Newspapers / The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.) / July 2, 1993, edition 1 / Page 9
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Masons, Eastern Star also use hall The News-Herald, Friday, July 2,1993 Love and Charity was first biack fraternai organization By Clarence Newsome Centennial Education Committee In the beginning of black frater nal organizations in Ahoskie, the Love and Charity was the first. The slogan of this organization is "Love to God, True to each other, Mercy to all mankind." Annual and funeral services were held in churches. The organization built a small slab building on what is now the Ahoskie-Coficld Road. Later, the Love and Charity, Masons and Odd Fellows erected the building that is now located at Hayes and Rhue streets. The building is known as the Love and Charity Hall. Later the Knights of Pythians and Eastern Star Lodge were organized. Fraternal organizations function ing as late as 1939 were the Love and Charity, United Order of Queens of the Orient, the Elks, the Masons and the Tents. The Elks met in the Love and Charity Hall when the group was first organized. The Elks have made much progress and now have a large membership. Later, the Elks erected a building at the corner of Hayes and Maple streets, not only for their use but for the community at large. Founded in Ahoskie The Queen of the Orient had its origin in Ahoskie. The group met in the Love and Charily Hall when it-was first organized. The founder, Mrs. Mary E. Sills, had been a citizen of Ahoskie for 40 years, serving as a teacher in the community and as a supervisor of Negro schools in Hertford County for a year. • The objects of the organization wiere: to unite the womanhood and manhood morally, financially and religiously, to promote the health and happiness of its members by teaching the true principles and laws of health, to provide for the sick, a responsible burial for the dead and an endowment for their rel atives and children. When started the Queen of the Orient had branch offices in Win ston-Salem Tarboro, Graham, Wil son, Lewiston, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Powellsville, Jamcsville, Washington, Wilmington, Ply mouth and Ahoskie. The membership in 1939, includ ing the branches, was about 1,200. It paid out $8,000 in claims in its first 15 years and held a 15ih an niversary in Ahoskie in 1939. Hall renovated The Love and Charity/Masonic Hall at Hayes and Rhue streets was renovated in 1976 during the admin istration of George A. Everett Sr. as worshipful master of Jerusalem Lodge #96. At the same time, Mrs. Amaza H. Davis was worthy matron of the R-ose of Sharon Chapter #611 of the Eastern Star. ' During this time, past master Hawley J. Newsome, a master brick mason by profession and a masonry instructor at Ahoskie High School, served as master overseer of the renovation project and provided hands-on workmanship in brick-ve neering the entire exterior of the lodge hall — as it is now. Newsome offered to give his ser vices for free with the request that his name be placed in the record book of all three secret orders — the Masonic lodge, the Eastern Star chapter and the Love and Charily lodge, according to Everett. Newsome was assisted by a fel low master mason, Clayton Saun ders, who played a major role in all aspects of the renovation program. ] As a masonry teacher, Newsome \yould bring his class to the lodge hall in the afternoons to get practi cal experience in laying bricks. •Mrs. Davis would come to the lodge on Saturdays with other niembers of the Eastern Star chapter t(j cook and serve food to those working on the renovation project. Inspired by grandfather The "all-seeing eye" over the front door was the result of inspira tion received by Everett from his grandfather, during his childhood. The walkways in the front and on the sides of the building were laid by lodge members as landmarks of their contributions to the renova tion project for generations to come, according to Everett. The roof was repaired when Clarence Beasley was worshipful master. In so doing, the bell and bell tower were removed. During the administration of Dupont Davis as worshipful mas ter, the present bell tower, in the front of the building, was con structed. This was inspired by a dream which Everett had regarding its name, meaning and dimensions. He named the bell tower Three, Five and Seven, representing youth, middle age and man. The concept was based upon the following pas sages of scripture: I Corinthians 13:11 and Ecclesiastes 12:1. Newsome and Saunders did the masonry work for the bell tower on a four foot by four foot by four fool plan. Clarence Askew Jr. assisted in putting it atop the tower. Everett led the fund-raising drive to build the brick picket fence at the rear of the lodge hall. It was named in his honor by Davis as the George A. Everett Lounge. New- some and Saunders did the brick work in the construction of the fence. Home for 3 groups Currently, the lodges uses the building for their regular meetings are Jerusalem Lodge #96, with Davis as worshipful master; the Rose of S haron chapter #611, Order of the Eastern Star, with Mrs. Quay D. Winslow as worthy matron; and the Love and Charity Lodge, with Mrs. Annie Riddick as worthy su- penor. The building also is frequently used for a variety of other activities such as organizational meetings, re ceptions, political rallies and sundry other purposes. ede Ahoskie 56 Great Years Uptown Ahoskie 1937 -1942 56 Years of growth and progress with always one thought in mind...greater service and shopping convenience for our customers. 1942 - 1957 We opened our doors to the Roanoke- Chowan shoppers in 1937 and we are proud to say that we've enjoyed having the privilege of serving the wonderful people in this area. 1957 -1969 1969 -1993 Our Service...Quality...Value Have Never Been Greater OPENING SOON IN AHOSKIE COMMONS We at Belk, await anxiously as the completion and Grand Opening of our new store is only weeks away. This will be Ahoskie's largest and most modern department store. Designed with today's shopper in mind, we hope you will find it a pleasant and convenient shopping experience. it 40' r~ I^IF M.. mm.t Thanks for Shopping Belk of Ahoskie
The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.)
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July 2, 1993, edition 1
9
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