The North Carolina Mason

May/June 2010 TRAVELING THE tar heel state News From North CaroliNa's lodges By Ric Carter Washington Washington 675 has initiated a church visita- tion program. Tey were joined on February 21 by members of Perseverance 59 and Orr 104 for the first expedition. Tey visited Free Union Free Will Baptist Church where they heard Woody Freeze deliver a sermon about upcoming Lent. Freeze is minister at Free Union and a member of Washington 675. Te Tird Masonic District is having quar- terly district meetings nowadays. Tey were at Perseverance 59 in Plymouth April 12 and headed for Orr 104 in Washington July 12. — Te Trestleboard Kannapolis On March 6, members of Allen-Graham 695 were traveling to Charleston, South Carolina to visit an old friend, 91-year-old Kelly Ussery. Ussery, their only life member, was to be award- ed his Diamond Jubilee for 60 years member- ship. For half those years, he served as treasurer of Allen-Graham Lodge. Tey were getting a ten-passenger van to make the trip. —Randy Crainshaw Asheville Mount Hermon 118’s work restoring and reinvigorating the Masonic Temple picks up its pace. Grand Master Dill was recently excited by their plans to save the Asheville landmark. Tey have restructured some rents, rearranged the front office, put in new Internet access, installed a new lock system, and formed an Events Com- mittee to help with plans. Community concerts have already commenced, and word is that a health club is on the way. On March 13, Mount Hermon Lodge held a St. Patrick’s Day dinner and concert. Te lodge received an oil portrait of Tomas Harkins from his family. Harkins was Scottish Rite sovereign grand inspector general for North Carolina in the mid-twentieth century. — Trestle Board Columbus Horse Creek 719 is holding a social breakfast each second Saturday at the Saluda truck stop. Tey meet at 8:30 a.m. Tey have increased their dues to $30 plus Grand Lodge per capita. Horse Creek Lodge made three honorary members this past year: Oscar Harbin, Duncan Ely, and Tracy Yeltin. — Horse Creek Lodge Casar Tings are hopping at Casar 579 when it comes to helping charities — it’s lots of en- tertaining fundraisers. Tey held the Kenneth Beam Pottery drawing March 4, bringing in $500. Tey plan to go annual with this one. They have a motorcycle ride set for June 12, and are planning a golf tournament in August, and a bass fishing tournament and chicken supper. J. W. Hunt was named Casar Lodge’s 2009 — Te Trestle Board Mason of the Year. Bailey At a recently scheduled Tird Degree, Bailey 411 had visitors from eight lodges on hand to offer their help. According to their newsletter editor, “Tere was so much talent present that it could not all be taken advantage of. It was a joy to see such enthusiasm.” — Newsletter Benson Relief 431 recently decided that it was time to replace the lodge roof. Tey hustled up the $5,000 they needed for materials, got them de- livered to the lodge, and set a date for rendez- vous. On Saturday morning, March 20, a crew of 13 Masons showed up to tackle the rest of the job. By 5:30 that afternoon, their new metal roof was in place. Skill and focus got things done. — Grover Dees Cary Tere have been a couple of recent additions to Cary 198’s lodge furniture. Marcelle Ellers gave the lodge an altar Bible which had belonged to her husband Don. Kevin Johnson made a set of candlesticks for use with actual burning tapers for the lodge room. Tings at Cary, as with many other lodges across the state, are hopping this year. In the first three months of 2010, they had initiated 11 new entered apprentices and elected three more men to take the degrees. Tey were already getting in- volved in volunteering for lodge projects. Tere was plenty for them to do. Teir Spring Barbecue was set for April 9 and their charity golf tournament for April 26. Te golf tourna- ment was held in conjunction with Global Golf Consultants at Lonnie Poole Golf Course on the NC State University campus. — Trestle Board Franklin fast on May 1. Junaluskee 145 was holding it Pancake Break- — Trestleboard Charlotte On March 18, Temple 676 initiated their youngest entered apprentice with one of their youngest degree teams. Steven Seiler led a team that included three men raised just last August and two more, the lodge’s newest members, raised in March. Master Tim Counts called it the “best first degree I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing.” At their April 1 meeting, Temple Lodge was hosting Masonic Home for Children grad Eddie Dickerson. Te head of the School of Graphic Arts at the Home was to be featured speaker for the evening. — Trestle Board Excelsior 261 was having a lodge social fea- turing miniature golf on May 6. Excelsior Lodge wants to replace their “in- dented” sign with aluminum lettering. People are being solicited to buy