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August 25, 1869, Dr. Crawford H. Harley was assassinated
while sitting in his room, little expecting so untimely an
end. Harley had been raised just a year. The Lodge became
interested in finding the assassin. J. B. Miller, a member
of the Lodge, was employed for this purpose. Miller attended
Camden Court at Jeffersonville and while there, became
intoxicated and blabbed out the purpose of his visit, that
he knew the assassin and as soon as he obtained another bit
of evidence, would have the party arrested. The supposed
killer was at Court and heard of the threats of Miller. That
evening he returned to his home in Glynn County, which was
nearly a mile below the Little Satilla ford.
The next day Miller was returning to
Brunswick on foot and disappeared at this ford, and was
never heard of again alive.
J. J. Spears, a brother-in-law of Miller,
and others went in search of him. A negro suspect was
arrested and in attempting to escape, was shot and fatally
wounded. However, he confessed that he was a witness to the
murder, told who did it and where the body was buried near
the waters edge of the Little Satilla.
In the meantime, the water has risen and
it was some time before it had receded sufficiently to
examine the spot. While evidence of a grave was found, no
body was found, evidently having been removed. William
Palmer, the supposed assassin, fled to Florida and later
returned to Glynn County but was never tried, as sufficient
evidence could not be obtained.
About this time at a political meeting
held in the old Academy, Carey W. Styles, a brilliant editor
and lawyer, and second Master of the Lodge, shot and killed
Jacob W. Moore. Moore was a brother of the Charles C. Moore
previously mentioned. While Styles was exonerated, yet he
did not remain in Brunswick, but removed to Texas where he
continued his brilliant career.
In 1873 there occurred a dispute between
James F. Nelson and Dr. B. M. Cargile. It seems that some
one, for a joke, pasted on the store window of Bro. Nelson,
a written document referring to Dr. Cargile. While in no way
reflecting on the character of the Doctor, yet might cause a
laugh. The Doctor was directed to the place and when he read
it became very much enraged.. He evidently could not take a
joke. He entered the store and proceeded to tell Bro. Nelson
just what he thought of him. The language used is not fit to
be reproduced.
This caused charges and counter charges. A
trial was necessary. Bro. Nelson was unanimously acquitted,
the Doctor was found guilty and subjected to reprimand. He
was too stubborn to submit and permitted himself to be
suspended for nonpayment of dues. During this trial, Bro.
J. L. Bryant was found talking too much. The town seemed to
know as much about the trial as the members of the Lodge and
Brother Bryant had to be tried.
In the late seventies there occurred an
incident that disturbed the Lodge for many years. A party
took the daughter of Chas. E. Flanders from her home and she
was married against his will. Flanders accused H. B.
Treadwell, a member of the Lodge and a local Methodist
minister, of being the leader. He armed himself and on
finding Treadwell, fired twice at him. This brought on a
Lodge trial with charges and counter charges.
Treadwell was acquitted and Flanders was
found guilty and subjected to a short suspension or
reprimand. As soon as possible, he obtained a dimit and put
it in a neighboring Lodge.
At the next meeting of the Grand Lodge,
Flanders gained the ear of the Committee of Appeals and
Grievances, the result being that the Grand Lodge expelled
Treadwell and ordered the Charter of Ocean Lodge suspended
for thirty days. This enraged many of the members of the
Lodge because the Lodge was tried and convicted without
being heard in it's own defense, to such extent that they
lost interest and permitted themselves to be dropped for
non-payment of dues. Flanders returned his dimit to Ocean
Lodge. was elected
Master, and for some ten years was
"cock of the walk,' and in complete control. Toward the
end, he became financially involved and was elected
Secretary and Janitor. When checked up his accounts were
found to be about $400 short. He admitted his defalcation,
and stated that dire necessity had forced him to take the
:money. The Lodge dealt kindly with him and permitted him to
be suspended for non-payment of dues. No part of the
shortage was ever made good.
In 1905, a notorious character. Alex Weis,
applied to Ocean Lodge for initiation and without reference
to a committee, his application and fee were returned to
him. He was a traveling salesman and he immediately selected
Sales City, Ga., for his next venture, claiming this as his
residence. He gave $25.00 to the Ladies Garden Club there
and made other donations to worthy causes. Then he applied
to the Masonic Lodge for initiation and was accepted and
immediately initiated. Fearing that word of his venture
might reach Brunswick, he asked the Lodge to obtain a
dispensation and confer the other two degrees immediately,
which was done.
Two months had hardly elapsed since his
rejection, before he appeared at the outer door of Ocean
Lodge with a membership card in Sales City Lodge, requesting
privilege of visiting. He was shown the stairway and
descended much quicker than he had ascended. Complaint was
made to Sales City Lodge, who preferred charges and expelled
him. The application requires that applicant state where he
has lived for past ten years. Never hastily accept anyone in
the lodge as it will prevent many an error being made.
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