The North Carolina Mason

July/August 2018 The North Carolina Mason Page 9 HALLMAN, from page 5 If you'd like to help shape Masonic education programs, if you're seeking leadership opportuni- ties and if you want to meet like- minded Masons around the state, consider affiliating with Wilkerson College Lodge. e officers and members will welcome your interest, energy and ideas. A new and powerful player in the education mix is the William R. Davie Leadership Academy. e academy's sessions are offered on Saturdays in each region of the state, making it accessible to more participants. It offers programs for elected and appointed lodge officers, and workshop topics include finance and budget, the art of chairing a lodge meeting, preparing for the east, and the district officer/Grand Lodge committeeman. I've seen the impact of "the art of chairing a lodge meeting" in my home lodge. It works. Programs are continuously evaluated and adapted to student needs. Registration is handled online and the cost covers materials and lunch. It takes a lot of hands to make the Davie Academy work and it, too, would welcome your involvement. e Speakers Bureau, a project of the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education, currently lists 42 speakers who are offering their services to help lodges provide programs that keep members coming back. While some speakers place limits on their travel time or mileage, every lodge in the state can find a speaker on the list who will deliver an excellent presentation. If you've developed a presentation that adds light to a lodge meeting, consider offering your services to the Speakers Bureau. e Middle Chamber, the newest offering from the Committee on Masonic Education, provides an opportunity to explore the rituals and symbols of the Craft and improve ourselves as men and Masons. Instructors are specially trained to assist each brother as he examines Masonic rituals, himself and his relationship with Deity. e four sessions include a mix of discussion, self-study and contem- plative exercises. e first class, Introduction to Masonic Allegory and Symbols, is tentatively sched- uled for Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, 2019. at class is free, and students pay for study materials in the remaining sessions. e full schedule will be published by late November. ere's more on the website under Education Resources. I encourage you to look at the Officers' Hand- book, the Lodge Self-Assessment Tool, Eight Easy Steps to a Vibrant Lodge Education Program, and the Investigation and Balloting Guide- lines. ere's material on Masonic music for our rituals and useful information for secretaries and treasurers. You can find out how to become a Certified Lecturer, how to create a legacy through your will and how to file a request for Masonic funeral rites. While some of these programs have been around for years, most of the recent offerings are the work of the Committee on Masonic Educa- tion. Past Chairman Ben Wallace and current Chairman Tony Rath- bone have been tireless leaders, and they're now fielding inquiries from other jurisdictions who want to know how North Carolina has done so much, so quickly, and so well in the realm of Masonic education. I tip my Grand Master's hat to them, to current and former committee members, and to the many other Masons who have helped ignite these programs. Masonic light in North Carolina blazes like the sun at meridian on a hot June day. Your temple awaits. What came you here to do? DID YOU KNOW? You can find The Mason on Facebook! Just link to http://bit.ly/2irdm6m or search for The North Carolina Mason. Read and post! And share your good news and charitable successes news with your fellow Masons!

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