Williams Grand Lodge

2025-2026 Bill 5661: Williams Grand Lodge - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Download
This Bill
in Microsoft Word Format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5661
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Govan, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0441HDB-GM26.docx
Introduced in the House on May 6, 2026
Adopted by the House on May 6, 2026
Summary: Williams Grand Lodge
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

5/6/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 22
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
05/06/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

To recognize and honor Williams Grand Lodge Inc. on
its one hundredth anniversary and to congratulate its members for their century
of service to the State.

W
hereas, Reverend W. K.
Rickenbacker, pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Orangeburg, and Reverend
Charles A. Williams, Supreme Deputy of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of
Scottish Rite of the Southern and Western Jurisdiction of the USA, its territories
and dependencies, auxiliaries and departments, called a meeting in 1925 to plan
organizing a Scottish Rite Masonic Fraternity; and

W
hereas, this meeting, later
to be Williams Grand Lodge, operated under a dispensation for one year. After
organizing this Masonic fraternity, the group applied in 1926 for a charter
from the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Scottish Rite of the Southern and
Western Jurisdiction of the USA with Reverend Charles A. Williams, Grand
Master; Reverend T. F. Owens, Deputy Grand Master; Reverend W. K. Rickenbacker,
Grand Secretary; and Reverend C. D. Salley, Senior Warden; and

W
hereas, after Reverend
Williams died, Brother S. D. Rickenbacker of Branchville became Grand Master. With
the success of Williams Lodge, members realized they would need more lodges in
order to grow, so White Rose No. 1 in Branchville and St. John No. 2 in
Orangeburg were established. The Williams Lodge was organized to promote
religious education; social, fraternal, and charitable harmony; and fellowship.
In January of 1927, a written declaration was filed with the Secretary of State,
recording its purpose and updating its officers, and was duly incorporated.
Williams Grand Lodge, White Rose Lodge No. 1, and St. John Lodge No. 2 share
the charter date; and

W
hereas, in 1927, an
auxiliary for the female relatives of the masons was established, and the
Williams Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star was born. Sister Rosa Barton of
Branchville became the first Grand Worthy Matron. White Rose Chapter No. 1 was
organized as the sister chapter to White Rose Lodge No.1, and Queen Victoria
Chapter No. 2 became the sister chapter to St. John Lodge No. 2; and

W
hereas, other lodges,
chapters, and auxiliaries were organized throughout the State to include the
Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar, Consistory, and the Shriners. The following
female auxiliaries were also organized: Heroines of Jericho, Lady Knights
Templar, Royal House of the Temple, and Daughters of Sphinx. All of these
groups were founded upon Christian principles, so this fraternal organization
was considered as a fellowship outlet to the church. The grand lodge acquired
property for its first permanent Grand Lodge Hall for meeting. As the
organization grew in membership, the need arose for a larger meeting space and
additional office space for housing its records; and

W
hereas, in 1980, Reverend
Brother J. C. Harrison was elected Grand Master of Williams Grand Lodge and Sister
Pearlie L. Walker was elected Grand Worthy Matron of the Williams Grand Chapter
Order of Eastern Star. Together they presented new programs and events to
provide other service avenues for members, such as an Annual Recognition
Banquet. By 2013, this event was renamed the Pearlie L. Walker Memorial
Scholarship Banquet, awarding college scholarships yearly. Williams Grand Lodge
funds activities and programs through the quarterly dues paid by subordinate
lodges and chapters. The Grand Lodge holds two meetings each year attended by
the officers and members; and

W
hereas, from 1983 to
2013, Brother John W. Wrice served as Grand Master of Williams Lodge with new
vision for the organization. The Grand Lodge, subordinate lodges, chapters, and
auxiliaries procured nonprofit status. Office space was provided for the Grand
Master and Matron, expansion to the original grand lodge building was added,
and the parking lot was paved and lights added. The Masters & Wardens'
Council was created, and the Brotherhood of Grand Lodges of South Carolina was
formed with Williams Lodge; Palmetto Lodge (York Rite); King Solomon Lodge (International);
and B'Natural Lodge (Modern Free). Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, recognize and honor Williams Grand Lodge Inc. on its one
hundredth anniversary and congratulate its members for their century of service
to the State.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Grand Master Tommy Frazier and Grand
Matron Sister Constance Ferguson.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on May 6, 2026 at 11:54 AM