North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/14568
July/August 2010
The North Carolina Mason
Preservation group salutes Mt. Hermon Lodge
By Ric Carter ASHEVILLE — On May 18, the Preserva-
tion Society of Asheville and Buncombe County presented Mount Hermon 118 its Griffin Award. It is given “for stewardship in recognition of out- standing contributions to historic preservation.” Te Society held the presentation, attended by more than 100 people, at the lodge. Lee Ham- rick, Tycer Lewis, and J. R. Yarnall conducted tours of the building. Te event included a buffet and a string quartet performance organized by Ron Lambe. Te lodge building is a landmark in Asheville’s
historic downtown, a place thriving with an art, business, and tourist community. Te Masonic Temple, built 1913–1915, was designed by Rich- ard Sharp Smith, the man hired to supervise the construction of the Biltmore House. He was a Mason who remained in Asheville the rest of his life, designing several structures there, including a home for William Jennings Bryan. Not many months ago, some were predicting
the demise of the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. When the Scottish Rite abandoned the historic landmark in late 2009, even more predicted the closing. Instead of going into a death spiral, the members of Mount Hermon 118 stepped up their game, got more creative, and have more than replaced the lost income by bringing the community into their home. Tey dove into refurbishing their surround-
ings, fixing up things that had been let slide dur- ing the period when some wanted to leave the history behind. Tey began telling their story to the townspeople who shared their concept of ar- tistic community. For income, they instituted a concert series
featuring classical music and small jazz ensem- bles well suited for their spruced-up, spit-shined auditorium. Tey also made meeting areas avail- able to rent for community groups. Te Montford Park Players are a Shake-
spearean theater group well-known for their outdoor performances. Mount Hermon Lodge has signed a long-term contract with the Players to become their winter home. Te Players called the auditorium “a lovely gem of a performance space.” Te permanent home status allows them to expand their winter season to three produc- tions, adding what they are calling Montford on Broadway. Tey are even talking about creating a dinner series. All this means better visibility in the community for the lodge and serious income which will maintain their viability. All this is about being good stewards of the
gem that is their home. Tey are re-energizing the gymnasium/exercise room. Tere are even murmurings about the old bowling alley in the basement. Te old white elephant is again be- coming the active center of Asheville life that it was in its youth.
Page 5
A Shrine/blue lodge first HAMLET — History was made April 17 when Oasis Shrine held a Ceremonial at
Hamlet 532. They made 22 new Shriners. This is the first Shrine Ceremonial ever held at a Masonic lodge in North Carolina. In the front, at left, is Sam Ballard, president of Sandhills Shrine Club and master of Hamlet Lodge. On his left is Oasis Potentate Wayne King. Six of the newly made Shriners are members of Hamlet 532, Jason Root, Jim Barbee, Bill Pate, Steve Mercer, Tim Franklin, and Bill Dennis.
— Bill Dennis AMENDMENTS, from page 1
that Custodians are suggesting adding the rule to Te Code itself. Te Code gives Custodians authority over the
allowed use of the OSW. Some say the lecturers need the rules put in Te Code to enforce them. Others say it’s already there, and that Te Code is already burdened with too many redundant regulations and needs no more.
Group 2 Tis change would allow a certified instructor
to provide lecture service for a lodge. Certified instructors are qualified at a level below that of certified lecturers.
Group 3 Grand Lodge regulations currently forbid
Grand master visits VA Med Center FAYETTEVILLE — Grand Master William Dill visited the Fayetteville VA Medical Center May 19
where he was greeted by hospital staff, volunteers, and friends of the Masonic Service Association’s Hospital Visitation Program. Seen here, from left to right, are MSA Representative Claude Capps (Clifford Duel 756), Senior Grand Deacon Dalton Mayo, Director of Volunteer Services Norma Fraser, Grand Master Dill; retired MSA Representative John Lynch (Phoenix 8), and Jim Hay (Sted- man 730). The Masonic Service Association operates a program offering personal services and at- tention to patients in Veterans Administration centers across the country.
— Dalton Mayo Issue
NC Mason Deadlines Deadline
Approximate Publication Date
January/February ..........................January 1 .................................... February 1 March/April ...............................March 1 .........................................April 1 May/June ....................................May 1 ............................................June 1
July/August ...................................July 1 ..........................................August 1 September/October ....................September 1 ................................. October 1 November/December ..................November 1 ................................December 1
STATE, from page 3 South Mills
24. Tis one was a fundraiser for the Masonic Home for Children.
New Lebanon 314 held a Fish Fry April — Te Plumb Line
Swansboro
Seaside 429 made Rona Bell Riggs a Life Member March 8. The lodge held its grilled chicken fund- — Trestle Board
raiser May 15. Apex Apex 584 celebrated their centennial June 5.
A parade through downtown was planned. Te lodge is raffling a shotgun to raise char- — Trestle Board
ity donations. Cherryville Cherryville 505’s scholarship this year went
to Cody Allen Spiker. It is given in honor of James Everett Ellington. Te lodge held a clean-up day May 22. — New Out of the Blue
Southport Pythagoras 249 held their Annual Fish Fry
June 4. Tey made $2,400, one plate at a time, six dollars a pop. Tat money went to the Masonic Home for Children. Pythagoras Lodge is holding a golf tourna- ment September 18.
