The North Carolina Mason

July/August 2021

North Carolina Mason

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The Mason O!cial Publication of e Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina Volume 146 Number 4 Oxford, North Carolina July/August 2021 NORTH CAROLINA ■ see LION & PILLAR, page 2 By Beth Grace Mason Editor Excellence: A quality or talent that is unusually good, that surpasses ordinary standards. A word derived from the Latin excello, meaning to elevate, to exult, to raise. For lodges around North Carolina, the word "excellence" is a word brothers know well and strive for on a regular basis. And since 2017, every year around this time, it's a word that appears on a certicate given to lodges that meet or surpass the stringent requirements needed to win designation as a Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence. is year, 19 lodges have been honored; 13 of them reaching platinum status – a level reached by adding approved activities above and beyond the standard L&P criteria. at's not a bad showing, considering these lodges achieved their goals during a global pandemic that shuttered lodges and cancelled fundraisers and other good works for more than a year, says Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Gene Cobb. MW Cobb steps down this year as head of the program he conceived and launched in 2017. He has groomed and put in place a committee of brothers who will take the lead on the program going forward. "I am so pleased that this program has taken o as it has," he said. "I honestly never thought it would last more than a couple of years. But as we learned, we changed things and made it better. Now, we have a new team in place to help this last longer than we ever could have hoped." Here is the new team: XEast: Jason Caldwell (Semper Fidelis #680) and Marty Hunt (Ashlar #765). XCentral: Raul Herrera (Eagle #19) and Albert Hopping (William G. Hill #218) XWest: Chris Canipe (Cleve- land #202) and Michael Wright (Statesville #27) e requirements for L&P 2022, which includes a new Grand Master level of honors, have been released to lodges and are posted on the Grand Lodge Web page as well as in this issue of the Mason. e Grand Master level will change every year – based entirely on the goals each new Grand Master announces in his acceptance speech at Grand Lodge. It's not easy to take honors within the program. It takes time, eort and plan- ning to meet the requirements of the ve categories. "is is all about pursuing excellence," Cobb said. "It's not just about checking o boxes. Most of the requirements are things lodges should be doing regularly anyway. And they are all geared to make the lodge, the brethren and Masonry stronger." A sampling of the work achieved by this year's winners show that lodges took on technology with gusto. To be honest, they had to if they were to maintain communications during the pandemic shutdown. But these lodges did more than learn how to make a Zoom call. ey managed to buy and install some new equipment – from a basic wireless router to cameras and the higher tech needed to host a district meeting during Annual Communication – the rst-ever virtual Grand Lodge in history. Our lodges may be more connected than ever before, as a result! One lodge connected a brother in need with the Fraternal Friendship Program, a Mason-run Outreach program that oers short-term help and resources to senior brothers and Eastern Star sisters in their own homes. A few lodges did home repairs for widows of brothers who have passed and some held dinners for widows and for local veterans. Page 6 The North Carolina Mason July/August 2021 July/August 2021 The North Carolina Mason Page 7 R oar ahead on your lodge's quest to qualify for the Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence Award for 2022! You can identify new or changed requirements by looking for the RED type. Notice the boxes † to the left of each item. Use them like a scorecard to check o! what you've accomplished this year. is year in Categories 1, 2 & 3 in the event of Pandemic, natural disaster or other extenuating circumstances, contact the Lion and Pillar Committee no later than April 15th of the ensuing year and request special dispensation. e Chair of the Committee will respond for the Committee after consultation. Application deadline is June 30, 2022. 1. Implement the Lodge System of Masonic Instruction as a subordinate lodge or as a district, with participating lodges receiving credit. DDGMs will certify lodge participation. 2. Host a speaker from the Grand Lodge Speaker's Bureau, a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education, a faculty member from Wilkerson College, a faculty member from the Davie Academy or a faculty member from the Middle Chamber for a program at a stated communication. 3. Have a deacon graduate from Wilkerson College. 4. Have a member complete a Davie Academy session. 5. Have a member complete a Middle Chamber session. 6. Establish a Masonic Book Club for the lodge and have members regularly provide a review and/or personal reflection of a book on Masonic Ritual, Symbolism, or Philosophy. 7. As a regular part of the stated communication of the lodge, have a member read a portion of the ritual, invite the brethren in attendance to contemplate and discuss what it means, and encourage them to consider it at a deeper, more personal level. 