As a fraternal association dedicated to making good men better, Freemasonry respects the religious beliefs of all its members. Freemasonry has no theology and does not teach any method of salvation. In particular it does not claim that good works gain or guarantee salvation.

Freemasons are united in their desire to be of service to mankind.

While Freemasonry supports homes for members and their spouses, most Masonic services, including Shrine medical and burn centers, are available to all citizens. In 1990, American Masonic philanthropy totaled more than $525 million, of which 58% went to the general public.

Freemasonry is an open, not secretive, society.

Masonic meetings are announced publicly, Masonic buildings are marked clearly and are listed in phone directories, and Masons proudly wear jewelry identifying their membership. Freemasonry inherited a tradition of trade secrets from the cathedral building guilds of medieval Europe. The only “secrets” still belonging to modern Masonry are traditional passwords, signs of recognition, and dramatic presentations of moral lessons.

Freemasonry is open to all men of good character who believe in God.

Freemasonry does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or social class.

The Masonic family of organizations is open to all.

Freemasonry admits only men, but many Masonic-related organizations, such as the Eastern Star, Amaranth, Job’s Daughters, Rainbow for Girls and DeMolay for Boys, offer ample opportunities for women and youth.

Freemasonry does not require improper oaths.

The solemn promises taken in Freemasonry are no different than the oaths taken in court or on entering the armed services. The much discussed “penalties,” judicial remnants form an earlier age, are symbolic, not literal. They refer only to the pain any honest man should feel at the thought of violating his word.

Freemasonry teaches individual improvement through study.

Freemasonry encourages study, including literature by the great writers of ancient times. Freemasonry does not sanction the views of these authors but offers them for each individual’s reflection and evaluation.

Freemasonry teaches in steps.

Masons learn through a series of lessons. These “degrees” of insight move from basic to more complex concepts. This no more hides the nature of Freemasonry from novice members than does having a student understand fractions before calculus.

Masonry is practiced worldwide.

There are approximately 2.5 million Masons in the United States and nearly 6 million throughout the world.

Freemasonry has no single spokesman.

Freemasonry is made up of many individuals in numerous organizations, all subordinate to the Grand Lodge within their jurisdiction (i.e. state). None of these members or organizations can speak for Freemasonry; that is the responsibility of each Grand Lodge within its jurisdiction. No Masonic body nor author, however respected, can usurp the authority of a Grand Lodge.

Freemasonry is made up of many organizations.

Masonry has many groups, each with a special social, educational, or philanthropic focus. A man becomes a Mason in his local Lodge. Then he joins any of the following “Appendant Bodies”: the Scottish Rite, York Rite (which includes the Royal Arch and Knights Templar), Shriners, Grottoes, Tall Cedars, etc.

Many of the world’s most respected men – including business, military, intellectual, political and religious leaders – have been or are Masons.

America’s Freemason Presidents

During my visits to many different Lodges in our Grand Jurisdiction, I have often been asked by some of our newer brethren “Who was Ornan the Jebusite and what was the Three Cornered Threshing Floor. So I have decided to focus on Ornan and his threshing floor in this Article.

Let us start with the three cornered threshing floor and begin by looking to the Holy Scriptures, the Great Light of Masonry for an answer. In the Book of I Chronicles, Chapter 21, beginning with verse 18, we find that God after having heard David’s plea to remove the pestilence that God had laid upon his people Israel due to David’s sin of disobedience by taking a census of the men of Israel sends a message to David: “Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar unto the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” As we read on in I Chronicles Chapter 22 verse 1, we discover that after David purchased the property from Ornan, he plans to build God’s house (Temple) on the same location ”Then David said, Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” As we continue reading through I Chronicles we learn that David was not permitted by God to build the Temple and that the responsibility of building the temple was given to his son Solomon. In 2 Chronicles, Chapter 3, verses 1, we find that Ornan’s threshing floor and the top of Mount Moriah are one and the same: “Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite”. Therefore, the Three Cornered Threshing Floor was a field on the top of Mount Moriah where Solomon directed the building of the Temple. The three corners resulted from the top of the mount forming three corners instead of four.

According to the Coils Masonic Encyclopedia and various Bible commentaries, Jerusalem had been formally known as Jebus. Therefore, a Jebusite was a person from Jerusalem. According to these same sources, a threshing floor was a field where wheat and other grain crops were brought and laid out and the grain was separated from the shaft. So Ornan was a man from Jerusalem, who along with his sons threshed wheat and grain on a field on the top of Mount Moriah, which he owned and sold to David.

