May/June 2011 TRAVELING THE
tar heel state News From
North CaroliNa's lodges
By Ric Carter Kenly
Kenly 257 was hosting their barbecue chick- en plate lunch fundraiser on Sunday, April 17. Drive through service was available. Money from the project was to go to Masonic charities and the lodge’s scholarship to a North Johnston High School student. At the 16th
Masonic District’s meeting here
January 12, attendees decided to push a few points around the district. They will emphasize appointing a mentor for each new Mason and encouraging newly raised Masons to learn their third degree catechism. On the growing front, they were urging lodges to invite good prospects to visit their lodges on meal nights to become familiar with the lodge. They also wanted to put the push on the district’s traveling gavel, SAMON. Their next district meeting was to be held April 13.
— Grover Dees Robbinsville
April 16. They had 60-, 50-, and 25-year awards set for presentation.
Awards Night at Robbinsville 672 was set for — Derek Cheek
Charlotte When Kenny Barnette made new cabinets
for Charles M. Setzer 693, he added a more im- portant piece of lodge furniture — a new altar. It’s an elegant piece of woodwork complete with kneeling benches. Setzer Lodge was visiting Unique 85 PHA for a first degree on April 11.
—Trestleboard Temple 676 delayed the raising of Jeffery
Berlin until March 10 to allow his uncle from Virginia to attend. His uncle is Colonel Ed Shames, a WWII vet who is one of the eight surviving members of Easy Company made famous in the William Ambrose/HBO series Band of Brothers.
— Trestle Board Warsaw The Student Council at James Kenan High
School was recently having a relief drive for vic- tims of the Japanese earthquakes. Warsaw 677 chipped in to help the drive. Warsaw Lodge has a plan to put flags in place
on their front columns by Memorial Day. They will install United States, North Carolina, and two Masonic flags.
Gastonia Steve Willis is turning out informational
pamphlets for King Solomon 704. The flyers cover a number of subjects related to travel, safety, and similar public service topics. They are distributed to the public and help educate. They also bring attention the lodge’s way. On February 26, a crew of seven members of
the lodge performed their Adopt-A-Highway responsibilities. They gathered nine bags of trash and one of recyclables along Gaston Day School Road. They were hitting it again April 23. The lodge participated in the local Relay for
Life effort May 6. The event helps fight cancer. There were a couple of fun outings for the
lodge also. They were having a Dinner With Our Ladies at a local restaurant May 5. Also in May, they planned to attend as a group Gastonia Lit- tle Theater’s production of “Always Patsy Cline.” King Solomon Master James W. Howell has
promised to donate $25 to charity every time 25 or more members of the lodge attend a meeting. — The Plumb Line
Gastonia 369 had Gaston County Sheriff
Alan Cloninger as a guest speaker for one of their recent meetings. Cloninger is a member of Gaston 263.
Winston-Salem Old Town 751 is investing some time in their
history, gathering and borrowing things to share with all. Tom Hauser loaned them a number of photos and other memorabilia. You should soon be able to see some of these things on their web- site: . After a very good response to their Bikes
for Books program last year, Old Town Lodge is sponsoring it again this year. They are finding continued strong interest in the program which encourages reading among young students. OTL’s Spring Pancake Supper was set for
April 8. They were expecting to bring in about $500 for charity. The lodge is sponsoring a Rainbow Girl to
Rainbow Camp this summer. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge
Mount Gilead Blackmer 127 took a field trip to Richmond,
Virginia in April. They were visiting the grave of Major Edmund Christian who served as their master in 1859. He was buried in Richmond af- ter being killed at the Civil War’s Battle of Seven Pines. We will have a more complete report in a later issue of The North Carolina Mason. — Blackmer Buzz
— Rick Clanton — Warsaw Lodge
P. P. Turner meets at WhiteStone GREENSBORO — On March 17, P. P.
Turner 746 held a meeting in the new activity room of the recently refurbished Linville Build- ing at WhiteStone (MESH). Mark Kolada, WhiteStone administrator, was there to
tell
them about the home. He noted that it was the first use of the new activity area by a lodge. The Greensboro lodge held an emergent communi- cation for the purpose of Masonic education. They received their district deputy grand mas- ter and district deputy grand lecturer on their
Hillsborough
Eagle 19 refurbished the shutters on the east side of the lodge last fall. Since it was a piece of historically authentic restoration, it was pricey at $7,500. They did the job aided by grants from foundations and organizations interested in maintaining the historical tourism of the town. The lodge added labor and screens and paint. Next they are going for the shutters on the
west side. They are also getting estimates on gut- ter and fascia boards. Painting of the roof is on the horizon in a couple of years. Contributions to the building are tax deduct- ible due to their historic status and corporate foundation, the Historic Eagle Lodge Founda- tion. — The Historic Eagle Lodge Foundation
Pilot Mountain raiser April 9.
