The North Carolina Mason

Page 2 The North Carolina Mason November/December 2018 INSTALL, from page 1 Longtime lodge secretary awarded Montfort Medal A 63-year Mason who has served as lodge secretary for 57 of those years has been awarded North Carolina Masonry's highest service honor. Worshipful Brother Fred Lee Sherrill Jr., secretary of Catawba #248 since 1962, became the first brother of newly installed Grand Master Dwight "Mack" Sigmon's tenure to be honored with the Joseph Montfort medal. Montfort was treasurer of the Province of North Carolina, colonel of Colonial troops, a patriot, and ardent Freemason. Montfort was born in England in 1724 and died in North Carolina on March 25, 1776. He was a member of Royal White Hart Lodge at Halifax. His exuberance for the fraternity led to his commission as Provincial Grand Master on January 14, 1771. His commission, which hangs in the Grand Lodge in Raleigh, was granted by Henry Somerset, the fifth Duke of Beaufort and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England. During his short tenure as Provincial Grand Master, Montfort tirelessly promoted and organized the fraternity into an efficient and productive organization. He chartered at least 10 lodges, helped reorganize a half dozen more, and laid the foundation for the creation of the Grand Lodge in 1787. Grand Masters may give three Montfort medals during his tenure. Grand Master Sigmon praised Sherrill, past recipient of the Harris- Dudley Grand Secretary award, for the dedication he has shown in 63 years of service to the craft. "Some people don't even work careers as long as that," Sigmon said as he pinned the medal onto Sher- rill's chest before a packed crowd at the Old Post Office Playhouse in Newton, noting that Sherill begins his 58th year after installation on Dec. 21. Sherrill, raised in Catawba Lodge on Sept. 2, 1955, also is a past District Deputy Grand Master, and one of 50 who chartered Conover #709 in 1957, where he served as master in 1961. to the Grand Line), Leonard Y. Safrit, Douglas Caudle, Dewey R. Preslar Jr., Bryant D. Webster and Gene T. Jernigan. He said he is energized and excited about the year ahead. "As I begin this special journey, I look forward to traveling across our state serving the Masons of our grand juris- diction and encouraging each of us to reaffirm the many ritual lessons taught to us during our own Masonic journey," he said in remarks after the installation. "I truly believe that Freemasons can lead the way in teaching others how to live, act and treat each other with kindness and respect. "Each of us have obligated ourselves to a higher standard and to walk and act as such in everything we do and say. We live in divided times. I challenge each of us to be the example, to be part of the solution in making this world a better place to live and avoid being part of the problem." He encouraged all in attendance to think about the friendships that have formed for all brothers – and their fami- lies – because they are Freemasons. He said he thinks often about how he may never have met the brother so important to him had he not become involved in Masonry. "So, before you leave today, I would encourage each of you to go up to anyone you don't know, introduce yourselves and let them know that you are glad your paths crossed," he said. Fred Lee Sherrill Jr. receives the Mont- ford Medal from newly installed Grand Master Sigmon. Above, Dwight M. "Mack" Sigmon kneels for installation. Left, a new Grand Master needs a new gavel and Jack Huskey, past master of Cliffside #460, takes care of that task on behalf of brother Wayne Millis, who could not at- tend. More installation photographs on Page 15

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