Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina - Home - Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina

Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina - Lexington, South Carolina

Celebrating 283 years of Freemasonry in South Carolina - First South Carolina Lodge Chartered 1735

Freemasonry is the oldest fraternal organization in the world. It is dedicated to promoting improvement in the character of its members. A Mason is taught to be a good citizen, to be of good character, & to care for those less fortunate.

Freemasonry traces its roots to the Middle Ages. It is from associations of stone masons, who built the magnificent cathedrals, castles, and monasteries of Europe that the fraternity started. These groups, eventually, began to accept members who were not actual working masons.

They adopted the term "Accepted" Masons, and Freemasonry was born.

Grand Lodge Events

Grand Master Announcement about Coronavirus COVID-19

IMPORTANT NEW UPDATE: PLEASE READ IN FULL

May 29, 2020

To our Brethren in South Carolina, this updated information is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in our Grand Jurisdiction. Until further notice, IT IS MY CONTINUED ORDER THAT ALL MASONIC LODGE MEETINGS IN SOUTH CAROLINA remain suspended through the entire month of June. This ORDER will remain in effect until it is cancelled or updated.

I have consulted numerous Past Grand Masters, Grand Lodge Officers, Lodge Officers, and Appendant Body Officers and members. The overwhelming majority of the Craft has said: “Grand Master, we all want to go back to our meetings but, for our safety, I think it is still too early.” I thank each one of you for your wise counsel. More than ever it is imperative that our Masonic families remain united. United we stand, divided we fall.

I want to personally extend a “Thank You” to every Masonic organization in South Carolina that continues unwavering compliance to the Grand Master’s decision and Order in this Grand Jurisdiction. I have spoken with every Grand Master in the Southeastern Region. Each has serious challenges, under different rules in each state, but one thing is certain, we all have the interest and wellbeing of the Craft at the heart with every decision.

I am convinced that we have not reached the COVID-19 bell curve or apex of cases or deaths in South Carolina. I hope and pray that the summer heat will cause the virus count to drop off at an accelerated rate. By my estimate, the cases of infection from Memorial Day weekend exposure will not be realized until at least the June 12-19th .

As a reminder, no Lodge Hall is to be used during this time period. I have stopped several Lodge functions that Lodge members organized either through ZOOM Media, phone, or other venues. Brethren, as a reminder, it is a grave Masonic Offense, to conduct any irregular meeting or business during this time.

I am asking the Worshipful Masters and Wardens to consider a plan for a reopening of your lodge in the near future. We are working on guidelines to help, but each Lodge has a different floor plan. What would you need to have in place for your Brethren to meet and observe social distancing? What supplies do you need to decontaminate your Lodge after each meeting? Please start getting some thoughts together for your plan.

If circumstances change, we will communicate through Grandview postings, the official Grand Lodge Facebook page, and the Grand Lodge website. Your Grand Lodge Officers are working hard to secure a future date for our annual communication, and we thank you for your continued patience.

Subordinate Lodges will NOT be penalized for their inability to meet until Grand Lodge has given clearance and all established government mandates in your area are discontinued. We will issue an update by July 1, 2020 or shortly after concerning the status.

We recommend all Brethren follow health and safety guidelines or mandates issued by federal, state, and local governments in your particular area. All Brethren with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or who have been exposed to someone with a confirmed diagnosis PLEASE SELF-QUARANTINE.

Please stay in touch with local elderly Brethren, any Brother living alone, or any Brother with chronic health issues. Please realize that we do not need a large group of men together to help those in need. Individually we can wear our rings, shirts, and hats while assisting those in need in society.

Lady Laura and I are praying for the health and safety of each of you, our state, nation, and world. Please do all that you can to prevent any further transmission of this virus. Please practice all safety precautions so we can soon live in the social setting we miss so much right now. Pray for our country and all of our leaders. Do good unto all and demonstrate the tenets we are taught within our sacred walls with those outside so they will see, know, and desire to be amongst us.

May God continue to Bless our Craft, the state of South Carolina, and the United States of America.

Respectfully and Fraternally,

Walter C. Disher II – Grand Master

SCDHEC Information
https://scdhec.gov/…/viru…/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

CDC Information
https://www.cdc.gov/

South Carolina Emergency Management Division
https://www.scemd.org/

Cancelled We will give updates as soon as possible.

The 283rd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina will be held on April 23rd & 24th, in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center which adjoins the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel located at 2101 Oak Street, Myrtle Beach SC 29577.

The Religious Service will commence on Thursday, April 23rd at 9:00 AM and will be conducted by Reverend and Right Worshipful A. Robert Nix, Grand Chaplain. Following the Religious Service, the Grand Lodge will be officially opened at 10:00 AM by Most Worshipful Walter C. Disher, II, Grand Master, with the assistance of the Grand Lodge Officers and Brethren. The Annual Banquet will be held on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM in the Convention Center Ball Rooms.

Secretary information for Grandview lodge membership system software. Click on the button to go to the page.

Brother Secretaries, Contact MWB Gerald L. Carver at 803-808-4377 to get signed on to the system. You will need to set up a time with him that you can be in front of the computer.

Member Portal

For Candidates background check, Click here for infocheck USA.

The Masonic Light Newsletter is now available online in a downloadable format. Look under the resources tab to find the page or just click here.

MWB Walter C. Disher II Coin

MWB Walter C. Disher II Grand Masters Coin and pins will be available from any Grand Lodge Officer including District Deputy Grand Masters.

MWB Walter C. Disher II Silver Coin

MWB Walter C. Disher II Pin

MWB Walter C Disher II-Grand Master Coin and Pin are also available for purchase by contacting MWB Gerald L Carver-Grand Secretary at 803-808-4377.

MWB Walter C Disher II, Grand Master 2019-2021

It is indeed a privilege and honor to be elected to represent you, the Craft, as your Grand Master. Many thanks are offered to the men who have served in this capacity before me and for the numerous positive things they have instituted during their tenure to make our Craft better than it was before they were installed. I would like to thank the men who are currently serving their Lodge, District, our Grand Line and the many Grand Lodge Committees. It is through their selfless efforts that we continue to be a beacon to our world.