Pilot 492 held their Spring Barbecue Fund- — Homer Dearmin
Pilot Lodge member Mark Dearmin recently
received the Daniel Carter Beard Scouter Award. It goes to Masons who have made outstanding contributions to scouting. Dearmin is assistant scout master of Troop 400 in Pinnacle. Old Hickory Council Scout Executive Steve Wil- burn and 25th
District Deputy Grand Master Jim
Rutledge made the presentation January 8. — Aaron Whitener
Statesville
Mt. Moriah 690 and Statesville 27 held their annual Masonic Home for Children Pancake Jamboree April 15–16. Business was steady, and the dining room was full for two hours on Friday night and two-and-a-half hours on Sat- urday morning. Statesville Lodge was participating in Relay
for Life for the second consecutive year May 21–22.
Joe Link was named Secretary of Distinction
February 15. Link served as Statesville Lodge’s secretary from 2002 through 2010. — The Joppa Informer
Raleigh Millbrook 97 held its Spring Barbecue April
29. The Fall Barbecue is set for October 7. — Millbrook Messenger
official visits at the same meeting. Local lodges often have special relationships with the Homes. Turner Lodge was to hold a similar emergent meeting at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford May 14 at 11:00 a.m. Assistant Admin- istrator Chris Richardson was to speak about the Home for Children. The presentation was to be open to non-Masons. Friends and wives were en- couraged to attend. They planned to have lunch with some of the children at noon, then finish with a tour of the campus.
— J. Ross Geller Canton On February 23, Sonoma 472 received special
recognition from the Commission for a Clean County for their efforts in 2010 to help beautify Haywood County. Cleanup participants from the lodge were Stanley Henson, Chris Ware, Gene Canter, and Paul Reece. Zack Rowland received the 18th
Annual
Scotty Canter Sportsmanship Award February 27. The Pisgah High School senior played base- ball for 14 years, basketball for five years, and football for one.
— Valley of the Moon Hickory Hickory 343 is launching a DeMolay chap-
ter. They, of course, need men and boys to help it get off the ground. If you are interested, contact James John Kuba Jr. at (828) 304-0680. — Hickory Lodge
Spencer
Spencer 543 takes a truckload of school sup- plies to the Masonic Home for Children each year. To take some of the edge off the rude re- minder that school is about to restart, they also throw a big pool party for the kids. This year’s, the 11th annual, is set for August 20.
— On the Square Greenville William Pitt 734 held their Annual Five
Dollar All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Supper on March 25. They report that Ron Buck is the man who makes it happen every year. This year’s sup- per brought in $3,800 for Masonic charity. — Tom Jones
Catawba On March 12, Riverside 606 held their 48th
Annual Ham Day. It’s their opportunity to raise funds for Masonic charity.
— David Wyatt South Mills New Lebanon 314 hosted one of their regu-
lar fish fries April 12. Members of Indian River Lodge in Virginia were special guests, but sev- eral other lodges were represented (as usual). New Lebanon’s spring fundraiser for the
Home for Children was slated for March 26. — The Plumb Line
April 8. Salisbury Fulton 99 and Andrew Jackson 576 are pre-
paring to replace the windows in their shared building. There are 40 windows to replace at an estimated cost of $600 each. They are currently taking pledges and will place a plate on windows in honor of those who donated enough to place one window.
