HubbardJ Cassette 1, Side 1
Media
Part of Interview: Hubbard, Julius C., Jr.
Title
HubbardJ Cassette 1, Side 1
Source
Julius C. Hubbard, Jr. Interview
Date
1988-08-31
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:07: Megginson's intent with this interview is to learn more about the foundation of the Calhoun Masonic Lodge. Mr. Hubbard states that most people over the years have called him "Mike." He is 67 years old in 1988. He explains the abbreviation "AFM." It either refers to "Accepted Freemasons," or "Free and Accepted Masons." States around the country use one designation or the other; they both mean the same thing. Each state lodge is independent, though there is a national meeting every year of the state Grandmaster's of each lodge. Mr. Hubbard moved his membership from Columbia, SC to Clemson in 1947 when he joined the faculty at the University. He was elected and served as Worshipful Master in 1957, and has been Treasurer of the lodge for the previous 26 years.
2:17: The lodge in Clemson was originally founded by local masons from various area lodges. The Calhoun area had grown to the point where a requested petition to the Grand Lodge of SC for the constitution of a local lodge was made in the early years of the twentieth century.
3:30: Mr. Hubbard reads from an early book of minutes. The following names are the instigators of the petition: J.H. Hook, A.M. Redfern, A. Schilletter, S. Maner Martin, N. Benton, O.R. Doyle, B.H. Broyles, J.H. McHugh, and H. Benton. The first meeting was held around October 19, 1903 in Calhoun, SC.
4:56: Mr. Hubbard presumes the first meetings took place in the Boggs store. Mr. Doyle owned the building at the time. The Grand Lodge stated that the first meetings could take place anywhere within a three mile radius of Calhoun, SC.
5:54: The new establishment was chartered as Clemson Lodge no. 254 AFM on December 9, 1903. The first officers elected were: W.W. Klugh (Worshipful Master), O.R Doyle (Senior Warden), A.M. Redfern (Junior Warden), A. Schilletter (Treasurer), and H. Benton (Secretary).
6:50: Megginson would like to know more about the freemasonic traditions and what they do. Mr. Hubbard explains that this fraternal organization's main thrust is charity. The philosophy is one of brotherhood--not only within membership, but brotherhood of all mankind. They agree that all men are under one Creator, and must accept a profession of belief in deity in order to become a member.
8:00: Question--Since the Central Wesleyan Church "hall" was often used for meetings, could it have been an early location for the freemasonic gatherings? Mr. Hubbard states that this would never have been the case. Although they weren't openly hostile, many churches would not encourage their members to join the order. It is also true that the Roman Catholic Church for many years threatened excommunication to individuals who joined, though that papal bull had long since been rescinded. Jewish masons swore oaths upon the Torah, Christians upon the Old and New Testament, and Muslims upon the Koran. Hubbard states that these are the three instruments exhibited in the center of the lodge. By in large, the majority of Southern freemasons would have been Protestant, but Hubbard states that the Clemson lodge has had Jewish members since the 1920's.
10:30: Reading from the minutes of the first meeting, Megginson notices the application of Reverend K.G. Fendley. Hubbard explains that any minister of God may join upon investigation of his character and be accepted without recourse for giving fees or dues.
11:30: Again reading from the minutes of the first meeting; the first applicants for admission were: J.W. Gant, S.W. Reeves, A.S. Scheele, J.D. McCraken, Rev. K.G. Fendley, Thomas Keate, and E.A. Seamire (?).
11:56: In the minutes of the second meting it is revealed that the charter has been received as of December 19.
12:45: Where were the early meetings held? Hubbard believes the first location to be the top floor of the Boggs store, or "Doyle Hall" as it was known by the Presbyterians.
13:22: In the minutes of the second meeting which took place in November 1903, thanks is given to O.R. Doyle for providing walnut lumber, and to J.H. Hook for building furniture from it to be placed in the lodge. Hubbard is unaware what might have happened to that original furniture, the present furniture pieces appear to be much younger and made of pine.
