The North Carolina Mason

"Humbled." Humbled is the word Past Grand Master A. Gene Cobb, Jr. used to explain his election to the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Washington, DC this past August. Every two years – at a Biennial Session – the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite convenes its Sovereign Grand Inspectors General to discuss and determine the business of Scottish Rite Masonry, much like a Grand Lodge's Annual Communication. Being a national body, the Scottish Rite meets in the House of Temple in our national capital in a building constructed to emulate the one of the great wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. (Why would the Scottish Rite build such a monument in the capital? Because Washington was built as a "new Rome," and all its architecture is based on classical design.) Illustrious Brother A. Gene Cobb, Jr., 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General (S.G.I.G), prefers to be known as Brother Gene. He is no stranger to our fraternity in the Tar Heel State. Born in Halifax County, Brother Cobb started his Masonic journey at Blackmer Lodge 127 in Mount Gilead, North Carolina. As an itinerant Methodist Minister, Cobb moved around the state, wherever his parishioners, the Church, or (most importantly) God called him to be. His vocational treks led him into many venues and participation in many lodges. He's a Past Master of both Blackmer Lodge 127 (1995) and Royal White Hart 2 at Halifax (1999). Cobb honed his leadership skills and diplomatic nature over years of service as an Eagle Scout, a church leader, and his lodges. His potential did not go unnoticed, and following a tenure as Grand Chaplain and Chairman of the Committee on Necrology, and other Masonic committees, he joined the Grand Line after the Annual Communication in 2008 and served as Grand The "Rite" Heart Gene Cobb Elected to Serve on Scottish Rite Supreme Council By Tony Rathbone, Grand Tyler E PURP OF OUR FTERNITY 22 | T H E M A S O N M AGA Z I N E

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