The North Carolina Mason

TraveLing The Tar heeL STaTe newS from norTh CaroLina'S LodgeS By Ric Carter If your lodge has a newsletter for its members, make sure The North Carolina Mason is on your mailing list. Lodge newsletters are a major source of news for Masons around the state. If you don't have one, think about starting one. Newsletters are a good way to keep your mem- bers active, happy, and informed. July/August 2014 The North Carolina Mason Page 3 see STATE, page 4 Gatesville e Red Cross Blood Drive hosted by Gates- ville 126 on January 15, collected 42 units. Gatesville hosted the First Masonic District's quarterly meeting in March. eir own Raeford Eure was the speaker. Service awards were handed out by Gatesville at that meeting. Jesse Bass got his Veteran's Em- blem for 50 years membership. L. Z. Felton got his Diamond Jubilee for 60 years as a Mason. Of Gatesville's nine living Diamond Jubilee award- ees, six were present at the gathering. — e Compasses Lewisville "By e Square" is West Bend 434's new newsletter. Bob Blair is the man making it work. Noticing the highly successful community outreach program at neighboring Old Town Lodge, West Bend Lodge, with the assistance of Zach Rothrock, has launched a Bikes for Books program at Lewisville Elementary School. e lodge awards bikes to students based on reading goals and accomplishments. West Bend held their Spring Lodge Clean- up Day April 26. ey are planning a Chicken On the Go takeout fundraiser for October, and a rifle raffle for November. — By e Square Newell e largest fundraiser Newell 739 has ever attempted is a gun raffle. ey were giving away a gun every day in July. All profits benefit the Masonic Home for Children. — Brian Lee Elizabeth City Eureka 317 held their Ladies' Night June 21. Gentlemen paid ten dollars for their tickets, la- dies were admitted for free. Entertainment fol- lowed the dinner at the lodge. Members of Eureka were visiting Great Bridge Lodge in Chesapeake, Virginia June 25. at lodge was to receive their grand master at that meeting. After their lodge clean-out was stymied by weather in April, Eureka is combining it with their July 26 clean-up. — On the Level Spencer e North Carolina Transportation Museum here is a great opportunity for fundraisers and activities for Spencer 543. On May 17, they sold hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausage biscuits during the Lester Brown Antique Truck Show. Profits went to the Masonic Homes and to sev- eral local charities Spencer Lodge supports. — Johnny Hatley Kannapolis On May 20, in honor of his Masonic ser- vice, Ralph Dickson was invited to preside over Cannon Memorial 626's stated commu- nication. Health problems in the family have reduced Dickson's lodge activities in recent months. It marked the 50 th anniversary of his being master of the lodge. — omas VanEtten and Ken Davis. Stedman Stedman 730 held its Annual Golf Tour- nament June 7 at Lakewood Golf Course in Salemburg. — 17 th District Events Youngsville Youngsville 377 sponsored a Red Cross Blood Drive June 22. — Dean Mooney e 13 th Masonic District is holding a gun raffle to raise money for the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. e drawing is set for September 13. — Kevin Ellenberg Conover e Antique Power Equipment Show at the Hickory Fairgrounds on May 17 provided a fun- draising opportunity for Conover 709. ey sold hot dogs and hamburgers. — Conover Lodge Newsletter Goldsboro Wayne 112 held their pancake breakfast May 17. At the same time, they were raffling a $500 gas card. Proceeds from both go to support charity. — Joshua Lane Concord Stokes 32 held a fried chicken dinner fund- raiser June 7. — Chris Cooper Jacksonville Late spring was shaping up as busy for Sem- per Fidelis 680. May 2 was the date for cooking hot dogs for Special Olympics. ey were do- ing their road clean-up May 17. On June 13, they were holding their fundraiser golf tourna- ment at Bear Trail Golf Course. What was your lodge doing the last month of Spring? — Trestle Board Kenansville At St. John's 13, a Diamond Jubilee for 60 years membership was recently earned by Carl Tucker. Tucker will have the award presented near his home in Louisiana. John Barnett has just received a Veteran's Emblem for his 50 years as a Mason. e lodge is raffling a grill. — Lodge Log Marshall French Broad 292 was hosting this year's Mountain Top Degree on Viking Mountain, Tennessee. ey