— Master’s Journal Asheville Inza Lance, Masonic Service Association
representative to the VA Medical Center in Asheville died March 22. So far as we know, Ms. Inza is the only woman to hold the position in North Carolina. The MSA coordinates many volunteers in the nation’s VA system. Lance was credited with more than 15,000 volunteer hours with the program. — Asheville Citizen-Times
Greensboro Corinthian 542 was holding the Corinthian
Lodge Golf Classic April 9. They were holding it at the Country Hills Golf Course in Gibson- ville. Besides trophies for first and second place teams, there were to be awards for longest drive and closest to pin. Proceeds were going to the North Carolina Masonic charities. — Ed Marsh
Paw Creek West Gate 738 is working with Cell Phones
for Soldiers collecting old cell phones. The group recycles the phones and uses the proceeds to buy calling cards for servicemen and women de- ployed overseas. West Gate held their Ladies’ Night Banquet
February 19 at the Metroliner Shrine Club. — News From the West
The North Carolina Mason
Page 3 Hendersonville Kedron 387 presented service awards Feb-
ruary 24. Donald Arthur McAllister received his Diamond Jubilee for 60 years membership. 50-year Veteran’s Emblems went to Ronald Al- len McKnight, Gerald Henry Martin, and Sam Stanley Settle.
— Martin Osteen Columbus On the second Saturday of each month,
Horse Creek 719 hosts a social breakfast at the Saluda Truck Stop. If you want to drop by, they meet there at 8:30 a.m. Horse Creek Lodge has increased their dues to $30 plus per capita (currently $17). — Horse Creek Lodge
Green Level For many years Green Level 277 was the Ma-
sonic home to the Ferrell Brothers. The several brothers were jokingly referred to as the Green Level Mafia. They were much loved by Masons across the state. The last of the batch died March 6. Bruce Ferrell was 95 years old.
Kinston Richard Caswell 705 recently held a basic
instruction session aimed at men raised in the last five years. Everyone was invited though. The district deputy grand master and lectur- er were to be on hand to answer questions. What they were interested in was all those little day-to-day questions which often get missed in Masonic education. Coffee, drink, and doughnuts were offered.
— Tony Gordon Enka Hominy 491 had their Poor Man’s Supper
set for April 16. A five-dollar ticket would get you a plate of pinto beans, cornbread, cole slaw, onions, and iced tea. Proceeds were going to the Masonic Home for Children. — Hominy Lodge
Thomasville Thomasville 214 member Von Louya recently
received his Veteran’s Emblem for 50 years mem- bership. On May 3, they gave Frank Picklesimer his Diamond Jubilee for 60 years membership. Gus Plakakis Jr. got his Veteran’s Emblem for 50 years service.
— Frank Muscatello The pine needle sale at Thomasville Loge is
moving along. At last report, they had sold 500 bales at five dollars each. There were 500 yet to sell. — Trestle Board
Garner The two lodges here, Garner 701 and Van-
dora 745, joined together for a fundraiser for the Masonic Home for Children. The policed the grounds after the Triangle Beach Music Festival collecting discarded aluminum cans. They sold the cans to a recycler for $495. The cash went to the Home.
— Ronnie Lee Jacksonville The last Onslow County Scholarship meet-
ing of the year was held at New River 736. They raised $1,312 that night. — Trestle Board Semper Fidelis 680 has their Ladies’ Night
Out scheduled for June 11. The cooks will be grilling. Brother Bill Frost will bring his mag- ic show.
— Trestle Board Laurinburg
Laurinburg 305 is holding a golf tournament June 18 at Deercroft Golf and Country Club. Entry fee is $50 per person or $200 per team. For those who want an edge, Muligans are five dollars, or you can use one red tee for five dol- lars. Door prizes will be awarded as will trophies for longest drive, closest to pin, and hole-in-one. For more information call Rick Best at (910) 280-6576 or Mike Nobles at (910) 369-2744. — Laurinburg Lodge
Oak Island
Want your name on a lodge chair? Oak Island 758 is selling plates for their existing chairs. Prices are $100 or $200 for a chair “in the East.” They were starting with 30 vacancies. No word on how many are already gone. — Brent Wuchae
Manteo Manteo 521’s annual Pancake Breakfast was
set for April 23. Their Past Masters’/Widows’ and Awards
Night is scheduled for June 13. — More Light Hope Mills
Lebanon 391 has been working for the Ma-
sonic Home for Children this year. In the first quarter, they filled piggy banks for the Home. They delivered a check for $650 at the end of March. The lodge held their second golf tour- nament March 12 and made another $400 for the Home.
— Andrew F. McMillan Cary
Cary 198 held their Spring Barbecue on — Trestle Board
see STATE, page 5
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