letters at $75 each. Five coaches were working with 12 candi- dates when we read a report in Excelsior’s April newsletter. Tere’s more degree work going on around the state than has been seen in years. — Trestle Board Jacksonville Semper Fidelis 680 held an open house March 31. Fifteen men they knew were invited to din- ner. Of those, 12 attended. Seven took home pe- titions for the degrees. On April 14, they voted on four petitions and read two more. A recent educational program at the lodge pitted the past masters against the rest of the lodge in a game of Jeopardy — category First Degree. Past masters won big. Semper Fi has a family night coming up to see the Kinston Indians minor league baseball team June 12. — Trestle Board Mount Gilead Te Building and Grounds Committee at Blackmer 127 has obtained an in-depth inspec- tion of their lodge building. Te committee devel- oped a three-year plan to make needed repairs and maintenance and raise money for the projects. Phase one includes exterior drain lines, new lights in the dining hall, refurbishing the foy- er, and extensive interior and exterior painting. Tey are beginning to take pledges to replace the lodge roof in three years. Wayne Smith self-assigned a project so often overlooked in lodges. He collected, cleaned, and pressed the lodge’s past master aprons. — Blackmer Buzz Wilmington Seven members of St. John’s 1 recently head- ed south of the border to see a South Carolina First Degree. To check out the work, they visited Grand Strand 392 in North Myrtle Beach. Tey declared the ritual “significantly different.” At St. John’s Lodge’s March stated commu- nication, they presented Al Wingfield his Dia- mond Jubilee for 60 years Masonic membership. — St. John’s Lodge Greenville William Pitt 734 held their annual pancake supper fundraiser on March 27. Tey brought in $1,500 for their charities. Tomas Barnes ram rodded the event. Pitt Lodge is now online thanks to Rob Hazie’s work. Visit them at (www.willi- ampitt734.org>. —Tom Jones Winston-Salem Old Town 751 continues to sell mono- grammed clothing featuring the lodge name. Old Town Lodge’s Spring Pancake Supper was set for April 23. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge Kernersville Kernersville 669 has started a contribution fund for replacing their roof. Tey are also looking at increasing their dues by $13 and their initiation fees by $25. —Te Kernersville Masonic News Paw Creek Darrell Griffin earned praise for his work or- ganizing West Gate 738’s recent Ladies’ Night. Tey held it at Metrolina Shrine Club. West Gate’s Senior Golf Group has kicked off again for spring. If you’re interested, call Charlie Sherer. — News from the West Murphy Cherokee 146 held its annual Ramp Festi- val April 17. They were expecting 500 to visit the L&N Depot for the fundraiser. — Sonoma News Spencer On April 27, a Tird Degree was on tap for Past Masters’ Night at Spencer 543. So was a steak dinner. Spencer Lodge has scheduled their annual Back to School Pool Party for the Home for Children for August 21. — On the Square If your lodge has a newsletter for its members, make sure The North Carolina Mason is on your mailing list. Lodge newsletters are a major source of news for Masons around the state. If you don’t have one, think about starting one. Newsletters are a good way to keep your mem- bers active, happy, and informed. Te 32nd Salisbury About 80 people attended Andrew Jackson 576’s centennial celebration on January 21. On the program, Dennis Sims read from some of the early lodge minutes. Floyd Burton, master during the 1955 building of their building, told them the story of their current home. David Carmichael discussed the story of their namesake, President Andrew Jackson, a former resident of Salisbury. Grand Master William L. Dill made an appear- ance and spoke. Several members of the lodge shared remembrances of early members of the lodge. Historic memorabilia was on display. Te lobby at Salisbury Masonic temple has a new coat of paint in the lobby thanks to the March 6 labors of a sizable crew of volunteers. — Master’s Journal Fayetteville Phoenix 8 held its first table lodge March 20. Richard Hall was the speaker at the event held at Hilltop House. He talked to them about sev- eral of the lodge’s famous members of the past. Building maintenance at Phoenix Lodge has been proceeding well. They put new doors on the crawl space. A sagging roof has been repaired, and a new doorbell and alarm sys- tem has been installed. Teir monthly Masonic breakfasts continue to be well attended. Tirty-five recently attended the first Saturday meal. In April, Verne Hughes gave Phoenix Lodge three gavels. He made the gavels himself from wood taken from his boyhood home. — Lodge Newsletter The North Carolina Mason Windsor Charity 5 hosted a district meeting for the first time in