The North Carolina Mason

Page 4 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2013 Masons are masters of many crafts By Ric Carter PITTSBORO — You can find Masons most anywhere. You especially notice them among skilled craftsmen. In Carr Amplifiers' small factory shop (fewer than ten employees) here, you'll find two Masons hand wiring the guitar amps much loved and respected among guitarists around the world. Dave Quick, right, and Mike Kenlan, below, are both members of Columbus 102 there in Pittsboro. Quick is 20th Masonic District deputy grand master, and Kenlan is senior warden at Columbus Lodge and a dual member in Mosaic 762 in Chapel Hill. Both are active musicians who play guitar regularly with bands in the Triangle. Kenlan is known for his work with bands Pipe and Small. Quick's Swang Brothers will be appearing during Homecoming at the Home for Children in October. Carr Amps was established by Steve Carr, a guitar player who became interested in amplifier repair. His shop now designs and hand builds high-end, custom amplifiers used by well-known musicians around the world. Ric Car ter photos Race driver salutes Shrine hospitals STATESVILLE — A special cause was featured on the No. 34 Ford of David Ragan at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last year. Ragan carried the colors of Shriners Hospitals for Children and their tagline, "Love to the rescue." Shriners Hospitals for Children provide specialty care to children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families' ability to pay. All care and services are delivered in a family-centered environment. The Huntersville resident, a member of Williams 176 there, ended the 2012 season with one top five, and two top tens. His final points standing of 28th was a team best in Front Row Motorsports short history. Another first was Front Row's first Sprint All-Star race with Ragan behind the wheel. Shriners Hospitals Chairman Emeritus Gene Bracewell said, "David Ragan has helped us in so many ways. He has visited many Shriners Hospitals and has become a hero to the children. We are so pleased and grateful that Front Row Motorsports has donated the race sponsorship to help raise awareness for the hospitals." Bike lodge visits WhiteStone GREENSBORO— On January 12, residents of WhiteStone heard the rumble of more than 25 motorcycles as Knights of Solomon 764 rolled onto campus to hold their first meeting of 2013 in the Home's fellowship hall. The traveling lodge, which received its charter in 2009 and consists of more than 90 members from all across North Carolina, select various sites throughout the state for their meetings every other month. Several WhiteStone residents joined their biker brethren for their 90-minute meeting, followed by lunch and a quick tour of the community. SANDY, from page 1 Youth visit WhiteStone The next two stops were deep within the heart of the devastation. Whole city blocks were just gone. People were walking the streets. Makeshift help centers tried to supply food and clothes to those who were homeless after the storm of the century. The smell of the sewers that overflowed into the streets hung in the air. Construction vehicles were picking up what remained of ve- hicles and houses. It looked like a third world country, instead of a borough of one of the richest cities in the world. At both stops on Staten Island, they were greeted by volunteers who helped take only items they needed from the truck. Bucket brigade lines moved supplies from the truck to distribution centers. On to New Jersey. Reports told them Little Ferry and Moonachie were hard hit. The first stop took Operation Joe to the Little Ferry Fire Department where they met three families who had lost everything to flooding. The second stop was the Moonachie Fire Station to drop the last of the load. That station had been gutted after flooding ruined the interior of the building. The only thing left was a handmade sign that read "DOWN BUT NOT OUT." The delivery day started at 5:00 a.m. and ended around 8:30 p.m. Operation Joe was complete. The stories, jokes, heartbreaking scenes, and expressions of gratitude will long live on in the minds of Operation Joe's crew. Joseph Miller says, "This operation was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences I have ever been a part of." The North Carolina DeMolay hosted a family reunion at WhiteStone to cap off the Thanksgiving weekend and prime the Advent season. More than 45 DeMolay, Rainbow Girls, parents, and advisors came to campus November 25, for an afternoon with their extended family. A Sunday service in the Chapel was conducted by Andrew Williard, master councilor of the Winston-Salem DeMolay chapter, during which he enumerated the things for which he was thankful, culminating with his membership in the greater Masonic family. Following the message, Ernestine Beal, WhiteStone resident and mother of three senior DeMolays, accompanied the group on piano as they sang Christmas carols. The Rainbow Girls brought refreshments which were enjoyed in the activity room after the service. It was a perfect way to begin the holiday season. — D. Williard Davie Lodge shares cheer AHOSKIE — Davie 39 is in their third year of delivering holiday gift baskets to their widows and shut-in brothers. Butch Hassell and Carroll Young delivered 26 baskets across a four-county area during the Christmas season. — Archie Hassell Making life a little easier 704 swipes travel gavel DALLAS — On January 14, ten members from King Solomon 704 traveled to Gaston 263 to take the 36th Masonic District Traveling Gavel. In order to claim the gavel, a visiting lodge must bring a minimum of five members. Should multiple lodges be in attendance, then the lodge with the greatest number of members present will get the gavel. Pictured from left are James W. Howell, Tom McCarthy, Frank Smith, Howard Franklin, Roger Swink, Chris Hall, Ed Becton, Scott Queen,Tim Daniels, and Bob Erwin. — Chris Hall By John Hudson SALISBURY — Andrew Jackson 576 prepares breakfast one Sunday morning each month for the homeless shelter in Salisbury. The shelter is manned by various local groups for breakfast each day. 2012 was the lodge's first year participating, and they plan to continue it in 2013. Art Steinberg got the lodge involved in the service project. John T. Hudson, 2012 master, created the Art Steinberg Community Service Award in his honor and presented the first one to its namesake. For their December 23 turn, just two days before Christmas, Grand Master Dewey Preslar was there as usual. Preslar's wife Terrie made Christmas stockings for the children spending the night at the shelter. Seen here with GM Preslar and the kids is UNC-Greensboro Junior Alex Hudson, granddaughter of 1936 Grand Master Giles Hudson. After serving breakfast and presenting stockings, the Masons went out for breakfast together as they have on each of their Sundays at the shelter. John Hudson is immediate past master of Andrew Jackson 576.

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