8. Document three lodge members viewing videos if produced by The Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education, Wilkerson College, Davie Academy, or Middle Chamber and posted or approved by the Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence Committee. CATEGORY 1 EDUCATION ÝÝÝ COMPLETE 3 OF 8 ITEMS † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † CATEGORY 3 PHILANTHROPY COMPLETE #1, #2 AND TWO OF REMAINING 9 1. Make a donation and send a copy of your check or receipt to ALL THREE following Masonic Charities of any amount a. North Carolina Masonic Foundation b. WhiteStone, A Masonic and Eastern Star Home c. Masonic Home for Children at Oxford 2. Document a contribution to a charity of your choice IN YOUR COMMUNITY 3. Host a North Carolina Masonic Foundation development officer for a program at a stated communication, 4. Attend or host a program that includes a NCMF, MHCO, or WhiteStone develop- ment officer for a program 5. Document at least three members of your lodge visiting the campus at Oxford or Greensboro, taking a tour of the home, and making contact with at least one resident. Documentation should include photographs. 6. Assist a brother or his widow in getting financial assistance from the MESH LLC Outreach program (336-601-5593). 7. Contact the Masonic Home for Children and agree to sponsor a cottage for Christmas, a summer trip, send birthday cards throughout the year, or offer another service as directed by the MHCO.** 8. Contact WhiteStone and agree to sponsor a resident receiving financial assis- tance for a minimum of 1 year. ** 9. Document three lodge members viewing videos if produced by NCMF, MHCO, and WhiteStone: posted and approved by the Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excel- lence Committee. 10. Present, participate, or donate to a scholarship to a High School or College Student as a lodge sponsored through the NC Masonic Foundation. 11. Be creative. Request approval for your idea in this category from the Lion and Pillar Team. ** The Masonic Home for Children and WhiteStone will provide the lodge with the information related to the financial obligations necessary to complete this item. ÝÝÝÝ 1. Recognize veterans at every meeting. 2. Organize a lodge visit to veterans in a nursing home. 3. Visit veterans in a VA hospital in Salisbury, Fayetteville, Durham or Asheville. 4. Have a Masonic Education on Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA) Hospital Visitation OR volunteer in a VA hospital/clinic 5. Host a member of the National Sojourners for a program. 6. Hold a Masonic education program on the MSANA's Disaster Relief initiatives or contribute to the Disaster Relief as a lodge. 7. Host a meal for veterans and active military personnel at your lodge separate from a regular stated meeting. Include non-Masonic veterans, active military personnel, and local high school youth/JROTC interested in military careers at this event. 8. Support a "Wreaths Across America" or similar veterans projects. 9. Document three lodge members viewing videos produced by MSANA regarding VA Hospitals, National Sojourners, and the George Washington National Memorial in Alexandria and posted or approved by the Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence Committee. 10. Participate in a visible community-wide Memorial or Veteran's Day observance or remembrance program. 11. Be creative. Request approval for your idea in this category from the Lion and Pillar Team. CATEGORY 2 PATRIOTISM COMPLETE #1 AND 4 OTHERS † † † † † † † † † † † ÝÝÝÝÝ LION & pillar 2022 CATEGORY 5 AFFILIATED CONNECTIONS ÝÝÝÝ COMPLETE 4 OF 12 ITEMS CATEGORY 4 MASONIC MEMBERSHIP ÝÝÝÝÝ COMPLETE #1 AND FOUR OF REMAINING 14 ITEMS 1. Contact no less than 50% of your inactive members, a minimum of once per year, either by voice contact via phone (voice messages do not count) or an in person visit. Provide a list of names and dates when contacted. [An inactive member for this purpose is any member who has not attended a meeting within a twelve-month period.] 2. An appreciation dinner for lodge families and widows. 3. Identify and contact widows, by phone or visitation, at least two (2) times prior to June 30, 2022. Provide any assistance they may need and record the nature and outcome of the outreach. *See calling tree sample or contact Lion and Pillar Team* 4. Grow the Masonic family by having at least one lodge member join the York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, Order of the Eastern Star or Amaranth, or contribute to the formation of, or support for existing DeMolay or Rainbow Girls organizations in your lodge or district. 5. Have your Lodge Secretary validate full use of the Grand Lodge approved database: currently MORI. *Counts as Three Credits* 6. Confirm valid email addresses, phone numbers, and occupation information in MORI for at least 75 percent of lodge members. 7. Adopt and use the Our Lodge Page function in MORI. Hold a Masonic education program to explain OLP to members. 8. Help plan and participate in a district-wide event such as a fundraiser for Masonic charities, a Masonic education event (not including a School of Instruction, Lecture Service or Grand Master district meeting), a district-wide degree, a district-wide funeral service, a district- wide fellowship dinner with Masonic education speaker, or a district-wide community service project. 9. Engage new brethren at the lodge or district level. Form an Under 5-degree team consisting of Masons with less than five years in the craft or require new members to deliver papers or Masonic education programs within three months of raising. 10. Plan an observance of the Feast of St. John the Baptist on or near June 23 as a lodge or a district, with a meal and Masonic speaker. Submit your event announcement, flyer, or other advance event publicity to qualify. 