The North Carolina Mason

Page 8 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2013 Wayne Lodge bids welcome home to a treasure Bill Riggan photos PAID On the cover Everyone is in position here for the opening of Annual Communication. Ric Carter photo The Mason CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Lodge news from around the state The Grand Lodge of North Carolina, AF&AM 600 College Street Oxford, North Carolina 27565 page 3 The North Carolina Mason Asheville Masonic Temple is celebrating 100 years NORTH CAROLINA page 1 (DDGM-13) as deputy grand master, Raymond L. Bragg as senior grand warden, Bradley E. Grissom as junior grand warden, W. Nathaniel Sandling as grand treasurer, Grand Secretary T. Walton Clapp III, Andrew A. Dudash as senior grand deacon, Zachary S. Grissom as junior grand deacon, Grand Marshal Speed Hallman, see 123, page 5 2013 FRANKLINTON — A number of Grand Lodge officers joined Grand Master Dewey Preslar here Saturday, June 22 to dedicate the cornerstone of the new home of Franklinton 123. After many years on an upper floor of a commercial building downtown, Franklinton Lodge has built a new home on Mason Street here. Taking the parts in the ceremony were Grand Master Dewey R. Preslar Jr., Ryland E. Grissom page 1 Annual Communication was held in September side of the facility. They were hosting an open house for Masons, their families, and the community at large Saturday and Sunday, September 14–15. They were offering light refreshments and family entertainment. — Thomas S. Barto Franklinton Lodge in new home OXFORD, NC 27565 PERMIT NO. 56 NON-PROFIT ORG. AUTO U.S. POSTAGE In this issue of The NC Mason MAIDEN — Maiden 592 is happy and proud to celebrate the final completion of their lodge on West Maiden Road. It is the culmination of an effort begun in 2003 with the sale of their previous location on Main Street in downtown Maiden. The intervening years included planning, setbacks, building, raising funds, and finally, completing the process debt-free. Completion came this summer with the final inspection of the last phase of construction, culminating with a Certificate of Occupancy for both the lodge side, for which they held a temporary permit of occupancy since August 2011, and the kitchen and dining hall SEP/OCT see CHAIR, page 4 The old, but newly rejuvenated, officer chairs. Maiden finally at home Asheville Temple begins centennial celebration ceremony held here in March. Grand Master Dewey Preslar Jr. and other dignitaries joined the lodge for the dedication of ornate officer chairs being put on display in the lodge. After the Civil War, Wayne Lodge relocated to Goldsboro and for years rented several facilities. In 1867, the lodge moved to Privettes Hall. From there, they sent 100 letters to northern lodges asking for financial assistance to secure a more permanent location. Surprisingly, one week later, a $100 contribution came back from Dibble and Worth Company in New York. In 1869, the lodge decided to celebrate St. Johns Day with a family trip. The lodge voted to charter a train from the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad to convey its members and guests to Morehead and Beaufort for an overnight beach retreat. Renting the train cost $200. They charged men two dollars and women and children one dollar each for tickets. That included the train ride, meals, lodging, and entertainment. They departed on June 24 and returned on June 25. The minutes of the lodge do not say how many people went on the trip, however, they do reflect a profit of $145.80. They spent that money on new chairs for the master's station in the lodge. Some 30 years ago, those chairs were loaned to Harmony 340 in Pikeville. Those were Harmony's primary officer chairs until recently. An insurance appraisal convinced all that the chairs should be restored and returned to their previous home. Mayo elected grand master GOLDSBORO — In 1846, in the Everettesville community just south of Goldsboro and the Neuse River, Wayne 112 was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. Eighteen years later, Sherman's troops came to Goldsboro and destroyed the little community. Their original minutes lost forever in the conflagration, the current minutes on hand began just a few weeks after the war was over, and the troops left Goldsboro. There begins part of the story leading to a Ric Car ter photos By Rick Pridgen

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