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The North Carolina Mason
Hertford’s Masons built a unique lodge building
By Ric Carter HERTFORD — It must happen from time
Saint John’s Day is June 26
OXFORD — Remember to make plans to
head for the Masonic Home for Children for St. John’s Day, Saturday, June 26. Tere will be tours of the Home provided by the residents, a barbe- cue and chicken lunch, a free commemorative lapel pin to the first 500 guests, and a chance to hear Richard McKenzie, one of the nation’s most respected authorities on children’s homes. It will be a great day to fellowship and see the Home and the children for whom you work so hard throughout the year. Take this opportunity to see what your charity is doing and how im- portant it is in the life of a child. Te Home is also looking for volunteers to
assist with St. John’s Day. For one or more hours they are asking people to help assist guests at the inflatable rides and in the cafeteria for lunch, or to simply provide support for guests visiting the museum. If you can help, please call the Home at (888) 505-4357 or email them at . For more information call (888) 505-4357 or visit their St. John’s Day web- site at . A complete schedule is found on page 2.
Appeal for Tennessee Relief
May 2 saw massive flooding in many parts of
Tennessee including the city of Nashville. Now that the waters have receded and damage assess- ment can be made it is very extensive. Recovery assistance is greatly needed. Te Masonic Service Association is collect-
ing funds to help our devastated Brethren and their families in this stricken jurisdiction. Tere are NO administrative fees deducted from con- tributions to this fund. All monies go directly to helping people in distress. Make checks payable to the MSA Disaster
Relief Fund and send to 8120 Fenton Street, Ste. 203, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4785.
In this issue of The NC Mason
to time. A Mason determined to visit Perqui- mans 106 drives slowiy past its address on Church Street, and turning his head looking for the lodge, drive by a block or two only to retrace the route, all the while straining to see the lodge. He finally stops in the middle of the street, star- ing past the memorials to Confederate dead and Catfish Hunter, and says, “Te lodge is supposed to be right here, but that’s the courthouse!” Te answer to the mystery is deceptively sim-
ple: Te lodge and the courthouse are the same building. From their first meetings in 1821, Hertford’s
Masons had gathered in various public and private accommodations in their hometown. In 1823, the county’s leaders had decided their courts needed better facilities. Plans were drawn for a new brick courthouse to replace the old frame one. On May 12, 1823, the Freemasons of Hertford (in the persons of Francis Toms and others) offered to build a second floor on the courthouse to serve as jury rooms and offices. Te lodge would add the extra floor at their own expense with the stipulation that the lodge be allowed a room on that floor to serve as their meeting hall. Te court officials accepted the of- fer and deeded the permission to them. Te local Masons bought the material and
built second floors on both wings of the T- shaped courthouse. Perquimans County’s is one of the three surviving Federal Period courthous- es in North Carolina. Te others are in Beau- fort and Gates counties. A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Eastern North Carolina describes it as a “simplification of the Palladian format with a pediment over the central three bays, the building has brick walls laid in Flemmish bond, fanlights over the entrance and in the pediment, and a small classical porch.” For many years, the lodge met in the front
of the building’s second floor. When the build- ing was enlarged in the 1890s, the lodge volun- tarily relinquished its space to county offices, and moved into the back section of the second floor. In a 1930s addition, one side of their lodge room was moved in to make way for a hallway to reach an addition at the rear of the courthouse. A file/photocopy room currently also serves as the preparation room for Perquimans 106. Te Perquimans County Courthouse is on the Na-
see PERQUIMANS, page 5 NORTH CAROLINA The Mason Volume 135 Number 3 page 1
Edenton lodge reaches out to their neighbor.
May/June 2010
May/June 2010
Clockwise from top, the Perquimans County Courthouse sits on the Hertford town square, the stair beside the courtroom winds up to the lodge room and offices, an 1821 gift Bible.
page 1
Lineberry brings birds and pleasure to WhiteStone.
page 4
Fellowship Lodge packs the kids in for pancakes.
Fellowship 84’s Pancake Breakfasts raise pages 8
Perquimans Lodge occupies historic space.
more than money When they raise money for their annual scholarship, the Masons of Smithfield also raise awareness of the fraternity and interest among the young families of their neighborhood. We can aim too low when looking for members, but never too young. Take a look around Fellowship’s fundraiser on page 4.
The North Carolina Mason The Grand Lodge of North Carolina, AF&AM 600 College Street
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Ric Car ter photo
Ric Car ter photos