years in March. Tey served dinner at the Community Building. — Charity Lodge Rose Hill Rehobeth 279 made about $1,500 on its March fundraiser feed. — Bulletin of Rehobeth Lodge Wallace Tere’s a new committee at Wallace 595 look- ing at upgrading the lodge’s kitchen equipment. — Bulletin of Wallace Lodge Black Mountain Te Emergency Services Degree Team was making an appearance at Black Mountain 663 on May 8. Tey were there to raise a Highway Patrol Trooper for Mystic Tie 237. They were holding a scholarship fundrais- er the same day, selling barbecue and baked bean plates. May 15 was a workday at Black Mountain Lodge. Some touch-up work was needed on the gutters and square and compasses. Te lodge was also looking for a good deal on a riding mower. — Te Traveling Trowel Elizabeth City Eureka 317 recently presented two Diamond Jubilee Awards for 60 years Masonic member- ship. One went to their own Marion Medford Royce Kirby and the other to their guest David E. Hilton of Hominy 491. — On the Level Greensboro P. P. Turner presented a 65-year membership award to Paul David Saville on behalf of his lodge in Florida. Te local resident is a member of Olleta-West Dade 145 in Florida. —P. P. Turner Lodge Raleigh James B. Green 735 served more than 500 plates at their spring fundraiser. Tey called it a “great success.” Te lodge has their traditional ice cream so- cials scheduled for June, July, and August. Tey also have a cookout with the Rainbow Girls coming in June. — Te James B. Green Scene Millbrook 97 is noticing there are sometimes Representatives of First Masonic District lodges present a donation to Phil John- son, chairman of the Food Bank. First District helps feed the hungry ELIZABETH CITY — Our state has more hungry people than we care to think about. Te First Masonic District has begun helping by supporting the Albemarle Food Bank. Each of the lodges in the district donated to give the Food Bank a total of $1,000 in April. Te Albemarle Food Bank, which operates in 15 counties in northeastern North Carolina, can feed four people for every dollar they bring in. Te First District is made up of Unanim- ity 7 (Edenton), Hall 53 (Shawboro), Widow’s Son 75 (Camden), Perquimans 106 (Hertford), Gatesville 126 (Gatesville), New Lebanon 314 (South Mills), Eureka 317 (Elizabeth City), and Currituck 463 (Coinjock). Seen here are, front from left, Bud Sow- ers, Mark White, Jim Carr, Jim Nash, Project Chairman Phil Johnson, and Mickey Spruill. Back: Abe Abramowski, Jim Tomlinson, Steve Cardwell, Joe Elliott, and Paul Miller. extra benefits to renting their facility. One of their tenants has been putting a topnotch shine on the dining hall floors. Millbrook Lodge held their Spring Barbecue — Millbrook Messenger April 9. Masters 754 had a popular success with their Bakeless Bake Sale last year, so once again this year, they’re not firing up the ovens. As they say, “You don’t have to shell out a lot of dough, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of bread, and there is no slaving over a hot oven. Just give what- ever you want to contribute.” Proceeds go to the Masonic charities. — Te Trowel Hickory People do notice if you do good. In Febru- ary, the Hickory Daily Record ran an article on Hickory 343’s work with the First Step Domes- tic Violence Services of Catawba County. Te lodge donated $3,000 from their fall Chicken Pie Sale to that battered women’s shelter. Te lodge was doing more charity fundraising May 1. Tat was the date of the Plez Teague Me- morial Pancake Breakfast for Masonic Charities. — Hickory Lodge Statesville Relay for Life is the well-known event that raises awareness of cancer research and treat- ment and raises money to fight the disease. Statesville 27 was taking part in the Walk at the Iredell County Fairgrounds May 21–22. In addition to walking, they were selling walking sticks/yardsticks at the event. Can’t make up your mind on breakfast or supper for your pancake fundraiser? Follow the example of Statesville Lodge and do both — back to back. They held their Pancake Jamboree from 5:00 until 8:00 o’clock Fri- day night April 9 and from 6:00 until 11:00 o’clock on Saturday morning April 10. Pan- cakes and sausage were the menu, of course. Proceeds were going to the Masonic Home for Children. Te 30th Masonic District was chartering a bus to attend the June 26 St. John’s Day celebra- tion at the Masonic Home for Children in Ox- ford. Cost was set at $30 per person. — Te Joppa Informer Gastonia King Solomon 704 is distributing child car seat labels to parents in their area. Te labels contain critical information that may be used by rescue personnel in case of emergency. — Te Plumb Line Pineville Masonic District’s Spring Picnic was set for May 1 at James K. Polk 759 in Pineville. — Trestle Board Page 3

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