11. Host a member of the Grand Lodge Masonic Renewal Committee for a program. 12. Implement an "innovative" use of technology in the lodge. For purposes of the Lion & Pillar award, "innovative" is defined as utilizing any form of technology that is not presently in use in the lodge. For example, if a lodge does not currently use a laptop and projector for presentations in the lodge, adding and using those items will constitute an "innovative" use of technology, since it will be new to the lodge. 13. Attempt to contact all "unfinished work " from the prior 3 years, determine why they have not continued, and report findings as part of the final application materials for the Lion & Pillar award. 14. Attend a Masonic and/or Eastern Star function at Camp Gray Rock. 15. Host a member from the Lion and Pillar Team for a program at you lodge. 1. Host an appreciation meal for local firefighters, police officers, and/or rescue personnel/EMT's as a district or lodge. 2. Hold a lodge Open House and invite the community. 3. Contribute a minimum of $5 per member to support a charitable cause in your local community. 4. Participate in a Habitat for Humanity program in your community by providing labor to support one of their projects. Donations only do not count towards this item. 5. Partner with a local public school on literacy. Read to students, contribute to a school library or book drive, or establish a Bikes for Books-type reading reward program as a lodge or district (www.masoniccharitablefoundation. org/programs/Masonic-bikes- books/). 6. Utilize the MHCO Print Shop for printing requirements in your lodge or a District event coordinated by your lodge. 7. Sponsor a Blood drive in your community. 8. Sponsor a cooking team for the MHCO Homecoming Festival or the Masonic Carolina Pig Jig ( www.carolinapigjig.com ) 9. Sponsor a youth organization (Little League, Soccer, Volleyball, etc.) in your community. 10. Support a School Project, "Stuff the Bus", "Backpack Program for summer food support to the needy" or other similar programs. 11. Present a scholarship to a High School or College Student as a lodge or part of a district effort. If this is done through NCMF, automatic credit is given here. 12. Be creative. Request approval for your idea in this category from the Lion and Pillar Team. † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † To apply, submit the official application or write a letter of application listing the items your lodge chose to complete. Provide details about your lodge's performance on or plans for completing each selected item. Send your applications to Info@lionandpillarnc.org Recipients will be notified by Aug. 1, 2022, and will be recognized during the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. PLATINUM LEVEL To earn the Platinum award, you must complete one of the five choices below, after first qualifying for the Lion and Pillar Grand Master's Lodge of Excellence Award on the prior page. The application deadline is June 30, 2022. 1. Starting July 1, 2021, and prior to June 30th, 2022, a member or the installed senior deacon gives his first-ever Fellow Craft Degree lecture. This can be accomplished in his own lodge (preferable) or at another lodge within his district if his lodge experiences no such degree work during the qualifying period or by documentation with the District Deputy Grand Lecturer. 2. Starting July 1, 2021, and prior to June 30th, 2022, a member of your lodge conducts his first-ever Masonic graveside or memorial funeral service. This also can be accomplished in his own lodge or at another lodge within his district if his lodge experiences no such requests during the qualifying period or by documen- tation with the District Deputy Grand Lecturer. 3. Starting July 1, 2021, and prior to June 30th, 2022 confirm 5% of all current lodge members are signed up for a recurring monthly gift to MHCO (https://my.simplegive.com/App/Giving/mhco) or MESH LLC (https://www. liveatwhitestone.org/donate/). Note that recurring gifts DO also count toward Category 3, Item 1. 4. Starting July 1, 2021, and prior to June 30th, 2022, participate, as a lodge, in a public ceremony, which brings Freemasonry to the public view and attention. Examples include public cornerstone laying, public building dedication, etc. Past events that would count toward this item include the 2015 rededication of NC capitol building, the 2016 Vance Memorial rededication, the 2017 rededication of Raleigh Presbyterian Church, Halifax Day, or Masonic Unity Events that are public and approved by the Lion and Pillar Team. 5. A member of your lodge becomes a Certified Instructor or Lecturer, is recertified, or receives a 10-, 25-, or 50-year recognition for certification. Page 6 COM NEW level! Pounce on this new level of the Lion and Pillar Award: The Grand Master Lodge of Excellence Award. To achieve this level your lodge must com- plete the required items in categories 1-5, plus one extra in each category. And you must accomplish goals announced by the incoming Grand Master at the 2021 Annual Communication. s Take a bite at lodge excellence Lion & Pillar winners announced as 2022 requirements revealed; third level added 2021 WINNERS PLATINUM LEVEL Lux Libertas Lodge #772 Semper Fidelis #680 Fuquay-Varina #258 Eagle #19 Thomas M. Holt #492 Zion #81 Kenly #257 Ashlar #765 William G. Hill #218 Cannon Memorial #626 Mingo #206 Bula #409 STANDARD LEVEL Shallotte #727 Cleveland #202 Wilmington #319 Guilford #656 Oxford #122 Corinthian #230 Hibriten #262 find the complete list of 2022 requirements on pages 6-7

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