From the Bible and other sources, we know that never before, except at the building of the Tower of Babel, had such an assembly of so many talented Craftsmen from different lands been assembled to erect such a magnificent structure as the Temple on the former threshing field or floor on Mount Moriah. As we read further in the Holy Scriptures, we learn that the Temple was completed according to God’s plan and design unlike the Tower of Babel, which went forever unfinished because it was being built according to man’s plans and designs.

May we as Masons always build our Lodges and Lives in accordance with God’s designs and plans as the Great Temple was built. May we refrain from following our own prideful designs as those who attempted and failed to build a Tower to Heaven.

Source: Carver, Gerald L. “The Three Cornered Threshing Floor.” Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. Aug. 2003. Web. 1 Mar. 2011. <http://www.scgrandlodgeafm.org/Essays/sgw082003.htm>.

Freemasonry in South Carolina
George T. Harmon

“I hear the tread of pioneers
Of nations yet to be,
The first low wash of waves, where soon
Shall roll a human sea.”

These prophetic lines reveal the emotions of the poet as he breathes the atmosphere of humble beginnings. A kindred emotion stirs the heart of the Masonic student as he scans the meagre documents of those early days that mark the beginnings of Freemasonry in America. He, too, breathes the atmosphere of humble beginnings, and in addition he enjoys a privileged advantage over the poet, in that his perspective has been shifted by two centuries of marvellous realisation. This great nation bears testimony to the fulfillment of the poet’s vision and prophecy, and, in no less degree, the vast structure of Freemasonry existing in America to-day bears witness to the dream of the Masonic pioneer.

Unmistakable traces of the Masonic pioneer in North America are to be found along the Atlantic seaboard from the coast of Massachusetts to that of Georgia. Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston, and Savannah are the points of romantic interest that engage the attention of the Masonic historian. But since the scope of this treatise is confined to the history of Freemasonry in South Carolina, the attention of the reader is directed to only one of those ports of great historic interest-Charleston.

The early history of Colonial America reveals that South Carolina was the favourite Province of the Mother Country. This being true, it is readily understood why constant intercourse was maintained with the new country, not only by the British Government, but also by the business, religious, and benevolent institutions of England. Not least among those was the Institution of Freemasonry, which had been characterised by such a widespread revival of interest as to culminate in the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. Under the circumstances, then, it is not beyond reasonable belief that, by the process of fortuitous filtration, Freemasonry began to find expression among the Colonists shortly thereafter. Such inference becomes so apparent that the student of Masonry is led to believe that South Carolina is a cradle of Freemasonry in North America.

However, the faithful historian is not permitted to indulge in surmise. Rather, he must base his claims upon unmistakable evidence. In this respect the South Carolina historian is at an unfortunate disadvantage, for from its earliest days the city of Charleston has been the victim of storms and earthquakes with their resultant conflagrations. Such devastations occurred in 1777, in 1822 and in 1838, at which times most of the Records of the Colony, including those of Freemasonry, were forever lost. The writer is, therefore, confined to the use of such authenticated historical sources as fortunately remain, chief among which are the various Official Lists of the Grand Lodge of England. Many of the facts regarding the early days of the Order in South Carolina are taken from the tabulations contained in The Official English Lists for 1760; the Sixth Edition of Jachin and Boaz, published in London in 1765: A New and Correct List of All the English Regular Lodges in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, according to their seniority and Constitution; By order of the Grand Master, brought down to February 1768; and a List of Lodges (with their numbers) as altered by the Grand Lodge, April 18, 1792.

The name of the first Lodge at “Charles Town,” South Carolina, appears for the first time in The Official English Lists for 1760. It is given there as No. 251, but later it took the place vacated by Bristol Lodge and became Lodge No. 74. Its Warrant was granted by Lord Weymouth, who was Installed as Grand Master on April 17, 1735, and the Lists accredit the Warrant to the year 1735. The date of the Constitution of this Lodge is given in the Sixth Edition of Jachin and Boaz as November 12, 1735. Past Grand Master Melvin M. Johnson, of Massachusetts, Editor-in-Chief of this volume, author of The Beginnings of Freemasonry in America, and a Masonic student of marked intelligence and unimpeachable integrity, in commenting upon this date says that “no reliance can be placed upon this month and day. Bristol Lodge, Gloucestershire, Constituted on November 12, 1735, was No. 74 in the 1755 listing. That Lodge was erased in 1757, but the date of Constitution was retained in the Lists against the number, although no Lodge was given. This is the case in the Official List