were serving lunch and per- forming the degree on July 19. Attendees were urged, "Bring your folding chair, cap, sunscreen, coat, umbrella, apron, and a bottle of water. It has been every kind of weather you can imagine. e view is great and it's all outdoors." — Terry Gevedon Hillsborough Mosaic 762 began its monthly Masonic edu- cation series May 28. Over a year or so, they will work their way through Mark Stavish's Freema- sonry: Rituals, Symbols and History of the Secret Society. Stavish founded the Institute for Her- metic Studies. —Keith Morgan Fayetteville On May 20, Phoenix 8 hosted the passing of five Fellows Craft from the 17 th and 18 th Mason- ic Districts. Members of Phoenix's Royal Arch Chapter put together a York Rite Red Coat De- gree Team for the ritual work. In addition to the 20 Royal Arch Masons in attendance were 14 masters and past masters from around the state. Clifford Duell 756 initiated three men June 9. Thirty-four Masons from eight lodges in the 17 th and 18 th Districts were on hand for the festivities. — Ken Wical Charlotte Excelsior 261 held their a barbecue fundraiser and blood drive May 17. Military, law enforce- ment, firefighters, and emergency medics were invited to eat for free. e barbecue made nearly $600 for the Masonic Homes. e Blood Drive collected 21 donors. at's a good day's work for a lodge. e lodge has "adopted" ten residents at WhiteStone. ey will be sending remembrance cards to them at least four times each year. June stated at Excelsior Lodge is looked for- ward to as "beach communication." Dress code is flip flops, Hawaiian shirts, and shorts. — Trestle Board On June 14, Temple 676 held another Char- ity Fun Shoot at Shooters Express in Belmont. Proceeds were for WhiteStone. Each ticket for the shoot included a chance at winning a draw- ing for a shotgun. — Temple Lodge West Gate 738 is replacing the roof on their cook room. Summer events planed at West Gate Lodge include taking in a Charlotte Knights minor league baseball game and holding a Family Fun Night cookout. Veteran's Emblems were recently presented to Charlie Sherer, Paul Helton, H. O. Burns, and Jimmy Bell to honor their 50 years as a Mason. Sherer, Helton, and Burns are charter members of the lodge. — News From the West Charles M. Setzer 693 has been in the midst of a kitchen remodel this year. ey made big improvements, and a plaque in the ante room of the lodge will honor the people who donated to the cause. ey are also upgrading the secretary's com- puter capabilities. ey are now furnishing him a laptop computer and an improved Internet con- nection at the lodge. He will now be able to work from different locations in the building without having to rely on his personal equipment. e local DeMolay Chapter has been thank- ing the lodge for hosting them by taking care of the Hal Hamby Garden in front of the lodge. ey are expecting even more improvements in the near future as an Eagle Scout candidate is proposing to use the garden in his Eagle Project. He plans to build a fire pit in the garden to be utilized for flag retirements. Setzer Lodge was hosting the Jobs Daugh- ters reunion on June 7. — Trestleboard Steele Creek 737 held their annual Fish Fry, Car Show, and Blood Drive on May 10. Twenty- five-dollar Car Show entries included a Fish Fry ticket, and chances at door prizes. — Bill Smith Phalanx 31, this summer, is running a fund- raiser selling Autobell car washes. Lodge mem- bers sell vouchers for $16 each. e lodge keeps half of that to distribute to the Masonic Charities. — Trestleboard Derita 715 held their Widows' Dinner May 12. Stephen Campbell's April 8 presentation to the lodge about Stonewall Jackson had members talking for weeks. — Derita Lodge Greensboro e Greensboro Masonic Temple was hold- ing a yard sale June 7 at the Temple Annex. — Greg Woodard Gate City 694 was holding their first family event of the year was set for June 7. ey were inviting friends and family to join them for hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream. On May 29, they were attending irsty ursday to see the Grasshoppers, Greensboro's minor league baseball team. — Trestleboard Weaverville Blackmer 170 presented four scholarships to North Buncombe High School May 20. ey raise the funds with a barbecue fundraiser and donations. eir next barbecue fundraiser is September 13. — Terry Gevedon Southport Pythagoras 249 is hosting their Ninth Annu- al Masonic Golf