T h e m i s s i o n o f f r e e m a s o n r y i n n o r T h C a r o l i n a i s T o r a i s e T h e m o r a l, s o C i a l, i n T e l l e C T u a l, a n d s p i r i T u a l C o n s C i e n C e o f s o C i e T y b y T e a C h i n g T h e a n C i e n T a n d e n d u r i n g p h i l o s o p h i C a l
TeneTs
of broTherly love, relief, and TruTh, whiCh are expressed ouTwardly Through serviCe To god, family, CounTry, and self under The faTherhood of god wiThin The broTherhood of man.
The Mason
NORTH CAROLINA
(USPS 598-260) is published bimonthly by e Grand Lodge of AF & AM of North
Carolina, 2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608.
ird class postage paid at Oxford, NC 27565.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to e North Carolina Mason, School Of Graphic
Arts, Masonic Home for Children, Oxford, NC 27565.
Grand Master
Dalton W. Mayo
Board Of Publication
John A. Pea (Chair)
Don E. Bolden
R. Kevin Combs
C. omas Nelson Jr.
John A. Sullivan
Editor
Ric Carter
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Reproduction of articles
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tions is permitted with
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Opinions expressed
are not necessar-
ily those of The North
Carolina Mason, the
Grand Lodge, or Board
of Publication.
Page 2 The North Carolina Mason May/June 2014
From the editor's desk
RALEIGH — e Grand Lodge awarded eight scholarships
this year. e $1,000 scholarships go to North Carolina high
school seniors who are college bound. e selection committee
commented on the large number of outstanding candidates. If
you want to feel good about our future and our young people, just
talk to members of the committee that chooses the winners of
these scholarships.
is year's awardees are Alaina B Dennis, Statesville, North
Iredell High School; Haley C. Shore, Landis, South Rowan High
School; Alexander J. M. Anderson, Burlington, Walter Williams
High School; Nicolas C. Munsen, Raleigh, NC School of Sci-
ence and Math; Tyler C. Forrister, Murphy, Hiwassee Dam High
School; Peyton L. Hartis, Leland, North Brunswick High School;
Zoë L. Huppert, Ocracoke, Ocracoke School; Rachel S. Lempp,
Greensboro, Ragsdale High School.
If you know a graduating senior who could use some college
help, applications for the scholarship are posted on the Grand
Lodge website early each year. ey are usually due in mid-March.
GREENSBORO — On Saturday, May 10, Tommy Jones,
once WhiteStone administrator, joined an exclusive list of past
grand masters, grand matrons, former administrators, long time
board members, and donors who have had a building at the Ma-
sonic and Eastern Star community named in their honor. After
his retirement, Jones dedicated much of his time to the Chapel
while serving as the Home's chaplain. It was fitting that the his-
toric worship center, built in 1941 with funds from the Eastern
Star, be named the Tommy L. Jones Chapel. e naming ceremo-
ny capped off the community's Annual Family Day celebration
and was attended by residents, family, staff, friends, board mem-
bers, and neighbors. ey came together to honor a man who has
given so much to the community for over three decades.
Jones was one of five siblings born in a cotton mill village in
Belmont, NC. Upon the death of his father in 1937, he along with
two sisters moved to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford.
He and his sister, Edith, are the only surviving members of his
immediate family.
After graduating from East Carolina University in 1958, he
was employed by the Roanoke County School System in Roa-
noke, VA. For the next 23 years he served as coach, teacher, and
principal. He got his master's degree from Radford University and
continued studies toward a PhD at the University of Virginia.
During his time as a teacher, he married Jill Waldron Jones.
ey have a daughter, Laurie Anne Stanly, son-in-law Mark
Stanly, and two grandchildren, Devin and Tessa.
In 1981, our Masonic and Eastern Star Home welcomed
Tommy as administrator, where he was much loved and remained
in the role for 13 years. He moved to the Masonic Home of Vir-
ginia in 1994 and became the administrator for the next six years.
In 2002, the Masonic and Eastern Star Home welcomed Tommy
back with open arms, this time as its chaplain, where he continues
his faithful work to this day.
e naming ceremony celebrated Jones' life's work and tre-
mendous impact on his beloved community in Greensboro. Exec-
utive Director Mark Kolada addressed the crowd. Other speakers
thanking Jones included WhiteStone resident Martha Whitlock,
resident Gene Lewellyn, Board Chairman PGM Gene Jernigan,
and past Director of Nursing Ella Payne. Music was provided by
resident Nancy Ghent. Brother Tommy was given a framed artist
rendering of the chapel as well a replica of the naming plaque that
now is prominently displayed on the front of the Chapel.
WhiteStone names chapel
for longtime friend
Jones is seen here, center, with PGM Jernigan, left, and GM Mayo, right.
