry Covington

A plea was made to Rock Hill Lodge 111 and York Lodge 385 for permission to start a lodge in Newport both lodges gave their permission and pledged their support.

Many names were considered for the new lodge the name “Corinthians” (one of the five orders of architecture the richest of the five orders Corinthian is deemed a masterpiece of art.) was presented by Curtis Simmons and accepted. Request for dispensation, to commence Masonic work at Newport, was made to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina through the Grand Secretary, Most Worshipful Brother H. Dwight McAlaster. The new Lodge was presented with the Carter Petition to be signed by interested Brethren. Seventy one names were signed on the Carter Petition.

August 24, 1972 the Grand Lodge of South Carolina granted dispensation to work under Corinthian Lodge U.D. (Under Dispensation)

August 31, 1972 at 8 o’clock p.m., Corinthian Lodge U.D. opened for the first time. At this Regular Communication five petitions were received from: John Adkins, Harry Callahan, Clyde Herron, Marvin Sexton and Bobby Wells. This starting First Degree work began at Corinthian 416. Rapid preparation was to be made and the following Brethren were appointed to chair projects:

Prepare Building: Billy Robinson

Three Burning Tapers: Ned Pryor

Painting Building: Pat Hicks

Wiring: Henry Covington

Plumbing: Russel Jenkins

1973

In 1973 thirteen more added their names to the Charter.

June 30, 1973 was the day of consecration, declaration and constitution of Corinthian Lodge 416. The Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother McC. Figg installed the first Officers of Corinthian Lodge 416.

Charter Members

Brother Robert E, Arthur

Late Brother Walter S. Atkinson

Late Brother Otis M. Auten

Late Brother Edward E. Baker

Brother James W. Belk Sr,

Brother James O. Bennett Jr.

Brother Paul E. Blackwell

Late Brother William H. Buford (Past Master)

Late Brother John C. Burdette

Late Brother Leonard J. Burrell

Late Brother Melvin M. Caldwell

Late Brother R. Frank Carothers

Late Brother Floyd B. Carter

Brother Marion R. Chambers

Late Brother James T. Collins

Late Brother Oscar Hennry Covington Jr.

Brother Billy J. Currence Jr.

Brother L. Wayne Curtis

Brother Edward D. Davis

Late Brother Harold B. Deas

Late Brother John Temp Dickson

Late Brother Carl J. Doster

Late Brother Charlie P. Ernandez Jr.

Brother Ronald C. Garrison

Late Brother Robert H. Gaulden

Brother David L. Grant

Late Brother Chesley L. Griffin Jr.

Late Brother James H. Hallman Sr.

Late Brother Ben H. Hansel

Late Brother James R. Hicks

Late Brother Richard H. Hope

Brother Lawson D. Horton Jr.

Late Brother William R. Humphries

Late Brother Allen T. Huskey

Late Brother Edward W. Jamieson

Late Brother J. Pride Jamieson

Late Brother Russel P. Jenkins

Brother Jerry S. Johnson

Late Brother William R. Jonas

Late Brother Martain L. Kiker

Late Brother Claude R. Ligon

Late Brother Fletcher G. Lumpkin

Late Brother Jemes E. Maples

Brother James T. Martain Jr.

Late Brother James T. Martain Sr.  (Past Master)

Late Brother Joe Dan McAbee

Late Brother R. Clifton McWhite III

Late Brother R. Clifton McWhite Jr.

Late Brother Leonard A, Meek

Late Brother Marion W. Moore

Late Brother Charels A. Morton

Late Brother Robert A. Morton

Brother Harry R. Morton

Brother Claude M. Neely Jr.

Brother James N. Nelson

Late Brother Issac L. Oates Jr.

Late Brother John C. Oats

Brother Harold W. O’Brian

Late Brother W. Franklin Odom

Late Brother Perry L. Parrish Sr.

Late Brother William N. Pryor

Late Brother Clyde R. Putman

Late Brother Mirion E. Rast

Late Brother C. Donald Reid

Late Brother Charels E. Rhymer

Brother James E. Rhymer

Brother George A. Rhymer

Late Brother Billy J. Robinson

Late Brother Frell Rooks Jr.

Late Brother Ronald F. Rooks

Late Brother Lowry D. Russell

Late Brother Curtis L. Simmons

Brother Jimmy B. Smith

Brother Jerry L. Smith

Late Brother Connie M. Snipes Sr.

Brother Bobby R. Sturgis

Late Brother Harold L. Thomas

Brother W. Augustus Thompson

Late Brother Ralph E. Thrift

Late Brother Homer L. Waldrop

Late Brother Emsly P. Wheeles

Charter Master Masons Raised Under Dispensation

Brother Ronald W. Adams

Brother John D. Adkins

Brother Harry J. Callahan Jr.

Late Brother Clinton E. Eury

Late Brother Willard H. Gaulden

Brother Clyde D. Herron

Late Brother Michael Y. Jones

Late Brother Joseph D. Lowry

Brother Raymon K. Martin

Late Brother Thomas H. Mathews

Late Brother Charels S, McWhite

Brother W. Clyde Mitchell

Brother Ronald W. Paris

Late Brother Bobby E. Wells

Charter Brothers Not Yet Raised (Fellowcraft)

Late Brother V. Rudell Feagin

Late Brother William A. Sullivan

Charter Brothers Not Yet Raised (Entered Apprentice)

Late Brother Perry A. Brandon

Brother James C. Jolly

Brother Marion G. Jonas

September 8, 1973 a special Dispensation was issued to Corinthian Lodge to confer a Master Mason Degree at Ferguson Mountain. This became an annual event until the mountain was sold.

1978

April 11, 1978 Corinthian Lodge purchased six acres of land. A building site was selected, and Corinthians began fund raising projects for a new building.

Also in 1978 the Master Mason and Wardens Club was formed in the Twenty Second Masonic District by Right Worshipful Brother Sam Tennyson and Right Worshipful Brother Albert Wyatt. Corinthian Lodge was honored to have the first Secretary and Treasurer of the Master Wardens Club.

1979

March 28, 1979 at 1:30 p.m. the Lodge was opened on the First Degree for the purpose of laying a cornerstone in the new Lodge Building. The laying of the cornerstone was presided over by Most Worshipful Jesse B. Branham.

In 1979 the Worshipful Master appointed Tom Bell to chair a committee to organize an Eastern Star Chapter, already approved by the Lodge.

1990

December 11, 1990, due to the illness of Worshipful Master Jim Conner, Senior Warden Charlie Smith conducted the last meeting in the old building.

The first meeting in the new building was conducted by Worshipful Master Charlie Smith. The purpose of this meeting was Open Installation, held by the Most Worshipful Brether Bill Longshore.

1997

At the close of 1997 Corinthian Lodge 416 paid off the land, building and contents.