The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2021 The North Carolina Mason Page 9 A new annual award has been established to honor the work of Blue Lodge leaders in remembrance of a beloved past grand master who made leadership his hallmark and life's work. e omas Warren Gregory Award was unanimously approved by the Board of General Purposes at its September meeting. Most Worshipful Gregory was 1998-1999 Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina. He passed away last October at the age of 74. e award will be given each year to up to three Blue Lodge Masons nominated by Masonic leaders (see rules below). No past grand masters or Grand Line officers are eligible. Applications will be available on the Grand Lodge web page, www. grandlodge-nc.org. e entry period begins Jan. 1 and ends April 15. Recipient names will be sent to the Grand Master by July 15. e proposal to establish the award noted that while MW Gregory might be well-remembered for his great laugh, his achievements speak of his strong leadership. He organized Wilkerson College and created the state's largest Masonic blood drive, but was equally well known and respected for his gifted coaching, his charity for brethren in need, and his work with struggling lodges. "Brother Tom was humble and unassuming, a family man, a great storyteller, a hunter and fisherman, a leader in his church, a Gideon, a Rotarian and a highly respected member of the business community. "As grand master he wielded his authority with grace always, and with steel when necessary." He took on some difficult tasks during his tenure. "ough he might have ignored or down- played the racial issues that were simmering among the Craft, he met them head-on and took the heat – at times vituperative and ugly – and faced his opponents with patience and grace. "At the end of his term, he thanked his friends for standing by him and thanked his foes for making him a better man and Mason, remarking that 'over these last 12 months, this ashlar got a bit smoother.'" As a past grand master, he rarely wore the apron and jewel of the office. At the Annual Communica- tion he preferred to tie on a white apron and sit offstage and on the level with his brothers. In 2015, the Grand Lodge declared Aug. 15 "omas W. Gregory Day" and saluted the "honor of the sacrifices and dedica- tion of that outstanding past grand master; a man of vision and tolera- tion, who turned the other cheek and gave brotherly forgiveness in the face of stringent attack and misunderstanding; who blazed a new trail for our fraternity, awak- ening it to the 21st century." A delegation of past grand masters, grand line officers and Masonic leaders from across the state filed into Statesville #27 to surprise Tom and pay tribute to the man who gave so much to his beloved Craft. omas Warren Gregory Masonic Leadership Award Entry Rules The Thomas Warren Gregory Masonic Leadership Award is presented annually to up to three NC Masons who embody Blue Lodge Masonic Leadership. Examples of Leadership: Consistent and demonstrable Blue Lodge leader- ship with an emphasis on servant leadership is paramount to this award. Some examples of this type leadership include but are not limited to: Lodge turnaround, Lodge engagement, fundraising for Masonic charities, coaching of candidates and officers, community outreach, or other Blue Lodge leadership. Eligibility: Any North Carolina Master Mason with a minimum of five years' service in a Blue Lodge leadership capacity. Ineligible: Any Past Grand Master or NC Grand Lodge Line Officer. The award will consist of a handsome plaque, medal, lapel pin, and nameplate added to a perpetual plaque on display at the Grand Lodge office. The award will be presented at each annual communication by a Gregory family member, past recipient, or the Grand Master. Who may nominate: Lodge Masters, District Deputy Grand Masters, District Deputy Grand Lecturers, Grand Lodge Line Officers, and Past Grand Masters. The application form for this award will be available via the Grand Lodge website. Applications will be received from January 1 to April 15 each year for consider- ation of that year's award. The application will be a form that will include general information about the candidate, i.e. Lodge information, dates, etc., and an area for an essay type description of the applicant's demonstrable leadership qualities. Selection Committee: Consists of five NC Masons as appointed by the Grand Master. Their terms will be for five years with the Grand Master appointing one member each year as well as any unexpired term vacancies. The initial committee members by random draw will serve five-, four-, three-, two- and one-year terms. Meeting Times: The selection committee will meet beginning in April each year to review submitted nominations. The committee will appoint a Chairman each year whose duties will include: ❍ Determining the location and format of each meeting ❍ Calling subsequent meetings as needed for application review ❍ Casting the deciding vote for any ties ❍ Submitting the name of the winner(s) to GL staff and the Grand Master in a timely manner so that awards can be printed and engraved. The recipient(s) will be submitted to the Grand Master by July 15 each year. New award honors Lodge leadership GREGORY couch potato. If you find yourself in any of those categories, be active – and careful – as things open up more and more. Get out and do some light exercise with slow, short walks. Gradually, you will pick up your old pace and distance. There are many exercises we can do at home in our own time without having to join a gym or pay for a trainer. The key thing is to get up and get to moving. Take care of yourself and continue to be safe while following the necessary guidelines. Get out and support your lodge as the pandemic has taken a toll on attendance if you feel safe in attending. Just refrain from all the hand shaking and close contact. Remember the three Ws: Wear a cloth mask Wait six feet apart Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer By Rick Patton, Co-Chair

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