The Charitable Brotherhood Lodge

   

C.B.H. Lodge Lowland, NC, photo courtesy O.B. Howerin

     During the late 1800's, there were no social programs available to help the poor, sick or widowed.  Today, government programs such as food stamps, welfare, or social security help folks in their time of need.  Across the river, in the community of Beaver Dam, Major Franklin Congleton formed the Charitable Brotherhood Lodge of North Carolina 1892.  It was his disabling injury in 1882 that compelled him to form the benevolent organization.
     The purpose of the secret, fraternal, benevolent organization was "to elevate the moral, intellectual, and physical condition" and to "visit and provide temporal aid to our sick members, bury our dead, and to give moral and pecuniary aid to widows of deceased brothers, and to assist each other in business."
     In order to be a member of the Charitable Brotherhood Lodge, one had to be a white male between the ages of 18 - 55, be of good moral character, and reasonable sound bodily health.  Candidates were rejected or "blackballed" if they received more than three black balls at the time of consideration.  Personal differences was not to be a sufficient reason for rejection.  Over time, membership qualifications changed to include believing in a supreme being and not to be engaged as a professional gambler.

Photo courtesy of O.B. Howerin

   

Photo courtesy of O.B. Howerin

      Membership grew with the inaugural organization in Beaufort County and citizens of Goose Creek Island asked to form a local lodge on the island.  In 1904, lodges in both Lowland and Hobucken were formed.  Both lodges meet initially at the Farmers Alliance Hall in Hobucken, before building their meeting places respectively.  The Charitable Brotherhood Lodge in Lowland is located where the present day Leary Cemetery is located.  It has fallen into disrepair over the years and has fell victim to time and age. The lodge at Hobucken was located on Hobucken Rd. and has since been  Some of the first members from both communities were Ben Mercer, William Henry Howerin, Harvey McKinnion, Walter Barnett, Joe Sadler, Seth Clark and Jack Lupton.

Goose Creek Island C.B.H. members roster. Photo courtesy of O.B. Howerin

There are several members on the island who have inscribed their affiliation with the Charitable Brotherhood Lodge on their tombstones. 

       With the creation of impersonal government assistance programs, membership decreased at both lodges and meetings became rare.  The Charitable Brotherhood Lodge lost its humanitarian appeal and the modern day development of social security, welfare and medicare contributed to its decline.
      It is these benevolent organizations that remind us that there has always been a need in our communities to look out for each other.  There is a uniqueness about Goose Creek Island folks.  We have all lent a helping hand to our neighbors, whether it is sharing the bounty of our gardens, stopping by a mess of fish, anonymously giving a cash gift to help defray funeral costs, or just being there in someones time of need.  The Charitable Brotherhood Lodges on Goose Creek Island is a reflection into our past of the generosity we all have for one another.  May the kindred spirits of our island ancestors live on in our lives as we continue to "look out for each other" in years to come.