16:10: Again reading from lodge minutes: Grand Master John R. Ballenger would be attending on December 18, 1903 and additionally would be assisting in laying the cornerstone at the Agricultural building at Clemson on the 19th. Megginson wonders about the significance of why freemasons are involved in the laying of cornerstones. Hubbard states that another main tenant of freemasonry is education. The cornerstone that was recently [1988] removed from Tillman Hall was placed by the Grand Lodge of SC, as was the one in the Agricultural Building and also Sikes Hall. This ceremony can only be performed by officials associated with the state Grand Lodge.
18:34: Megginson encourages Mr. Hubbard to discuss the Clemson University connection with the lodge. W.W. Klugh was a professor in Engineering Graphics; S. Manor Martin was head of the Math Department; G.H Aull was head of Agriculture; and Billy Brackett was dean of Chemistry. Hubbard states that you can go down the list; even to this day [1988] many lodge members are affiliated with Clemson University. Hubbard himself finished Clemson in 1942.
21:40: Reading from the 1907 minutes reveals that nine blinds are to be purchased. Megginson wonders if the Boggs store had nine upstairs windows. They note that at the time, O.R. Doyle owned what would become the Boggs store.
22:54: Megginson reads testimony regarding a brother member who had gotten into trouble with the law. It is not clear whether this report is contained in minutes, or is a separate document. The date of the document is not given, though it is probably around the early 1900's. The report states that a brother mason appeared intoxicated at Calhoun Station, had been with a Negro woman overnight, and had been drinking with a "Negro man of bad character." It is not clear from the document what punishment the individual received from the lodge.
24:27: Megginson had been attempting to trace the various meeting places that were utilized by the local freemasons before the permanent lodge was built. Reading from minutes: in 1914, it appears that Dr. L.C. Martin presented a proposition to occupy part of Martin's drugstore for a time. Megginson believes that the freemason's stayed there until around 1916. In 1915, the cornerstone was laid for the YMCA building (Holtzendorff Hall) at Clemson. The plans were to have the meetings immediately move into the YMCA, but concerns over uniform bylaws delayed the move until 1916.
30:40: By 1927, the YMCA lease had expired. There were initial discussions that the lease should be extended for one year with a decision agreed upon to build a lodge building of their own.
31:51: Audio ends.
Side 1
00:07: Megginson's intent with this interview is to learn more about the foundation of the Calhoun Masonic Lodge. Mr. Hubbard states that most people over the years have called him "Mike." He is 67 years old in 1988. He explains the abbreviation "AFM." It either refers to "Accepted Freemasons," or "Free and Accepted Masons." States around the country use one designation or the other; they both mean the same thing. Each state lodge is independent, though there is a national meeting every year of the state Grandmaster's of each lodge. Mr. Hubbard moved his membership from Columbia, SC to Clemson in 1947 when he joined the faculty at the University. He was elected and served as Worshipful Master in 1957, and has been Treasurer of the lodge for the previous 26 years.
2:17: The lodge in Clemson was originally founded by local masons from various area lodges. The Calhoun area had grown to the point where a requested petition to the Grand Lodge of SC for the constitution of a local lodge was made in the early years of the twentieth century.
3:30: Mr. Hubbard reads from an early book of minutes. The following names are the instigators of the petition: J.H. Hook, A.M. Redfern, A. Schilletter, S. Maner Martin, N. Benton, O.R. Doyle, B.H. Broyles, J.H. McHugh, and H. Benton. The first meeting was held around October 19, 1903 in Calhoun, SC.
4:56: Mr. Hubbard presumes the first meetings took place in the Boggs store. Mr. Doyle owned the building at the time. The Grand Lodge stated that the first meetings could take place anywhere within a three mile radius of Calhoun, SC.
5:54: The new establishment was chartered as Clemson Lodge no. 254 AFM on December 9, 1903. The first officers elected were: W.W. Klugh (Worshipful Master), O.R Doyle (Senior Warden), A.M. Redfern (Junior Warden), A. Schilletter (Treasurer), and H. Benton (Secretary).
6:50: Megginson would like to know more about the freemasonic traditions and what they do. Mr. Hubbard explains that this fraternal organization's main thrust is charity. The philosophy is one of brotherhood--not only within membership, but brotherhood of all mankind. They agree that all men are under one Creator, and must accept a profession of belief in deity in order to become a member.
