ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINAFellowship. Charity. Brotherhood.
Corinthian No. 416ANCIENT FREE MASONS

OUR HISTORY · CORINTHIAN NO. 416

From a shared idea
to a lasting home.

The people, founding records and milestones behind our lodge.

Follow the timeline ↓Charter-member rolls ↓First officers ↓

A NAME WITH MEANING

Built on
brotherhood.

The Corinthian architectural order inspired the lodge’s name, proposed by Curtis Simmons during its founding. The lodge history also opens with 1 Corinthians 4:16: “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”

This page preserves the lodge’s historical record. Offices and membership categories describe the founding period.

THE LODGE TAKES SHAPE

Milestones
through the years.

From the Newport schoolhouse to a permanent home.

Remember the charter brethren ↓

  1. A broader Masonic heritage

    Four London lodges formed the first Grand Lodge of England.

  2. Freemasonry in South Carolina

    Charleston received South Carolina’s first lodge charter.

  3. A beginning in Newport

    R.B. Morris proposed the old Newport schoolhouse as a lodge. Seventeen brethren attended the organizational meeting; Roy M. Nelson presided over the election of officers.

  4. A name and a petition

    Rock Hill No. 111 and York No. 385 consented and offered support. Curtis Simmons proposed the Corinthian name after the architectural order. A request for dispensation went through Grand Secretary H. Dwight McAlaster; 71 brethren signed the charter petition.

  5. Under dispensation

    The Grand Lodge authorized Corinthian Lodge U.D. to begin work.

  6. The first opening

    The lodge opened at 8:00 PM and received petitions from John Adkins, Harry Callahan, Clyde Herron, Marvin Sexton and Bobby Wells. Preparations for degree work and improvements to the schoolhouse followed.

  7. A charter for Corinthian

    Corinthian Lodge No. 416 received its charter. Thirteen additional brethren signed the charter during 1973.

  8. Constituted as No. 416

    The lodge’s consecration and constitution took place, with Grand Master McC. Figg installing its first officers.

  9. Work at Ferguson Mountain

    Special dispensation permitted a Master Mason Degree at Ferguson Mountain. The gathering became an annual tradition until the mountain was sold.

  10. Land for a permanent home

    The lodge bought six acres, selected a building site and began fundraising for a new home.

  11. District fellowship

    Sam Tennyson and Albert Wyatt established the Twenty Second Masonic District’s Master Mason and Wardens Club. Corinthian supplied its first Secretary and Treasurer.

  12. The cornerstone

    The lodge opened on the First Degree at 1:30 PM for the cornerstone ceremony at the new building. Jesse B. Branham presided.

  13. An Eastern Star chapter

    The Worshipful Master appointed Tom Bell to lead a committee organizing an Eastern Star chapter, following lodge approval.

  14. Leaving the old building

    With Worshipful Master Jim Conner IIl, Senior Warden Charlie Smith conducted the final meeting in the old lodge.

  15. The first gathering in the new building

    Worshipful Master Charlie Smith conducted the first meeting in the new building for an open installation held by Bill Longshore.

  16. A lasting foundation

    By the end of 1997, the lodge had paid for its land, building and contents in full.

FIRST ELECTED OFFICERS · 1972

The founding
leadership.

Elected at the organizational meeting on March 15, 1972.

PREPARING THE SCHOOLHOUSE

The first
project chairs.

  • Building preparationBilly Robinson
  • Three Burning TapersNed Pryor
  • PaintingPat Hicks
  • WiringHenry Covington
  • PlumbingRussel Jenkins

THE HISTORICAL RECORD

Remembering the brethren.

The charter rolls preserve the names associated with the lodge’s beginning.

Names follow the historical record’s spellings, with punctuation standardized. These lists do not represent current membership or living status. Historical spelling differences have not been silently reconciled.

Charter members

Charter Master Masons raised under dispensation

Charter brethren not yet raised — Fellowcraft

Charter brethren not yet raised — Entered Apprentice