Charleston, SC History
Welcome
to the "Charleston History" web site. The information contained within
pertains to both Masonic and Non-Masonic History of Charleston, S. C. This research and the information on
these "Charleston" pages are due to the labor
of Illustrious Bro. McDonald "Don" Burbidge, 330
It is with a heavy heart I post this notice of the passing of a great friend and brother. My heart goes out to the family and to those who had a chance to know Ill. Bro. Don and/or to read his works. Don had a most positive outlook, a great smile, and an unselfish spirit. He had a keen love for truth and Freemasonry. A special acknowledgement to those who supported his work. Brother Don will be missed.
McDonald Lawrence Burbidge, LADSON, SC - McDonald Lawrence Burbidge, 59, husband of Kathryn Roszell Burbidge, of Ladson, SC, died Tuesday, October 12, 2010.
Published in Charleston Post & Courier on October 15, 2010
Please browse and enjoy yourselves. Also visit the Home page at your leisure. Comments are welcome!
Please Sign Our Guestbook
View Our Guestbook
(Note: The Guestbook also serves the Mel Sinclair family website. This special section is a part of Mel's website. Feel free to leave a message for Don.)
Click here for the Ill Bro. Don Burbidge Bio
March 27, 2010: Brother Mel, a consideration please. Back in 1924 the building known to the Masons of South Carolina as the birth place for the first chartered Masonic Lodge, The Society of the Cincinnati, and the Scottish Rite to name just a few was torn down and a bank building was erected in its place. When the building was being torn down various pieces of wood from the building was saved along with sketches and bill of material in hopes that one day the rooms could be reconstructed. Throughout the years many Brothers have tried to locate this wood and could not. Our late Brother Wallace Reid asked me to get involved to see if I could locate the wood with the intent of reconstructing the room. It was believe a gentleman in Charleston who restores the old houses said he had it. I worked with this man for over a year and finally gave up as his stories on the wood were always changing. With this the project was put on the back burner. Next I started researching General Summerall and looking into the recording of the meeting of the Scottish Rite the answer to what became of this valuable wood was brought to light. After finding this information I went back and rewrote the story on the wood and our good friend at the Supreme Council, Brother Brent Morris published it in the, "Nov.-Dec. 2008," issue. This is the link to the story and if you would consider posting it on the web page our many Masonic brethren can learn a little bit more about our rich history.
Click here for the link to the Scottish Rite article.
Thanks you again for the consideration.
Respectfully,
Brother Don Burbidge
January, 2009: REVISED with new discoveries!! Masonic Walking Tour of Charleston, SC
With newly discovered information, Don has revised his Masonic Walking Tour of Charleston, South Carolina. This tour doesn't require a tour guide to be with you physically. Let Bro. Don be your tour guide with his narrative and his street map, pointing out many historically significant landmarks and events .... significant to Freemasonry and the general public. Even if you can't visit this lovely and friendly city, you'll want to read this narrative with map and visualize what once was .... and its impact on what we have today. Thanks, Bro. Don Click here for the Revised Masonic Walking Tour of Charleston, SC.
May 21, 2008: See historical listing of South Carolina's:
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Past Grand High Priest and Grand Secretaries of the Grand R.A.C. of South Carolina
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Past Most Ill. Grand Masters and Grand Recorders of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters)
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Past Eminent Grand Commanders and Grand Recorders of the Grand Commandery of South Carolina
Brethren, Companions and Sir Knights, please notify Ill Bro Don Burbidge of any errors and/or omissions.
June 14, 2007: South Carolina York Rite History by Sir Knight Theodore S. Gourdin, , S.P.R.S in 1855. More light from Bro. Don's research.
March 16, 2007: South Carolina York Rite Commandery No. 1 History -- Just when you think that Ill. Bro. Don Burbidge has discovered all that there is to be discovered, he visits the quarry one more time and ..... well, you'll just have to read this significant finding. Thanks, Bro. Don for all that you do for Freemasonry in South Carolina. Although you aren't the Grand Historian, you are indeed a Great Historian. Thank you for letting me be a part of your work. Best aye, Mel Sinclair (Website Owner and HSOD .... that is "Huge Supporter Of Don").
Also mentioned for the first time during the talk was that this was the lodge that General M. Gist who was a Revolutionary War General who served under General Washington was a member of. This information was not known by anyone until this meeting and is another first for Charleston, S. C. ". Don Burbidge
November 15, 2006: Click here to read information and to see the Seal of the first Ancient Grand Lodge in South Carolina. The Ancient Grand Lodge existed in South Carolina from 1783 until 1817. There were actually two Grand Lodges and they came together to form what is now the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. Brother Don compares several Seals for your viewing pleasure. The "Discovery" of the Seal of the Ancient Grand Lodge was made by Most Worshipful Brother G. Ray Marsh, Right Worshipful Brother Gerald "Jerry" Carver, and Ill. Bro. Don Burbidge. Congratulations to some great "work in the quarry"!
October 14, 2006: The Civil War Lodge of Research No. 1865 A.F. & A.M. of the Grand Lodge of Virginia is proud to announce and honored to hold its Fall Communication in South Carolina on Saturday, October 14th, 2006 at Dentsville Lodge No. 398 near Columbia at 10:00 A.M. Brother Don Burbidge will present a program on Charleston and Masonry during and subsequent to the War Between the States. This will be quite a treat, as many of you know, Brother Don is a researcher of great renown and skill. Click on this hyperlink for more information regarding this meeting.
