Blythewood Lodge, No. 395 A.F.M. had its inception on the night of December 3, 1959, when seven local Master Masons, namely; H.P. Legrand, T.W. Sharpe, Jr., W.J. Ballentine, Herbert Ballentine, Robert W. Loner, James C. Davis, and H.B. McLean, Sr. met in the Agent’s office of the local Southern Railway Station. The purpose being a general discussion of the possibility or feasibility of organizing either a Masonic Club or a Masonic Lodge in the Blythewood are.

After lengthy discussion and expression of opinions, it was decided to call a meeting of the interested local Master Masons to meet at the Blythewood Community Center at 8:00 p.m. on December 8, 1959 for further discussion. Twenty six Masons were present at this meeting. H.P Legrand was elected moderator. H.B. McLean, Sr. was elected secretary. Brother Legrand stated that the purpose of the meeting was for a general and open discussion about the possibility of organizing a lodge of master Masons in the Blythewood area. It was stated that a number of Masons holding membership in loges at Ridgeway, Winnsboro, Columbia and elsewhere in the state had indicated a keen interest in organizing a Lodge in the area.

Three committees were appointed. A Charter Committee was appointed to contact the Grand Lodge Secretary for information on obtaining a charter for the new Lodge. H.P. Legrand, Earl Van-Patten and W.J. Ballentine were appointed to this committee.

A building committee was appointed to see about a Lodge hall for conducting meetings. H.B. McLean, Sr., R.B. Davis, and T.W. Sharpe, Jr. were appointed to this committee.

A committee to contact Ridgeway Masonic Lodge, No. 30 A.F.M. to inform them of our action and to solicit their help and sponsorship in the event a new Lodge is chartered. A majority of our members at the time were in Ridgeway Masonic Lodge. J. Louie Frick, Hubert W. Stricklin and E.B. Cooper were appointed.

The first meeting to elect officers was held at 8:00 p.m. on January 13, 1960 at the Blythewood Community Center. Thirty five Masons were present. The following officers were elected and appointed:

H.P. Legrand, Worshipful Master
R.W. Loner, Senior Warden
H.W. Stricklin, Junior Warden
H.B. McLean, Sr., Treasurer
Horace W. Shealy, Secretary
James C. Davis, Senior Deacon
H.R. Norton, Junior Deacon
W.J. Ballentine, Chaplain
E.B. Cooper, Steward
T.W. Sharpe, Jr., Steward
B.S. Boney, Tiler
District Deputy Grand Master, J. Louie Coleman, of the Twenty Third Masonic District and Past Master of Ridgeway Masonic Lodge No. 30, A.F.M. made a brief talk and offered his assistance in getting the new Lodge under way. It was decided to use the Blythewood Community Center building as a meeting hall until a new Lodge building was erected.

The first meeting was held under dispensation on February 2, 1960 at which time the Dispensation was presented to the Lodge by Hugh N. Layne, Deputy Grand Master and Rev. Henry F. Collins, Grand Lodge Secretary. Both were acting for the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.

The Lodge was duly chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina on April 28, 1960, as Blythewood Masonic Lodge, No. 395 A.F.M. with 45 charter members. Their previous membership was in the following Lodges: Winnsboro Masonic Lodge, 1, Ridgeway Masonic Lodge, 30, Richland Masonic Lodge, 2, Acacia Masonic Lodge, 2, Sinclair Masonic Lodge, 2, Abney Masonic Lodge, 1, Columbia Masonic Lodge, 2, Anglo-Saxon Masonic Lodge, 1, Eau Claire Masonic Lodge, 3, Earlewood Masonic Lodge, 1, and Broad River Masonic Lodge, 2.

During this time Blythewood Masonic Lodge was in the Twenty Third Masonic District and our jurisdiction was half-way to the nearest Loge as the crow flies.

The first meeting of Blythewood Masonic Lodge, after being chartered, was Tuesday, May 3, 1960. A By-Laws Committee was appointed consisting of: H.P. Legrand, R.W. Loner, D.A. Graddick, R.B. Davis and T.W. Sharpe, Jr.

On May 24, 1960 Mr. James R. Creech signed the title conveying 4.3 acres of land to the Lodge for the purpose of erecting a Masonic Lodge. The membership and friends in other Lodges contributed generously in money, labor, and materials enabling the Lodge building to be completed with no outstanding debts.

The Lodge building was dedicated May 31, 1960. Membership was fifty four Masons.

The first reading of the By-Laws was on June 7, 1960.

On July 5, 1960 Blythewood Lodge accepted the Lodge Altar and stations donated by Shandon Masonic Lodge.

On December 2, 1960 District Deputy Grand Master Hugh N. Layne participated in the laying of the cornerstone at Blythewood Lodge.

