The North Carolina Mason

Page 8 The North Carolina Mason January/February 2013 Camp Rainbow invites Masons to visit Merli porcelain is a Masonic treasure By Michael Brantley lunch at 1:00 p.m. For those wishing to stay overnight, local motels are available. Rooms are reserved under Camp Rainbow at Super 8 Motel (828) 264-4133, just call and give your name and credit card. This camp is operated to give girls and boys age 9���17 exposure to a variety of supervised activities while allowing them the chance to enjoy each other and establish lasting relationships. see RAINBOW, page 5 North Carolina���s Grand Lodge is the proud possessor of two works of art thanks to a gift from Past Grand Master Harvey Wade Smith. The Beaufort resident passed away in 1976 and served as North Carolina���s grand master 1960���1961. One is the late Renaissance painting ���The Building of King Solomon���s Temple��� by the Flemish artist Stradanus. In 1972, Smith gave the Grand Lodge a capo-di-monte porcelain grouping ���The Last Supper��� by the 20th century artist, Bruno Merli of Milan, Italy. There is a story, perhaps apocryphal, that Smith found the porcelain piece in New Orleans, Louisiana and, because of its extremely delicate condition, had it shipped to North Carolina in a taxi. This magnificent porcelain sculpture in the capo-di-monte (mountain top) 18th century rococo style originally made in the Kingdom of Naples, measures 36 inches in length, 18 inches in width, and 17 1/2 inches in height. It is based loosely on Leonardo da Vinci���s famed ���Last Supper,��� painted 1495���1498, on the refectory wall of the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in what was then the Duchy of Milan. Like da Vinci���s, Merli���s concept of the event, contrary to most other de- pictions of the last supper, is not concerned with the institution of the Eucharist, that relatively calm scene surrounding the giving of the bread and wine. Rather it is based on the passage that occurs in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 21, in which Christ says, ���Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.��� This situa- see MERLI, page 4 PAID NON-PROFIT ORG. AUTO U.S. POSTAGE In this issue of The NC Mason OXFORD, NC 27565 PERMIT NO. 56 FOSCOE ��� Nestled here in the Smokey Mountains, in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, is found Camp Rainbow for Girls and Boys. The 59 acres of fun was bought by the Eastern Star in 1953. The campus has a pool, tennis courts, a ropes course, miniature golf, and its own chapel. They have recently completed modernizing facilities. A special day has been set for you to get to know the camp. May 4 will be Masonic Fun Day at Camp Rainbow. There���ll be a barbecue NORTH CAROLINA The Mason page 1 Dozens of officers in mass installation Big installation in Guilford page 1 On the cover All three North Carolina born presidents were Masons. They are memorialized here on the State Capitol Square in Raleigh. Ric Carter photo CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Camp Rainbow to hold open house The Grand Lodge of North Carolina, AF&AM 600 College Street Oxford, North Carolina 27565 page 8 The North Carolina Mason Motorcyclists ride on for kids at Home Bikers travel to Home for Children JAN/FEB 2013

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