May 12, 2006: Founders of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council: Return to this section often as Don continues to add articles about the Founders of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council, Charleston, SC, USA
Reverend Frederick Ludovovs Dalcho
November 30, 2005: Printed in Anderson’s Constitutions of 1738, it is states, “Earl Loudon granted a deputation to John Hammerton, Esq., to be Provincial Grand Master of South Carolina, in America.” Read more about Brother John Hammerton by clicking on this link.
November 12, 2005: Don Burbidge gives an Historical presentation for the 250th anniversary celebration of Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Charleston, SC. Another excellent piece of work by Ill. Bro. Don. To read the corresponding Charleston Post and Courier article, click here.
Take time to read these two congratulatory letters from Ronald A. Seale, 330, Sovereign Grand Commander, Southern Jurisdiction, and Michael D. Smith, 330, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, South Carolina.
Click here for Dalcho's Sermon on the Festival of St. John The Evangelist (1817)
April, 2005: Lost Rules and Regulations, 1820, St. Andrews Lodge No. 10. Take the time to review these by-laws and rules written nearly 200 years ago! Thanks Bro. Don for finding this info and making it available.
April, 2005: Brother Don gives a talk. Read and view the slides. Some very interesting research and photos, including a message from Bro. George Washington. Yes, THE George Washington. Congrats to a great piece of work, Bro. Don
February, 2005: Newspaper Articles On the Biennial Meeting of the Supreme Council Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, September 21-27, 1924.
December 2004, Union Kilwinning newly discovered information. Click on the link in each paragraph to see the documentation:
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Lodge No. 4 "Rules and Regulations", dated March 21, 1787. Lodge No. 4 was later renamed Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4.
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Document showing signatures of Brothers Thomas B. Bowen and General Mordecai Gist. Bro. Gist served under General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. These signatures show that they were members of Saint Andrews Lodge No. 10 which later merged with Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4.
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Brother Stephen Girard patent signed by Colonel John Mitchell as Master of Union Blue Lodge No. 8. Union Blue Lodge No. 8 later merged with Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4. Colonel Mitchell was also one of the founders of the Supreme Council (founded May 31, 1801 in Charleston, S. C.).
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Note: See more information on Bowen, Mitchell, Gist, Union Kilwinning, etc. in the various sections on this webpage.
July 17, 2004 Scottish Rite Strom Thurmond Class, Columbia, SC
April 17, 2004
Hunley Crew Burial
From the Friends of the Hunley website: "After 140 years, the
Hunley crew will be laid to rest with full military honors on April 17th, 2004."
The remains of the Hunley crew, including Bro. Lt. Dixon, will be put to rest at
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC on April 17, 2004. Click here for
photos, including a
Cemetery Map for your reference. Find more info on the
Friends of the
Hunley website.
May 9, 2004 Photos, by Don Burbidge, of the Hunley Crew being laid to rest. NOTE THE Grand Master of Alabama is pictured with the GM of SC. Stay tuned, there may be more photos.
Don Speaks on Masonic History of Charleston, SC. Correction, THE LECTURE THAT WAS NOT TO BE: Don was scheduled to give the presentation below (see SLIDES) at the College of Charleston (SC); however, several days prior to the event, he "had" to cancel. No further explanation will be given on this website at this time.
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Click here for the SLIDES of what would have been the public historical lecture regarding earlier Masons in Charleston, SC.
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Charleston Post and Courier, February 15, 2004, an article by staff writer Ms. Dottie Ashley.
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Charleston City Paper article by Mr. Clifton Bryon
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First e-mail to personal e-mail list announcing Don's lecture.
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Second e-mail to personal e-mail list announcing Don's lecture.
KCCH Conferral, November 15, 2003
Ill. Most Worshipful Brother General Wilmot Gibbes DeSaussure, 330
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DeSaussure -History of Ancient Freemasonry in SC, delivered at Grand Lodge 1878
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Wilmot Gibbs DeSaussure - War, Heroes, Sacrifices
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DeSaussure 1876 - MW GM, Address Before Kershaw Lodge No. 29, AFM of Camden, South Carolina, June 24, 1876
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DeSaussure Centennial Address before the Society of Cincinnati of South Carolina, 1883
Brother Henry William deSaussure, P.M.
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History and photo of Past Master's jewel presentation by Ill. Bro. Don Burbidge
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William Harper Memoir to DeSaussure, Published 1841
The Right Reverend Robert Smith
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The Right Rev. Robert Smith established, "The Society for the Relief of the Widows and Children of the Clergy of the Church of England in the Province of South Carolina," on April 21, 1762.
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Society for the Relief of Widows and Children Journal 1762-1813
Society of Cincinnati for the State of South Carolina
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Society - Eulogy on the character of the late Major-General Moultrie
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Society - A list of Officers and Members and a roster of Officers in Continental Service, 1848
Various Stories Written
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The Life and Times of Edward Weyman, Past Senior Grand Warden, The Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina
Historical Buildings & Social Clubs
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Citizens and Southern National Bank, former site of Shepheard's Lodge
Masonic Documents
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Letter, Lodge No. 2, Philadelphia, re: Ill. Brother Bowen's Masonic History
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Letter to Grand Lodge (Pa) re: nomination of officers for Marine Lodge 38, Charles Town
Masonic Timeline
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A Timeline on the Tavern Located at The Northeast Corner of Church and Broad Street
Photo's Around Charleston
Masonic Tour of Charleston
Charleston Information
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Charles Town/Charleston Street's In The Early Years (How they got their names)
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Masonic Buildings and Sites, narrative of where some important things took place
War Between the States Information
Revolutionary War Information
NOTE: All stories, narratives, photos, etc., in this section of this website are the property of Don Burbidge, unless noted otherwise, and are copyright protected. Nothing on this entire website can be reproduced in part or in full without express written permission of the author(s).