House Parents Needed
By Kevin Otis
OXFORD — e Masonic Home for Children at Oxford
is currently home to fifty-six children and youth. eir care and
development needs are fulfilled by the dedication of house par-
ent couples. House parents make sure the children are ready for
their structured day; whether it is a school day, they have chores
or homework, or it is a day filled with activities to help them
learn and grow. MHCO is in need of house parent couples to
become employees and begin a wonderful career of providing
for children in a family centered model of care. In doing so,
house parent couples prepare meals with the children's support,
provide transportation needs, coordinate cottage schedules and
activities, process events and incidents, and provide a model for
being a family. Being a house parent couple takes a special com-
mitment from families to open their lives and become part of a
cottage family environment.
e job requires both house parents to be MHCO employees,
have at least a high school education, be twenty-one years of age,
and possess a clean driving record. Both employees must com-
plete a background check and drug screening. Both will receive a
competitive wage based on experience and education. Benefits are
included. Couples work approximately twenty days on and receive
ten days off. Housing support is available.
I cannot say what family system works best in this role. We
have had young couples, mature couples with children, and retired
couples all do a wonderful job and have fulfilling careers. I will
say that this job works very well for the "right family, at the right
time in their lives." It is a rewarding career to be able to say your
job involved helping children have a chance at a better life. If you
know someone who would be interested, please have them visit
our website at or email our HR coordi-
nator at .
MHCO is a great place to be a kid and a great place to be an
employee. Consider becoming part of our team.
Kevin Otis is administrator of the Masonic Home for Children at
Oxford and a member of Oxford 122.
Grand Lodge
scholars announced
CLINTON — Edwin Craig Howard of
Coharie 379 is the latest recipient of North
Carolina's highest Masonic award, the Joseph
Montfort Medal. Grand Master Dalton W.
Mayo made the presentation May 21 at his fi-
nal district meeting. According to Grand Master
Mayo, "Craig is very knowledgeable about Ma-
sonic ritual and could always be counted on to
fill most any part of the degree work. He is a man
with a kind and generous heart and is highly re-
spected by all who know him. He was an obvious
choice for the Joseph Montfort Medal, and his
brethren have expressed great satisfaction that
he has received this well-deserved recognition."
Howard, a 50-plus-year Mason, was district
deputy grand master of the old 15
th
District
1987–1990. He served on the Grand Lodge Fi-
nance Committee 2005–2008. He and his wife
Sarah reside in Salemburg.
e Montfort Medal is the highest honor
presented by our Grand Lodge. It is given for
"distinguished Masonic service or achievement."
A grand master may present only three during
his tenure.
Howard awarded Montfort
RALEIGH — Jonathan Underwood has
been named assistant to Grand Secretary T.
Walton Clapp III. He began work June 1.
Underwood was born November 27, 1980
to Dr. and Mrs. Steven Forrest Underwood
in Sanford. He is married to Jennifer Buck-
ner Underwood. ey have two daughters, Ali
three years old and Anna six months.
Underwood attended Lee County Schools.
He received history degrees from the University
of North Carolina at Greensboro (bachelors) and
North Carolina State University (masters).
He comes to the Grand Lodge after eight
years as director of the Stanley County Mu-
seum in Albemarle. He took his degrees in Al-
bemarle 703 in 2009 where he is currently ju-
nior warden. He is also a member of Wilkerson
College 760. He served on the Grand Lodge
225
th
Anniversary Committee and is chairman
of the Grand Lodge Library Committee and
Committee on Unfinished Business.
Grand Secretary Clapp says, "Jonathan is a
quick learner and already has a good grasp of
how Masonry works. He's good with people.
He's going to be a real asset to the office. We're
especially looking forward to using his skills to
bring our Grand Lodge Library and Museum
along to next level."
Ric Carter is retiring from his position as
assistant, but will continue to edit e North
Carolina Mason and manage Grand Lodge
media. He will be spending much more time
with his recently retired wife Kitty in their
creekside home in Washington, NC.
Carter says, "Walt has found a really great
young man to come in here to help him. People
are going to enjoy Jonathan. I have so much ap-
preciation for the relationships I've developed
working in the office, and I'm sure I'm going to
miss the encounters there. I really think Jona-
than will enjoy them as much as I have, and so
will those who call in daily for help."
"As for me, I'll be chasing some photo-
graphic projects, and I've already told Kitty
that I want a lifetime hunting/fishing license
for my 65
th
in October."
Underwood joining
Grand Lodge team
It Will Pass
An Entered Apprentice was waiting to enter
the lodge. He sat down with the Tiler and said,
"My life is in chaos! I feel so distracted, I cannot
concentrate on my questions and answers, and
I'm so tired that I keep falling asleep in lodge.
is is just horrible! What shall I do?"
"It will pass," the Tiler said matter-of-factly.
At the next lodge meeting, the EA came back
to the Tiler. "You were right! Everything is great
now! My life is in order once again, I can focus
on the questions and answers, and I'm not too
tired to pay attention in lodge."
"It will pass," the Tiler said matter-of-factly.
— Zen Masonry