The North Carolina Mason

Page 14 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2020 From the Grand Historian Masonry: An ancient, honorable society By Ludwik Wodka Grand Historian Nearly all North Carolina Masons know that their Grand Lodge is styled A.F. & A.M., meaning "Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons." However, in some older lodges, there are charters that will say "Free and Accepted Masons" or even "Ancient York Masons." When and why did this change? We have no documented explana- tions for why, but we do know when. From the time our Grand Lodge was organized in 1787, it was rather unclear if North Carolina was A.F. & A.M. or F. & A.M. e proceed- ings between 1788 and 1793 stated the "Ancient and Honorable Society of Free Masons of North Carolina," and more simply "the Grand Lodge of North Carolina" after that. In the proceedings of 1816, we first see North Carolina styled as "Ancient York Masons," but does not appear again until 1821. From that point, the name was used (albeit inconsistently) until 1858, when it rather mysteriously changed to "Free and Accepted Masons." is continued until 1867, when it was changed again to "Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons," which it remains to this day. e difficult part is trying to understand why these changes were made. ere is nothing explicit in the proceedings or histories that explain these changes. Circumstances and events taking place around the time of the change offer us some clues. During the early 1800s, South Carolina Masonry had two Grand Lodges competing for supremacy. In 1809, the Grand Lodges of Virginia expressed support for the older of the two, styled the South Carolina Ancient York Masons. e other was called simply "e Grand Lodge of South Carolina." In 1809, North Carolina adopted a resolution not to interfere in South Carolina's dispute. My theory is that as time wore on, North Carolina came around to support the Ancient York Grand Lodge of South Carolina around 1816. To avoid giving the impres- sion that North Carolina was somehow sympathetic to the other grand lodge, because it was styled the same way, began to refer to itself the Ancient York Masons. e change to F. & A.M. in 1858 is far more mysterious. ere was much discussion in the proceedings of that year about how the Grand Lodge of Canada had split into two bodies as well, one being the "Ancients." At the same time, almost half of the grand jurisdictions in the United States were A.F. & A.M. (or some variation of it). It remains a rather arbitrary and inexplicable change to our name. e final change in 1867 most likely took place following the appearance of the first Prince Hall Lodges in North Carolina in 1865 and 1866, which are always styled F. & A.M. in all jurisdictions where they were formed. In order to distinguish themselves from these new lodges, "Ancient" to was re-adopted, bringing it back in line with their neighbors Virginia and South Carolina. Again, this is only In 1858, the official Grand Lodge proceedings went with- out "Ancient" in the title. The word reappeared in 1867. speculation, but given the extended commentary on the subject in the proceedings of that year, it seems highly likely. One thing does seem fairly clear; the changes in name almost certainly had virtually nothing to do with our ritual. By the time these changes began to occur, most Grand Lodges across the United States began adopting the ritual taught by omas Smith Webb, rendering any ritualistic differences between the name F.& A.M. and A.F & A.M. moot. After four major surgeries, my body was irreparably broken in some ways, many things I loved to do were no more for me. I was self-employed and unable to work, and frankly, I felt very down from time to time. But my brothers knew when to show up, always making me feel loved and worthwhile. ey rekindled the joy in my heart, and that joy remains. My brothers saved me. When I learned I needed spine surgery that would extend my rehab stay past the 100 days Medicare allowed, they were there. I had nowhere to go, and the social worker wouldn't approve my home until it was wheelchair accessible. My brethren at Sophia #767 raised the money and a brother donated his time to renovate a bathroom to be wheelchair accessible. My home lodge Derita #715 donated money for me to buy medical equipment and the supplies my wife needed to care for me, and the Grand Lodge donated money to help me pay my doctor and hospital bills. Without their generosity, I don't know what I would have done. Due to my inability to work and my wife having to quit her job to take care of me, I became financially distressed. Learning of my financial hardship, Derita, Sophia, Knights of Solomon, and Wilkerson College lodges, all without my application forgave my dues. My brethren have shown me more love and support than I ever would imagine, more than I deserve. Brotherly Love, Relief and Charity is alive and well in the Craft. I personally testify to that. ose were my third "gift." God Bless my beloved brother Masons in North Carolina. I thank God every night in my prayers and ask that someday I may have the opportunity to pay it forward. ank you, Brothers. You saved me. GIFTS from page 11

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