The North Carolina Mason

Page 6 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2018 OUR MASONIC CHARITIES AT WORK WORK PROGRESSING ON NEW POOL Plan now to be on hand at 9 a.m. Oct. 13 for a cornerstone and dedication ceremony at the site of the new pool being built at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford! While weather and other factors, including erosion issues, have caused some delays, work is progressing at the pool. The existing pool and pool house have been demolished, the shell has been poured and tiling has begun. Timelines for completion are not definite. Once construction is complete, gifts of $500 or more will be displayed on a lighted recognition piece on the pool house – so there's still time to get your donations in! To date, roughly half of the funds have been received or pledged for construction. Please consider helping with this important project. In doing so you will make a big splash for our children! KIDS HAVE FUN AT ANNUAL PARTY The 18th Annual Spencer Pool Party went off without a hitch – and without a pool – in late August. Once again, John Hatley and the brothers of Spencer #543 and Spencer OES Chapter #31 provided a wonderful day of fun in the sun. With the absence of a pool, kids enjoyed an exciting morning filled with field activities and competitions. The sponge relay race was a splash for all, but the egg toss ended as a slimy mess for quite a few. The games of tug of war and kick ball were intense as the children worked hard to take the win for their team. Russell Ragland provided bounce houses and a rock wall, the Oxford Fire Department provided sprinkler systems for the slip-n-slides, and DJ Jay Rogers was on site to provide hours of entertainment for all. The home thanks John Hatley and his crew for the delicious lunch, beautifully designed T-shirts, and haul of school supplies that increases year after year. OLDEST ALUMNA GETS BIRTHDAY WISH Ms. Josephine Pruitt, alumnae of Oxford Orphanage Class of 1935, turned 101 in August. Her birthday wish: to return to her home and visit. Her granddaughter Heather fulfilled her birthday wish. The day was filled with stories of her youth, touring the archives, and seeing all the changes that have occurred since she last visited more than 75 years ago. Ms. Josephine smiled, laughed, and was impressed with the archives so eloquently sharing the history and the children's stories. She was also amazed at all the changes that have taken place. HOMECOMING COMMUNICATION SET Orphans #761 plans a special stated communication to kickoff Homecoming on Oct. 12 that will be conducted with Past Grand Masters sitting in the chairs. Presiding in the East will be PGM Leonard Safrit. The remaining chairs will be filled by PGM Gene Jernigan SW; PGM Dave Cash JW; PGM Dan Rice SD; PGM Dewey Preslar JD; PGM Dalton Mayo SS; and PGM Doug Caudle JS. All are charter members of Orphans Lodge. Lodge begins at 8 a.m. Andrew Jackson #756 will provide breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. in Shipman Cottage, where lodge is also held. Please consider arriving early as parking will be limited and you may need to be shuttled from the fields. Keeping it cool at the pool, welcoming visitors

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