The North Carolina Mason

T he Code allows the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina to award up to three Joseph Montfort Medals, and outgoing MWGM Kevan Frazier has chosen the maximum to receive the highest honor a North Carolina Mason can receive. His recipients for 2023 are: Dwight "Mack" Sigmon, who was installed as MWGM of North Carolina in 2018; Daniel L. "DT" Thompson, who was elected the state's MWGM of Prince Hall Masons F&AM in 2018 and continues in that capacity; and Steven A. Campbell, who has served as the Grand Lodge's Grand Historian four times. The Montfort has been awarded since 1940 and is given at the Grand Master's discretion to a deserving Master Mason because of distinguished service or achievement. Joseph Montfort was Treasurer of the Province of North Carolina, Colonel of Colonial troops, a patriot, and ardent Freemason. Born in England in 1724, Montfort was a member of Royal White Hart Lodge No. 2 at Halifax. His exuberance for the fraternity led to his commission as Provincial Grand Master – Grand Master of Masons in North America – on January 14, 1771. He died in North Carolina on March 25, 1776, and is buried at Royal White Hart No. 2. Sigmon, 72, was initiated, passed and raised in Catawba No. 248 in 1975, and it remains his home lodge in addition to four others in which he holds membership. He was appointed to the Grand Line in 2011, and was elected the 166th Grand Master of North Carolina AF&AM on Dec. 1, 2018. Montfort Medal Recipients 2023 By Thomas A. Pope, Jr. Photos courtesy of Mike Harding/Genesis Photography Grand Master Kevan Frazier (left) and Daniel "DT" Thompson (right) 28 | T H E M A S O N M AGA Z I N E

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