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. November/December 2014 The North Carolina Mason Page 3 see STATE, page 4 Apex Master David Nyce has been making a point of acknowledging those members who make things happen in their lodge. Joe Hartley was honored at their September meeting for his long-time work on the Building and Grounds Committee and as lodge chaplain. Jim Dority was similarly honored in October. Nyce often gives those honored members Masonic pocket knives in display boxes. After curing a longterm problem with water around their foundation, Apex Lodge will now look at floor repairs necessitated by the previ- ous seepage. In an unrelated development, Apex Lodge is looking at the possibility of increasing their dues by ten dollars next year. — e Trestleboard Winston-Salem e 26 th Masonic District was holding a chicken stew cook-off on November 15. en Deputy Grand Master Douglas Caudle was to judge the goods. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge Salem 289 helped with H.O.P.E. on Septem- ber 20. H.O.P.E. distributes food to the needy. A crew from Salem Lodge, including Richard Lambert, Dana Lambert, George Troxler, Brian Chandler, and Gale Harkness joined the or- ganization on a Saturday morning to help box produce for distribution. Richard Lambert and William Baker are making it an ongoing project for the lodge. — e Salem Sentinel Old Town 751 had its big Fall Fund Raiser November 3. They had raffles and reverse raffles for three guns, a large television, and a substantial clothing prize. The $25 tickets included dinner. Old Town Lodge polled their widows this year to see whether they preferred flowers or fruit baskets for Christmas. e ladies chose fruit baskets. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge Winston-Salem's Masonic youth groups were having a pancake supper and silent auction October 24 at Old Town 751. — Chuck Rouse Hillsborough Mosaic 762 has begun accepting credit card payments for dues. e paying member must pay the processing fees associated with the payment. On September 13, Mosaic Lodge opened an emergent communication to commemorate the impending end of the bachelorhood of their brother Ben Morgan. After the short meeting saluting the young man, they closed lodge and departed for further celebration. At their September 16 stated meeting, Mosaic had dinner served by the local Rainbow for Girls. e young ladies donated the profits from the dinner to the Historic Eagle Lodge Foundation. e 501(c)(3) supports the maintenance of Eagle 19's historic building, Mosaic's meeting place. — Keith Morgan Kings Mountain Murphey's 20 th Annual Toy Ride was held November 22. e entry fee was five dollars and a new toy. Money raised went to the Shriners Burn Center, the Masonic Home for Children, and the Kings Mountain Shop With a Cop drive. — Rodney Huse Excelsior 261 Master Mike Gregory has initiated quarterly "Meetings of the Masons." He hopes to "foster and improve communica- tion between our veteran and younger brothers. By using simple, fun, and informative exercises [they] will seek to bridge generational gaps." Excelsior Lodge set their Veterans Awards Night for November 17 and their Past Masters' ird Degree Ceremony for December 6. — Trestle Board Morgan's Corner Phil Johnson and Joe Elliott poured lots of work into the First Masonic District's Truck and Tractor Pull and Concert. e annual event pulls in tons of hardware as well as tons of interest in Masonry and hefty donations to the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. Music was added for the second time when this year's event was held September 20–21. Outshyne Band opened for Joe Diffie this year. — Phil Johnson Lewisville Chair lifts have been an affordable boon to many Brothers who have trouble negotiating lodge stairs. West Bend 434 is hoping for the same success in their lodge with two newly in- stalled lifts. One goes down to the dining hall, the other up to the lodge room. The lodge enjoyed a Family Day on Sep- tember 20. On the charity front, West Bend Lodge made more than $2,300 for WhiteStone and the Masonic Home for Children with a rifle raffle. ey were to have a Chicken-To-Go fun- draiser October 17. — By the Square Spruce Pine Vesper 554's recent annual golf tournament for Masonic charities was called a "roaring suc- cess, doubling the original goal." More than 135 people participated in the event including 62 tee sponsors and 58 players. Vesper Lodge held their annual joint meting with Bakersville 357 October 14. ey shared a barbecue supper. — Newsletter Jacksonville Semper Fidelis 680 took part in National Night Out August 5. ey sold bottled water. Proceeds went to a local soup kitchen. An anonymous member of Semper Fi do- nated a 51-inch plasma television to be raffled by the lodge for their charities. e winner was to be drawn at their October 11 Past Masters', Widows', and Awards Night. Semper Fidelis planned a Family Night for October 4. — Trestle Board Knights of Solomon 766 delegates rode their motorcycles to Annual Communication in September. — Beau Anthony Brown Fayetteville Phoenix 8 was presenting their veteran's awards September 20. After presenting the awards, the lodge and the Rainbow Girls were holding their Daddy Daughter Banquet. A spe- cial dinner for their veteran members was held November 1 at a local seafood restaurant. — Tim Dahlman Raleigh James B. Green 735 made Luigi Ammons an honorary member earlier this year. ey elected Jack Walters, their 24-year treasurer, a life member in June. In August, they elected Ron Hollamon, their secretary of 17 years, a