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The History of Georgia
Societies
and
Organizations:
Historical
Society, -- In
April,
1839, W.B. Stevens, I.K. Tefft and R.D. Arnold sent out a circular to a
number
of men, whom they knew to be interested in the history of the state,
inviting
them to attend a meeting for the purpose of organizing a state
historical
society. At that first meeting John M. Berrien was elected president;
James M.
Wayne and Matthew H. McAllister, vice-presidents; Israel K. Tefft,
secretary;
George W. Hunter, treasurer; Henry K. Preston, librarian; and a board
of
directors was chosen consisting of William T. Williams, Charles S.
Henry, John
C. Nicoll, William Law, Robert M. Charlton, Alexander A. Smets, William
B.
Stevens and Richard D. Arnold. The society was chartered by an act of
the
legislature on Dec. 19, 1839, “for the collection, preservation, and
diffusion
of information relating to the history of Georgia in all its various
departments.” Under its auspices Dr. William B. Stevens wrote his
History of
Georgia, several volumes of valuable information pertaining to the
history of
the state have been published, and a large collection of manuscripts
and
relics, that might otherwise have been lost, have been gathered
together and
preserved. For about eight years after its organization the society was
permitted to occupy the rooms of the Savannah Library Association.
Quarters
were then secured in a building erected for its accommodation opposite
the Bank
of the State of Georgia.
Subsequently, through the liberality of Miss Mary Telfair, the daughter
of Gov.
Edward Telfair, the old Telfair residence in Savannah, with all its
furniture,
works of art, books, etc., was bequeathed to the society, to be erected
into an
academy of the arts and sciences, and this historic mansion has ever
since been
the home of the Georgia Historical Society.
(Source: Georgia
Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions,
and Persons, VOL II, by
Candler & Evans, Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Kim Mohler)
Horticultural
Society
– On July 14, 1876, a charter was granted to a state horticultural
society,
which was organized on August 16th following with P.J.
Berkmans, of
Augusta, president; J.S. Newman, of Atlanta,
secretary; and H.J. Peter, of Macon, treasurer. The membership was
divided into
stockholders and annual members. The former was to control all matters
relating
to finances. Annual members paid an annual fee of $2.00 and in
everything
except financial matters they were to have the same privileges as
stockholders.
Many of the most active horticulturists of the state were included in
the
membership from the start, and the society has wielded a considerable
influence
on the fruit growing interests.
(Source: Georgia
Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions,
and Persons, VOL II, by
Candler & Evans, Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Kim Mohler)
Masons – The history of Masonry
– or more
properly speaking the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons – in
Georgia dates from the year 1735, when Lord
Weymouth, the Grand Master of the Masons of England, issued a warrant
to Roger
Lacey to open a “particular” lodge in Savannah.
This was named King Solomon’s Lodge, of which Lacey served as master
until 1757.
Among its members were Noble Jones, Grey Elliott and Gen. Samuel
Elbert, who
figured prominently in the Revolution. There is a story to the effect
that the
first lodge of Masons in Georgia
was held under a large live-oak tree, at Sunbury, and that General
Oglethorpe
presided as master. This tree died about 1870 and from the timber
Masonic tools
were made and distributed among various lodges, where they are
preserved as
relics. A chair of live-oak made from this old tree is in Solomon’s
Lodge at Savannah. At the close of
the Revolution two lodges, King Solomon’s and Hiram, held a convention
at Savannah, in December,
1787, and elected “Grand Lodge” officers.
Although these two lodges were chartered by two
different authorities,
the former by the Grand Lodge of England and the latter by the
Provincial Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, there were no dissensions between them, however,
the
Grand Lodge thus established became the supreme Masonic authority for
the
state. In 1820 the lodge records were destroyed by the great fire in
Savannah and consequently
but little is known of its transactions. The proceedings from 1820 to
1850 are
out of print, with the exception of three or four years, and no
authentic
history of the order can be traced during that period, further than
that it
enjoyed a steady growth in numbers and importance. Its prosperity was
interrupted by the Civil war and in the consequent depression of
business, the
fostering of charitable institutions, etc., the Grand Lodge became so
seriously
involved financially that for a time the annual sessions were done away
with,
and the Grand Lodge met biennially in order to free the institution
from debt.
This was accomplished in a few years, a new era of prosperity came to
the order
and the annual sessions of the Grand Lodge were resumed. At the present
time
(1905) there are 470 lodges in the state, with a membership of about
25,000.
Royal Arch chapters and commanderies of Knights Templars have been
established
in nearly all the larger towns, and the Scottish Rite is well
represented in
the citizenship of Georgia.(Source: Georgia
Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions,
and Persons, VOL II, by Candler & Evans,
Publ. 1906. Transcribed
by Kim Mohler)
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