Photo, left to right: Bruce Chennery, Jr. Grand Deacon, Grand Lodge, SC AFM, Pam Kimmons, W. M. Jerry Kimmons, Inman Lodge #201, Grand Master Gerald Carver, Grand Lodge, SC AFM., Caroline Carver, granddaughter of GM Carver, Sue Carver, wife of GM Carver, and Jay Adam Pearson, Grand Warden, Grand Lodge, SC AFM

Brothers Randy Cobb and Glen Kirkland collaborated on a well-received power point presentation of photos of Inman Lodge #201 members and participants in the myriad of activities sponsored by Lodge #201 this year, featuring the Annual Charles Heatherly Memorial Golf Tournament and spelunking (cave exploration) activities of several hardy Lodge Brothers.

An excellent meal (covered dish) was enjoyed by a near-capacity crowd. Ladies present were honored by being seated and waited upon attentively by Lodge brothers.

Grand Master Gerald Carver of the South Carolina Grand Lodge of AFM, was special guest, and presented 40 year service pins to Brothers Ballard C. Brown, twins Carroll Cecil and Farroll Lecil Campbell, Keith Clarence Dellinger, James Earl Evington, and the writer. Honored in absentia as 40 year (Lifetime) members were Roy Abraham Collins, James Randolph Craig, James Roscoe DeYoung, Wallace Dupree Gregory, Sr., Dennis Carroll Harris, Robert Reynolds Holland, John T. Hollifield, Jr., William Edward Mitchell, William Burgan Morris, James Edward Nazelrod, Jr., and James Sidney Rutledge, Sr. G. M. Carver noted that, as Life Members, Brothers honored were exempt from annual dues, but Lodge Secretaries would continue to welcome all donations.

W. M. Jerry Kimmons, who emceed the program, presented awards to the following Lodge Officers: Tiler Lou Crissone, Sr. Warden Clyde Davis, Steward Randy Cobb, Steward R. J. Plumley, Secretary Terry Mabry, Jr. Deacon Glen Kirkland, Sr. Deacon Dave Thomas, Jr. Warden Bruce Chennery, Organist Keith Dellinger, and Chaplain Warren Lunsford. Brother Lou Crissone was recognized as 150% Effort Award winner, while Brother Glen Kirkland was awarded Mason of The Year honors. Treasurer Doug O’Shields was recognized for outstanding service in absentia. Secretary Terry Mabry presented outgoing W. M. Jerry Kimmons with a Master’s Apron, while Brother Jeff Honeycutt presented him with the Past Master’s Gavel.

Awards for service to our youth in Scouting were presented: Brothers Elton Chapman, Jerry Fowler, and R. J. Plumley, with Jeremy Christie recognized in absentia.

Brother Jay Adam Pearson introduced G. M. Carver as guest speaker. G. M. Carver noted to a rapt audience that AFM was the oldest fraternity in the world, primarily because the craft was good and the calling honorable. In the earliest days, craftsmen needed passes to travel to other countries. Skilled craftsmen were given credentials to travel at will to various places, hence the term “free masons”. Lodges evolved from the dwellings where apprentices were instructed in the use of working tools. The demand for operative masons declined in the Middle Ages, when the number of magnificent buildings diminished. Free masonry is unique, having always held that all men are created equal, and sayings and teachings of free masonry formed the cornerstones in the development of the USA. In early years of the USA, there was always the symbolic red school, the white church, and the blue lodge in every small town, in which all three worked together in playing a vital part in the town’s success and progress. This is not so in modern times, but the blue lodge can and will survive. Great buildings or temples continue to be constructed with the tenets and teachings of free masonry, with charity as the cornerstone.

Lastly, W. M. Jerry and wife Pam introduced a new game to a majority of the attendees, in which numbered slips were distributed to everyone, numbers called out, for on-stage selection of a boxed or bagged gift. Each gift could be “requisitioned” or swapped to or by others having gifts, up to a maximum of three times, after which the selection was final. This game was a win-win-win situation, since everyone got a gift, people could exchange gifts to ensure each got a wanted gift, and it was a very humorous occasion.

Article by John Messer