Secretary of Distinction. Green Lodge held their annual Fall Chicken Barbecue October 3. ey enjoyed prime rib at the Past Masters' and awards Night October 25. They held a meeting at WhiteStone on November 1. Green Lodge entered a float in the Masonic Home for Children Homecoming Parade this year. — e James B. Green Scene Hiram 40 held a barbecue chicken dinner on October 3. Profits went to the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. It was the 21 st year they have had the event. — Tom Imler Kernersville Clean-up day was held at Kernersville 669 on October 18. — Rocky Boyles Highlands Blue Ridge 435 will be holding their Christ- mas Dinner December 13 at the Episcopal Church. — Trestleboard Family members raised at Union Lodge MIDLAND — Forty-one Masons were on hand for Union 618's September 29 raising of two new Masons. Both young men are part of multi-generation lodge families. William Chase Abernathy, fourth from left in front, becomes a third generation member of the lodge. He is seen here next to his grandfather Dwight Abernathy. His father, W. D. Abernathy Jr., is at the left end in the second row. Justin Alex Lovingood, fifth from the left at front, became a second generation member. His father, David Lovingood, is here beside him. Union celebrates many of their Master Mason Degrees in costume. — Roger Darrell Long Fellowship makes it theatrical DURHAM — Fellowship 687 donned their costumes when they performed a Master Mason Degree on two new members September 9. — Michael Adcock Greensboro P. P. Turner 746 held their annual picnic at Tom Dolinger's Club House on September 7. — P. P. Turner Lodge Gate City 694 held their annual fish fry Oc- tober 11, featuring flounder and clam chowder. eir Ladies' Night was set for November 15. Tommy Jones, WhiteStone chaplain, was to speak at Ladies' Night. Turner Lodge continues their quarterly trash pickup on Holden Road. ey've been rendezvousing for coffee and doughnuts before the pickups. Gate City Lodge was holding a meeting at WhiteStone September 9. It gives resident Masons a chance to attend lodge without leaving home. They were having a speaker be- fore the meeting for a talk about veteran and disabled programs. — Trestleboard, Greg Woodard, and Gary Ballance Guilford 656 was holding their Ladies' Night and Awards Dinner October 18. — Chester Holder Cary Cary Lodge held their charity Fall Barbecue November 7. — Ben Oakes Jr. Cleveland Scotch Ireland 154 starts having fun in the fall. They hold a party early on Halloween so the kids can still get out for trick-or-treat- ing. Then, on November 21, they have their awards banquet. e roof fund at Scotch Ireland Lodge now stands at about 75 per cent of its goal. ey are selling chair dedications to raise the money. ey have sold 22 of the 30 available chairs. — Newsletter Marshall French Broad 292 was holding their Widows' and Past Masters' Night at the Madison Semi- nary Church's annex on September 13. — Terry Gevedon Southport Pythagoras 249 held their ninth annual golf tournament for charity September 20. Also on the charity front, the lodge donated $500 to Southport's Shop With a Cop Christmas project. e lodge was to hold their Annual Awards and Widows Appreciation Banquet November 8. Charles H. "Skeeter" Trott was named Dis- tinguished Tyler by the lodge in September. — Newsletter Charlotte Knights of Solomon 762's Motorcycle Char- ity Rally was held September 20 at Charlotte Harley Davidson in Matthews. Tickets included a barbecue lunch. ey raffled off a 2014 Har- ley Street Glide, a 2004 chopper, two 60-inch televisions, and $500 gift card. e chopper was won by an 80-year-old woman. e brothers promptly helped her sell the bike for a fair price. — Dennis Woolery Charles M. Setzer 693 Junior Warden Dale Bruck tried to encourage a big turnout from his lodge at the October 21–22 District School of Instruction. He pledged a $100 donation for each night they had the largest attendance. On September 29, Setzer Lodge was hav- ing dinner with their neighborhood Boy Scout Troop. — Trestleboard West Gate 738 held their Fall Chicken Fry October 17. West Gate Lodge is now renting their down- stairs hall to a church for Sunday services. — News From the West Garner Garner 701 hosted their second annual Ride for Widows and Orphans on September 20. e 103-mile run began and ended at the American Legion Post in Fuquay-Varina. Dinner and prizes followed the ride. Entry fees were $25 per bike and $12 per rider. Proceeds were for WhiteStone and the Masonic Home for Children. — Matt Masters Gastonia King Solomon 704 was to consider adopt- ing a dress code in their bylaws. It would, at all lodge communications, require "dress pants, dress shirts, dress shoes and socks… coat and tie may also be requested at the master's discre- tion." Prohibited were "shorts, t-shirts, sleeveless shirts, open-toed shoes, sandals, and flip-flops." All lodge bylaws changes require a two-thirds vote of the members present. — e Plumb Line Wilmington Orient 395 held their Annual Ladies' Lun- cheon October 25. At the gathering, they honor the widows, daughters, and granddaughters of their deceased members. ey also recognize their Eastern Star members and Rainbow Girls. Each of the honored received a rose, and each widow got a flower arrangement. ey held a drawing to give away several gift cards. A gospel group entertained the ladies. — Orient Lodge Gibsonville Earlier this year, Tabasco 271 members Charles Bivins and Tom Childry got their Veter- ans Emblems for 50 years Masonic membership. — Trestle Board

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