The North Carolina Mason

Page 12 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2021 News oF the CraFt 50 YEARS Congratulations to these 50-year Masons in NC as reported to The Mason: Eddie Adams, Andrews #529 Gene Waldroup, Andrews #529 Robert Wood, Andrews #529 Bill Bristol, Andrews #529 Charles Freel, Andrews #529 Charles Van Gorder, Andrews #529 Wilbur King Jr., Richard Caswell #705 Joe Robertson, Widow's Son #7 OXFORD – Thirty-five members and relatives of Semper Fidelis #680 visited the boys of Alumni Cottage at the Masonic Home for Children in August. The lodge adopted the cottage earlier this year. They met up at the picnic shelter to surprise the boys and bring them items the boys had said they would like for themselves and for the cottage. The lodge prepared a hot dog and hamburger lunch for all. Master Jason Caldwell and the lodge's Oxford Chairman WB Joe Reyes presented MHCO a check for $1,428. Brothers said the visit renewed their sense of obligation to our two homes, and they plan a visit to WhiteStone next year. CHAPEL HILL – University #408 Master Dace Bergen, right, in May presented Worshipful Brother Danny Ferguson, left, with a plaque and recog- nized his more than three decades of service to the lodge. Ferguson also was given the honor of closing the lodge that night. He is a four-time master of the lodge and for almost 20 years, he cooked two fellowship dinners a week for the brothers to enjoy. Josephine "Jo" Poole Pruitt, who at 105 was the oldest graduate of the Ma- sonic Home for Children, passed away in May. The Raleigh native was sent as a young girl to what was then called Ox- ford Orphanage when her mother fell ill with tuberculosis and her father died. After her graduation, she met and mar- ried Tom Pruitt. They had three chil- dren, Tommy, John, and Becca. Services were held in May in Hickory. MAGGIE VALLEY – Knights of Solomon #774 was all in at this year's Thunder in the Smokies, sell- ing hamburgers, hot dogs, and other treats to benefit the Rainbow Girls! Paul Aulbach and his band of Broth- ers were joined by Carleigh Mead- ows from Lenoir Rainbow Chapter #87. Carleigh has been selected a Grand Representative again this year for the Grand Assembly. She will be liaison to both Michigan and North Dakota this year. The Knights of Solomon Lodges are on a mission over the next couple of years to assist the Rainbow Girls in raising the required monies needed to accommodate expenses of the Supreme Council Assembly hosted by North Carolina in 2024.

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