8:00: Question--Since the Central Wesleyan Church "hall" was often used for meetings, could it have been an early location for the freemasonic gatherings? Mr. Hubbard states that this would never have been the case. Although they weren't openly hostile, many churches would not encourage their members to join the order. It is also true that the Roman Catholic Church for many years threatened excommunication to individuals who joined, though that papal bull had long since been rescinded. Jewish masons swore oaths upon the Torah, Christians upon the Old and New Testament, and Muslims upon the Koran. Hubbard states that these are the three instruments exhibited in the center of the lodge. By in large, the majority of Southern freemasons would have been Protestant, but Hubbard states that the Clemson lodge has had Jewish members since the 1920's.
10:30: Reading from the minutes of the first meeting, Megginson notices the application of Reverend K.G. Fendley. Hubbard explains that any minister of God may join upon investigation of his character and be accepted without recourse for giving fees or dues.
11:30: Again reading from the minutes of the first meeting; the first applicants for admission were: J.W. Gant, S.W. Reeves, A.S. Scheele, J.D. McCraken, Rev. K.G. Fendley, Thomas Keate, and E.A. Seamire (?).
11:56: In the minutes of the second meting it is revealed that the charter has been received as of December 19.
12:45: Where were the early meetings held? Hubbard believes the first location to be the top floor of the Boggs store, or "Doyle Hall" as it was known by the Presbyterians.
13:22: In the minutes of the second meeting which took place in November 1903, thanks is given to O.R. Doyle for providing walnut lumber, and to J.H. Hook for building furniture from it to be placed in the lodge. Hubbard is unaware what might have happened to that original furniture, the present furniture pieces appear to be much younger and made of pine.
16:10: Again reading from lodge minutes: Grand Master John R. Ballenger would be attending on December 18, 1903 and additionally would be assisting in laying the cornerstone at the Agricultural building at Clemson on the 19th. Megginson wonders about the significance of why freemasons are involved in the laying of cornerstones. Hubbard states that another main tenant of freemasonry is education. The cornerstone that was recently [1988] removed from Tillman Hall was placed by the Grand Lodge of SC, as was the one in the Agricultural Building and also Sikes Hall. This ceremony can only be performed by officials associated with the state Grand Lodge.
18:34: Megginson encourages Mr. Hubbard to discuss the Clemson University connection with the lodge. W.W. Klugh was a professor in Engineering Graphics; S. Manor Martin was head of the Math Department; G.H Aull was head of Agriculture; and Billy Brackett was dean of Chemistry. Hubbard states that you can go down the list; even to this day [1988] many lodge members are affiliated with Clemson University. Hubbard himself finished Clemson in 1942.
21:40: Reading from the 1907 minutes reveals that nine blinds are to be purchased. Megginson wonders if the Boggs store had nine upstairs windows. They note that at the time, O.R. Doyle owned what would become the Boggs store.
22:54: Megginson reads testimony regarding a brother member who had gotten into trouble with the law. It is not clear whether this report is contained in minutes, or is a separate document. The date of the document is not given, though it is probably around the early 1900's. The report states that a brother mason appeared intoxicated at Calhoun Station, had been with a Negro woman overnight, and had been drinking with a "Negro man of bad character." It is not clear from the document what punishment the individual received from the lodge.
24:27: Megginson had been attempting to trace the various meeting places that were utilized by the local freemasons before the permanent lodge was built. Reading from minutes: in 1914, it appears that Dr. L.C. Martin presented a proposition to occupy part of Martin's drugstore for a time. Megginson believes that the freemason's stayed there until around 1916. In 1915, the cornerstone was laid for the YMCA building (Holtzendorff Hall) at Clemson. The plans were to have the meetings immediately move into the YMCA, but concerns over uniform bylaws delayed the move until 1916.
30:40: By 1927, the YMCA lease had expired. There were initial discussions that the lease should be extended for one year with a decision agreed upon to build a lodge building of their own.
31:51: Audio ends.
Rights
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.