Photo. http://www.ibiblio.org/orphanage/gallery/training/Prior to the Civil War, the Masonic Fraternity of North Carolina was much smaller and more fragmented than it is today. In that era, Masons in other states promoted philanthropy by supporting Masonic colleges and seminaries. North Carolina Masons hoped such an institution would serve the common good of the state, as well as provide a rallying point for their fraternity.
The story of the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford began in 1838 when David W. Stone introduced a set of resolutions at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina "to establish a Masonic Seminary for the education of children attached to the Fraternity." The resolutions passed, but nothing came of them. The Grand Lodge formed a committee to investigate the possibility of such an institution, but in 1839 the committee asked for a postponement of consideration, and did so again in 1840. In 1842 T. J. Lemay proposed "that the Grand Lodge should...provide for the establishment of a committee to study and report plans for the establishment of a charity school."
Grand Master W. F. Collins prepared a circular dated December 28, 1847, writing: "It is known to every member of the fraternity that this subject has occupied the attention of the Grand Lodge at every communication since 1838. I will, however, here remark, that very little has been done, except to resolve and report upon the subject; the time has now arrived for action – ACTION! Let us, then, not leave to be done by others that which is our duty to perform."
Collins pointed out that Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee boasted such Masonic schools, and noted that Hiram Lodge in Raleigh had already appropriated $1,000 for such an establishment. The first three lodges to appoint Trustees and report funds raised were Wake Forest, Concord in Tarboro, and St. John's in Wilmington.
The Grand Lodge passed a resolution in 1847 stating that the seminary of learning should educate "free from charge such poor and destitute orphans and children of living brother Masons who have not the means to confer the benefit upon their offspring, upon a fair and equitable plan of admission to be determined by the Grand Lodge." They decided that the school should be set up when $15,000 had been raised and noted that fundraising plans had already been drawn up in the Proceedings of 1846.
In 1850 Luke Blackmer moved that the school be located in the small town of Oxford and the Lodge appointed a committee to determine a course of study. This was a daring venture for North Carolina Masons as there were only 65 lodges in the state with less than 5,000 members at the time. The committee urged that astronomy, natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, electricity and galvanism should be taught, with emphasis on architecture, the power of steam and its application to machinery, various processes of manufactures, metallurgy, natural history and engineering. The aim was to "furnish all young men with as full and complete a collegiate education as can be obtained at any similar institution in the Union."
A committee was appointed to acquire property in Oxford and procure from the general assembly an act of incorporation for a "Masonic College," to be named St. John's College. The Masons bought 109 acres near the Oxford city limits at a price of $4,480.
In 1855 Captain John Berry of Orange County and Major J. N. Holt of Warren County won the construction contract, for a price of $22,500. On June 24 of that year, the traditional anniversary of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the cornerstone of St. John's College was laid with appropriate Masonic ceremonies: "The capstone having been lowered, the principal architect presented the working tools to the Grand Master, who handed them to the three principal officers for the testing of the work. With the square, the Deputy Grand Master proved the stone square, and that the craftsmen had performed their duty. With the level, the Senior Grand Warden pronounced it level and the Junior Grand Warden announced that it was true to the plumb. Corn as an emblem of plenty was scattered on the stone, the wine of joy and gladness was poured, and the oil of peace poured out, symbolizing love and sympathy for the widow and orphan, and mercies for them."
The story of the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford began in 1838 when David W. Stone introduced a set of resolutions at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina "to establish a Masonic Seminary for the education of children attached to the Fraternity." The resolutions passed, but nothing came of them. The Grand Lodge formed a committee to investigate the possibility of such an institution, but in 1839 the committee asked for a postponement of consideration, and did so again in 1840. In 1842 T. J. Lemay proposed "that the Grand Lodge should...provide for the establishment of a committee to study and report plans for the establishment of a charity school."
Grand Master W. F. Collins prepared a circular dated December 28, 1847, writing: "It is known to every member of the fraternity that this subject has occupied the attention of the Grand Lodge at every communication since 1838. I will, however, here remark, that very little has been done, except to resolve and report upon the subject; the time has now arrived for action – ACTION! Let us, then, not leave to be done by others that which is our duty to perform."
Collins pointed out that Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee boasted such Masonic schools, and noted that Hiram Lodge in Raleigh had already appropriated $1,000 for such an establishment. The first three lodges to appoint Trustees and report funds raised were Wake Forest, Concord in Tarboro, and St. John's in Wilmington.
The Grand Lodge passed a resolution in 1847 stating that the seminary of learning should educate "free from charge such poor and destitute orphans and children of living brother Masons who have not the means to confer the benefit upon their offspring, upon a fair and equitable plan of admission to be determined by the Grand Lodge." They decided that the school should be set up when $15,000 had been raised and noted that fundraising plans had already been drawn up in the Proceedings of 1846.
In 1850 Luke Blackmer moved that the school be located in the small town of Oxford and the Lodge appointed a committee to determine a course of study. This was a daring venture for North Carolina Masons as there were only 65 lodges in the state with less than 5,000 members at the time. The committee urged that astronomy, natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, electricity and galvanism should be taught, with emphasis on architecture, the power of steam and its application to machinery, various processes of manufactures, metallurgy, natural history and engineering. The aim was to "furnish all young men with as full and complete a collegiate education as can be obtained at any similar institution in the Union."
A committee was appointed to acquire property in Oxford and procure from the general assembly an act of incorporation for a "Masonic College," to be named St. John's College. The Masons bought 109 acres near the Oxford city limits at a price of $4,480.
In 1855 Captain John Berry of Orange County and Major J. N. Holt of Warren County won the construction contract, for a price of $22,500. On June 24 of that year, the traditional anniversary of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the cornerstone of St. John's College was laid with appropriate Masonic ceremonies: "The capstone having been lowered, the principal architect presented the working tools to the Grand Master, who handed them to the three principal officers for the testing of the work. With the square, the Deputy Grand Master proved the stone square, and that the craftsmen had performed their duty. With the level, the Senior Grand Warden pronounced it level and the Junior Grand Warden announced that it was true to the plumb. Corn as an emblem of plenty was scattered on the stone, the wine of joy and gladness was poured, and the oil of peace poured out, symbolizing love and sympathy for the widow and orphan, and mercies for them."
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