— Newsletter Hayesville Clay 301 member Bob Wolfersteig passed
away in June. Te goateed musician gave us back- ground music at several Annual Communications with his skills on the keyboards. — Sonoma News
Kenly Te 16th Masonic District is now holding
quarterly meetings of their masters and secretar- ies. Tey will be discussing “issues of mutual in- terest.” Te first meeting was scheduled for July 14 at Kenly 257.
— Grover Dees Fayetteville Make the best of what you’ve got. Phoenix 8 is
very near Fayetteville’s Festival Park. As with so many towns now, there is an emphasis on events to attract people to the town’s center. Tat makes the lodge a convenient parking place. Tere’s the Dogwood Festival, Alive at Five, the Blues and Brews Festival, and numerous other excuses to come to town. Now, you can fight something like that, or make the best of it. Rather than worrying about all the cars us-
ing the their property, Phoenix Lodge decided to turn a profit. Tey have volunteer crews who assemble on those dates and sell parking at the lodge. It keeps the parking orderly and mini- mizes property damage. It also proves a good ex- tra income for the lodge. Tey made more than $1,600 during Dogwood Festival this spring. Phoenix Masons take full advantage of it. Tey
enjoy each others company. Tey field questions from visitors, get to show off the lodge, and an- swer questions about the fraternity. Tey even use the time to coach candidates. — Lodge Newsletter
Raleigh Masters 754 recently hosted a visit from their
neighboring Prince Hall lodge, Wake 717. — Te Trowel
Kernersville Tey need a new roof on the lodge at Kern-
ersville 669. Tey were holding a pancake supper on June 12 to help fund the work. — Te Kernersville Masonic News
Cary Cary 198 is well known for its regular bar-
becue fundraisers. Teir spring barbecue raised almost $4,000 by moving 1,500 pounds of hams and shoulders. Tey were headed up to Oxford June 5 for their regular cookout there. Cary Lodge has installed a new metal roof — Trestle Board
on their lodge.
Archers Lodge enjoys its traditional fish fry ARCHERS LODGE — Archers 165 held their annual fish fry June 5. It is said that the event has
been held at the lodge on the first Saturday in June for more than 100 years. Despite the hot sum- mer day, the breeze was cool under the large oaks, and the fish, fixings, and home-made desserts were delicious, and the fellowship was enjoyed by all.
— Bill Chancellor LEGISLATORS, from page 8
ate include Bob Atwater, Marc Basnight, Harris Blake, Dan Blue, Andrew Brock, Harry Brown, A. B. Swindell, and Donald Vaughan. Masons in the House of Representatives include Bill Faison, Mitch Gillespie, Dewey L. Hill, David Hoyle, Dan Ingle, Darron Jackson, Johnny Love, Efton Sager, Mitchell S. Setzer, Cullie Tarlton, Douglas Yongue, and Linda Johnson (who is an Eastern Star and married to a Mason).
Senators Dan Blue and Harry Brown talk about some of the fun working on the state budget.
performing a Masonic funeral for a Mason whose is cremated if his ashes are not buried. It is one of several severe rules governing our fu- neral services, rules that many believe need to be brought into line with modern practices.
Group 4 Garland 664 believes the requirement that lodge
line officers be proficient in, that is have passed off the catechism of, the Master Mason Degree is un- reasonable. Tey say that it makes it difficult for them to find officers to serve their lodge. Tey suggest that we keep the catechism requirement for only wardens and master of our lodges. Others say that the require- ment is far from onerous and indicates an ability and willingness of a Mason to serve the lodge.
Group 5 We will revisit the use of alcohol in lodge
facilities. A number of urban lodges have re- quested that they be allowed to rent facilities to events and groups which allow alcoholic bever- ages. Numerous safeguards have been put in this legislation that should assure reasonably risk- free implementation. Lodges wishing to make such rentals would be required to amend their bylaws, get permission from the grand master, and meet stringent liability requirements. When alcohol is mentioned, some imagina- tions jump immediately to raucous partying.
But, use in Masonic rentals actually points to other realities. One lodge has a pizza restaurant as a tenant. If their town begins allowing beer sales in restaurants as is being considered, their lodge may lose their significant rental income. Recent required rejections of rentals by lodges include wedding receptions and a church which uses actual wine in communion. Nothing in the regulation would make any lodge make rentals they did not wish to make.
Group 6 Applications for membership in lodge have
long required an investigation of the candidate. An increasingly mobile society has made those investigations more involved and less complete. Law enforcement officers are not allowed to use their systems to make checks for personal or lodge purposes. Commercial criminal back- ground checks are available, but variable in cost and quality. Tis Code change, introduced by Stokes 32, would run all petitions and applica- tions through a commercial service, allowing a set and reduced rate for such investigations. Te cost would be added to lodge fees for applica- tions and petitions.
Group 7 When a Mason wants to move his member-
ship to a North Carolina lodge from outside the state, it takes some time for all the paperwork to run through the systems involved. Applications tendered near the end of the year can overlap with new dues card requirements across juris- dictions. Changes in the requirements for those time allowances should make such transfers eas- ier and more efficient. Te exact wording and changes on the amendments is in the hands of your lodge secre- tary and on the Grand Lodge web site at