Lodge Highlights

• 1960: The building was completed. The sounds of hammer and saw were gone. It was now time to organize committees and members in the work of building the principles and things Freemasonry stands for. 1960 was a great year for Blythewood Masonic Lodge. Amaker and Waites Sheet Metal Co. donated roofing for the Lodge building. The Lodge Cornerstone was laid on December 2, 1960. W.B. Joseph Rogers, Jr. was presented at the altar and installed as Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina by Grand Master Hugh Lane in the newly chartered Blythewood Masonic Lodge.
  1961: A bronze plaque of all charter members was installed in the Lodge hall. Also, an Eastern Star Chapter was sponsored. The first life membership honorary was presented to J. Louie Coleman, District Deputy of the Twenty Third Masonic District for his participation in the forming of Blythewood Lodge on March 7, 1961. The first Ladies Night was held on June 9, 1961.
• 1962: A committee was formed to write the first history. P.M. Legrand was appointed Grand Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. Grand Master Dwight McAllister visited Blythewood Lodge. The Holy Bible on the altar was the first Bible in the Lodge and was donated by P.M. Barney Brewer of Broad River Masonic Lodge. The Lodge Working Stones were presented by Frank Harmon. August 7, 1962 Grand Master Dwight McAllister was invited to a Barbeque in his honor. Blythewood Masonic Lodge sponsored Boy Scout Troop No. 346. Bro. Ernest Raines was Assistant Scout Master. The committee consisted of Robert Frick, Joe Dubard, H. Stricklin, and Bobby Boney.
• 1963: The Lodge voted for concurrent jurisdiction in Richland County. We were transferred from the Thirtieth Masonic District to the Tenth Masonic District. On September 3, 1963 Blythewood Lodge voted to adopt the Lodge System of Masonic Education. The first committee was W.M. David Graddick, P. M. Robert Loner, Harry Norton, Charles Starnes, and D. B. Maples. P.M. Robert Loner was appointed as institutional representative of the Boy Scout Troop # 346. Bro.
• 1964: The first Master’s Hat was donated by W.M. Harry Norton. A new well was installed at 128 feet with 8 gpm flow.
• 1965: Shrubbery was planted around the Lodge by Bro. Thomas Sharpe, Jr.
• 1966-1967: A new building committee was appointed to build a dining room onto the Lodge building. Members were P.M. Charles Starnes, Thomas Sharpe, Jr. and Freeman Sharpe, Jr. The dining hall was nearly complete in 1968.
• 1969: A new building committee of fifteen members was appointed. Drapes were installed in the dining room.
• 1970: The floor was completed in the dining room.
• 1971: The dining room was completely finished.
• 1972: A new building committee was appointed to install heating and air conditioning. Robert Loner was the chairman. The Lodge was insulated.
• 1973: Freeman Sharpe, Chairman of the Building Committee, completed insulating the dining room.
• 1974: Robert Blume, Chairman of the Building Committee, completed heating and air conditioning the Lodge building.
• 1975: The Lodge was repainted.
• 1976: The 200th Masonic Year. Bi-centennial coins were purchased.
• 1977: A Masonic Encyclopedia was donated by Bro. John Dixon.
• 1978: The Lodge purchased new aprons. Lecture slides were donated by Ira Parks of Broad River Lodge. A gas stove was purchased. A Masonic picture was donated in memory of deceased Bro. Joseph Hykil. P.M. David Graddick was appointed Grand Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina. Horse shoe pitching contest began. The Lodge voted to build a new kitchen and barbeque pits. The Lodge received the traveling Bible and delivered it to James Island Lodge.
• 1979: The Lodge withdrew from Masonic News Paper. The new kitchen floor was completed.
• 1980: The new roof on the kitchen was completed. We began our own newsletter named the Blythewood Lodge Trestleboard.
• 1981: New curtains were installed in the dining room.
• 1982: New roofing was installed on the Lodge hall.
• 1983: A new well pump was installed.
• 1984: The Lodge began building the barbeque pits.
• 1985: The barbeque pits were completed. An organ was donated by Bro. George Elkin and the carpet in the Lodge was installed through the efforts and contributions of the Eastern Star.
• 1986: The annual Lodge Fundraiser Barbeque was prepared for the first time in the barbeque pits.
• 1987: The Lodge purchased the two columns that stand in the West of the Lodge Hall. Bro. H.B. McLean, Sr. was presented a plaque for 27 years of faithful service as Lodge Treasurer and was named Treasurer Emeritus on December 11, 1987.
• 1989: Bro. Son Grimsley donated a new septic system to the Lodge. The Dining Hall roof was recovered.
• 1990: A new well pump and freezer were installed.
• 1992: W.B. Albert Broach presented a new Altar Bible. Bro. Albert Loner presented new gavels to the Lodge, replacing the originals which were made by Bro. Frank Maples.
• 1993: The Lodge sponsored a Little League Baseball team.
• 1994: The Lodge sponsored a Little League Baseball team. The Lodge voted to enter the town of Blythewood.
• 1995: The Lodge sponsored a Little League Baseball team. The Lodge donated theater seats to Pontiac Masonic Lodge.
• 1996: New furniture built by Bro. Erich Benner and H.B. McLean, Jr. was presented. The oak furniture was the station of the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Chaplain, and the Altar.
• 1997: Bro. H.B. McLean, Jr. donated the oak Lesser Lights surrounding the Altar. They are constructed of eight sides, and are crafted from red oak salvaged from local trees damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
• This history of Blythewood Lodge is only the highlights of the Lodge in the first years. There are many brother Masons not named who labored tirelessly and gave much to help Blythewood Lodge become what it is and where it is today. On behalf of the Lodge we, today, are grateful and thank you for your contributions and dedication to the Lodge and to Freemasonry as a whole.

Most of the histories of accomplishments of Blythewood Lodge written in this report are of a material nature.

We are sure, if it were possible, a book could be written on the spiritual accomplishments of Blythewood Lodge in the first years. Only the Great Architect of the Universe has that record of what we have learned and taught in character and principle and how many have been enlightened and up-lifted by our example as Masons in the conduct of our daily lives.

Respectfully submitted by,

Robert Loner, Sr., P.M. H.B. McLean, Sr.
Chairman of Educational Committee Treasurer

(compiled and edited by Brian LeGrand Cooper, P.M.)