The North Carolina Mason

September/October 2019 The North Carolina Mason Page 11 TravelinG the tar heel state GARNER – Age is relative to a chef with hungry brothers. Brother Arnold Ai- ken, who at 96 is the oldest member of Garner #701, volunteered to cook dinner before the lodge's August stated communication and served sweet and sour pork over rice. Brother Aiken, who rarely misses a communication, also delivered the closing charge that night. GREENSBORO – A good round of golf paid off for brother and sister seniors at WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community. In early August, Fellow- ship #687 Past Master (and golf chair) Joe Hackett, right, presented a check for $7,886.52 to Whitestone Administrator Mark Lewis. Eastern Star sisters hit the tracks to visit WhiteStone I hear the train a-comin', comin' round the bend … Johnny Cash knew a good thing when he heard it, and so did a band of Eastern Star sisters who made a big day out of it recently when they decided to tour WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Commu- nity. e idea came after conversa- tion one day revealed that none had ever visited the home for seniors. About 10 sisters, accompanied by WhiteStone Ambassador Jerry Hart and Chris Richardson, NC Masonic Foundation eastern region develop- ment director, hopped Piedmont Train 75 leaving Cary and arrived in Greensboro about 80 minutes later, ready for their adventure. At WhiteStone, they were met by WhiteStone Administrator Mark Lewis and NCMF western devel- opment director Dee Blake for a tour, a filling lunch and some time just to chat and relax with residents at the senior home, including some old friends who live there. e traveling sisters from Garner are: Rose Carroll, Amzie Hamilton, Laura Hawks, Ruth Jennings, Connie Liles, Susan Matney, Betty Poole, Alice Smith, Sammy Smith, and Harriet Wright. NCMF video debuts There were some misty eyes as the new video "Keep the Promise" debuted at Annual Communication 2019. The 5-minute video, now available to all lodges, was produced by the North Carolina Masonic Foundation in honor of those brothers who have generously given to our homes – the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford and WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community in Greensboro. It also asks viewers to consider a gift to keep the homes strong and thriving, especially as the holiday season approaches and as both homes prepare for fundraising campaigns in the coming months. WB Gene Lewellyn of WhiteStone and Devante Hicks, an MHCO graduate, appear in the video that focuses on the promise Masons make at the altar to give to help those in need. Because of the generosity among NC Masons, North Carolina is one of only four Masonic states with both a children's and a senior home. The video is available for download here: https://youtu.be/adJhxsOVMhQ or search YouTube for "keep the promise" and NC Masonic Foundation. You can also see the video on the home page of the foundation's web site: mfnc.org.

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