Mariner

Mariner Lodge No. 2 is the revival of Marine Lodge No. 2, first chartered by the Provincial Lodge of South Carolina as the Marine Lodge No.7 on December 22, 1766. Marine's name first appears in the 1766 summons of the annual St. John's Day Celebration with Bernard Beekman as its Master. Its number would become "2" as it participated in the creation of the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina. Marine Lodge was a "Modern" lodge, but sometime between 1783 and 1787, its Master travelled north and attended an Ancient Lodge. When he returned, he convinced the members to join with ancient lodges who signed a resolution January 1, 1787 to form an Ancient Grand Lodge in South Carolina. Records indicate that they met at "B. Woods, 97 Queen Street."

Marine No.2 would support the unification of the two Grand Lodges of South Carolina in 1808 to form the Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of South Carolina. It would again be labeled a "Modern" lodge when St. John's Lodge of Charleston objected to the unification and the Grand Lodge of South Carolina Ancient York Masons was revived. Marine No. 2 and all of the other Charleston city lodges, except St John's remained loyal to the Grand Lodge F & AM. The Ancient Grand Lodge then expelled all of the officers and members of the former Ancient lodges who did not return to the Ancient Grand Lodge. Of course, the final unification would take place in 1817. In 1823 Marine Lodge No. 2 was granted permission to change its name to Franklin No. 2. In 1839, it amalgamated with Union Kilwinning No.4.

By 1839, three of the five lodges that would participate in the revival of Mariner Lodge No.2 in 2000 were also in existence. Washington Lodge No. 5 was originally chartered as No. 7 in 1825 and it was incorporated with Union Lodge No. 8 to become No. 5. Friendship No.9 was originally chartered in the late 1700's. The Lodge itself divided over the union controversy of 1809 so it was not part of the final unification in 1817. It was put under dispensation in 1818 and constituted in 1819. It surrendered its warrant in 1833, but was revived December 27, 1842. LaCandeur Lodge No. 36 was chartered as No. 12 by the Grand Lodge A & FM on August 24, 1796. It practiced the French Rite. In the Union of 1808, its number was changed to No. 26. Due to the pressure on Catholic members by the Church, it surrendered its charter in 1852 and the members remaining who wanted to continue in Masonry joined Washington Lodge No. 5. LaCandeur Lodge was revived in June of 1857.

The other two lodges participating in the consolidation in 2000, Walhalla No.66 and Strict Observance No.73 were chartered in 1844 and 1850 respectively. Walhalla was originally chartered in June of 1844 for German - speaking Masons who were unfamiliar with the English language. It surrendered its charter in 1847 but the charter was quickly returned. Strict Observance was formed by members of Solomon's No. 1 in 1849 and chartered on March 5, 1850.