Tournament September 20 at Lakes Country Club at Boiling Springs Lakes. e $50 player entry fee includes breakfast and lunch. Hole sponsorships are available for $100. e lodge sells hot dogs, chips, and drinks during Southport's Independence Day cel- ebrations. On June 6, Pythagoras Lodge held its 17 th Annual Gene N. Cowan/Marvin McKeithan Fish Fry. Proceeds were for the Home for Children. ey recently donated $100 to Southport El- ementary School Parent Teacher Association. Around the lodge building, they recently pressure washed the exterior. ey are also ex- tending their post and rope boundary to the sidewalk to help cut down on unnecessary traffic across the lawn. —Newletter Raleigh James B. Green 735 members and friends took a bus trip to Philadelphia the first week- end in May. ey visited the Grand Lodge there and toured their spectacular headquarters. ey enjoyed supper before attending a ird De- gree with host Harmony Lodge 52. ey later toured the town including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Fifteen Masons, six wives, and one child made the trip. Green Lodge sold 525 plates at their Spring Barbecue fundraiser. eir fall barbecue is sched- uled for October 3. e lodge has three Ice Cream Socials sched- uled for this summer. Each includes hot dogs and hamburgers before the ice cream course. e best ice cream is chosen at each session. Planning has begun on Green Lodge's 50 th anniversary celebration in 2015. — e James B. Green Scene Fairmont Fairmont 528 recently presented Walon Ivey his Veteran's Emblem for 50 years Masonic membership. At the same Awards Night meet- ing, Marc Sessoms was named 18 th Masonic District Rookie of the Year, and Jerry Blount was awarded 18 th District Mason of the Year. — e Trestleboard Lodges help clear scrap for charity SWANQUARTER — Atlantic 293 has been running a fresh sort of fundraiser. They are col- lecting and selling scrap metal. Richard Credle, Jeff Credle, and Mitchell Newman went around the county with a trailer collecting items to be carried to market. They collected items such as radiators, heater cores, batteries, appliances, a golf cart, farm implement parts, house wire, grain elevator parts, aluminum roofing, wire cable, old trailers, axles, and more. This small trailer load brought in $290 for the Masonic Home for Children. That puts them at more than $2,100 so far. There is more to come. With the knowledge that this will be an annual event, more people will be saving scrap metal for them throughout the year. — Jeff Credle Highlands Blue Ridge 435 was preparing a July 23 thank you for Highlands United Methodist Church. ey were cooking a Wednesday Night Supper for the church members who have done much for the lodge over the years. Blue Ridge member William Creswell re- cently earned his Veteran's Emblem for his 50 years in lodge. e lodge was inviting neighboring Masons to visit when they were hosting the meeting of Knights of Solomon Lodge on July 21. ere are two Knights of Solomon Lodges in the state ca- tering to the interests of motorcyclists. — Trestleboard Salisbury Sophia UD hosted Clay Whitehead June 25 for a program about an opera. Whitehead, a psychiatrist and scholar, presented "e Magic Flute and Masonry: Personal and Global Per- spectives," his take on Mozart's "opera's Masonic origins and its psychohistoric and psychoana- lytic dimensions." — Doug Calhoun Gastonia On June 12, an Alabama Mason was visiting Gastonia 269 to present their trowel he found in Texas. After considerable research, he found the original home of the 1911 Masonic tool. — Joe Waller King Solomon 704 has had some excellent Masonic education programs recently. Jason McDaniel and Scott Queen shared questions from the old Masonic Service Association book One Hundred and One Questions About Freema- sonry. ey enjoyed the discussions which arose from trying to answer the questions. At another program Chris Hall shared some history of their outstanding historic building. Lodge members were meeting at the Passion Grill before their July stated meeting. ey de- cided to make it a tradition after having a good time with it last year. — e Plumb Line Burgaw King Solomon 138 was working the local Blueberry Festival June 21. ey were setting up a tent next to the Presbyterian Church to dis- tribute ice water and information about Freema- sonry and its charities. — Danny Buck

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