The North Carolina Mason

January/February 2009 The North Carolina Mason Page 5 COMPACT, from page 8 STATE, from page 3 Greensboro P. P. Turner 746 recently held their Ladies' and Awards Night. ere was a good turnout for the event which saw the awarding of a Meritorious Service Award to Ross Geller and the naming of Rob Mitchell the lodge's Mason of the Year. Turner Lodge was selling pork shoulders in a November 22 fundraiser. e 16–18-pound shoulders were sold for $40 each with proceeds headed for Masonic charities. — P. P . Turner Lodge Bailey Gerald Glover recently had a stroke. He was happy that he had recently raised his son and two grandsons as Master Masons. — Newsletter Jacksonville Semper Fidelis 680 had a successful fund- raiser in September in spite of a slap from Hur- ricane Hanna. They had their Past Masters' and Widows' Night Out set for November 15. —Trestle Board Cary Cary 198 was generous with the "thank yous" at their December 6 Ladies' and Awards Night Banquet. Ludwik J. Wodka was named Mason of the Year. Distinguished Service Awards went to Carson A. Clippard Jr., Benton W. Oaks Jr., and Woodley B. Kennedy. Aaron W. Harris, Jeff B. Scott, omas E. Long, C. Bryan Jones, Stephen A. Lewis, and Donald E. Ellers got Certificates of Excellence. Certificates of Appreciation went to Lindsay S. Hodges, Horace P. Hodges Jr., and Joseph R. Hodges. It was also the night they cel- ebrated the lodge's 150 th anniversary. Cary Lodge has long been active with Cary Band Day, one of North Carolina's biggest high school marching band competitions. It was a natural for them to be a participant in the events 50 th anniversary. ey were in the parade and also helped with traffic control and band hosting. — Trestle Board Casar On August 23, Casar 579 held their second Annual Masonic Golf Tournament. is year's tournament had more than 40 hole sponsors and raised more than $6,000. More than 200 folks attended Casar Lodge's annual picnic on September 6. — e Trestle Board Wilmington St. John's 1 had their annual Past Masters' Degree scheduled for November 12. — St. John's Lodge Orient 395 is hoping for a 50 percent reduc- tion in gas costs after switching their cooking and heating to natural gas. — Orient Express 395 e Wilmington Scottish Rite was selected to the 2008 Best of Wilmington Award in the Non-Profit Organizations category by the US Local Business Association. — Ace Everett South Mills Lilton Umphlett's cornbread was a major at- traction when New Lebanon 314 held its fish fry in October. Visitors were aboard from Hall 53, Widow's Son 75, and Gatesville 126. Con- tingents from Churchland and Great Bridge lodges made their was across the border from Virginia. — e Plumb Line Black Mountain Black Mountain 663 has disconnected their telephone. ey reported less than three calls a month to their answering machine. With most of their members carrying a cell phone to every meeting, it was an expense of $700 a year that they could jettison. — e Traveling Trowel Murphy Cherokee 146 hosted their Annual Vet- eran's Day Program in November. They had a covered dish dinner. Cherokee Lodge had a float in the local Christmas Parade. ey issued an open invita- tion to western North Carolina Masons to ride the float. — Derek Cheek Ric Car ter photos Alderman memorialized in Clinton CLINTON — Hiram 98 held its Annual Ladies' Night and Awards Dinner November 1. At that meeting, they recognized J. B. Alderman's family. Alderman's family recently donated the furnishings for the lodge's downstairs lobby in his memory. Alderman, who died last December, was lodge trea- surer for 22 years. The lodge placed a plaque on the wall in memory of Alderman. Seen here, from left, are Alderman's grandsons Blake and Blair, his son Ronnie, his widow Myrtis, daughter-in-law Pat, and grandsons Eric and Cory. — Dalton Mayo Kids get holiday glasses RALEIGH — LensCrafters of Tri- angle Town Center chooses one charity each year as part of their annual holi- day giving. Kids for the Masonic Home for Children this year got free eye ex- aminations and new frames and glasses for those children needing them. That amounted to more than 25 pairs of glasses. Will Yates of LensCrafters or- ganized this year's event which even included a viewing party with goodies from several suppliers from the food court. — MHCO master. It was directly above the governor's office (more than 40 men who have held that job were Masons) that black and white Masons filled to overflowing the old House chamber to see the signing of a compact of recognition. In fact, they filled the Senate chamber as well, where a crowd witnessed the event on closed circuit television. Officers of both grand lodges were marched in under the swords of Prince Hall Knights Tem- plar. e two groups were seated interspersed throughout the chamber. State Representative Bill Faison called the crowd to order and served as master of ceremo- nies. Faison was only the first in a long line of prominent Masons who marked the importance of the day. US Representative Bob Etheridge led the Pledge of Allegiance. Past Grand Mas- ter Gerry Smith welcomed the throng. Former Speaker of the NC House Dan Blue Jr. spoke to the pleasures of the day and the "opportunity to complete the circle." Former Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court James Exum Jr. spoke of the arduous jour- ney completed. Former Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court Henry Frye read the compact Resolution of Mutual Recognition of The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. Whereas, The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. being desirous to insure a continuing harmonious relationship, and to provide for the successful coexistence of both Grand Lodges, and to promote Masonry in general among all peoples; and Whereas, the Grand Lodges believe that it is altogether right and proper and in the best interests of Masonry everywhere and particularly in North Carolina that these two Grand Lodges exercising Masonic jurisdiction in this state mutually recognize each other while each retains its own autonomy and jurisdiction hereafter as heretofore; and Whereas, the Grand Lodges are satisfied that each Grand Lodge meets all Masonic requirements for recognition; and Whereas, each Grand Lodge has a long,and noble history and has shared residency in the Tar Heel State for many years, and has ; and Whereas, each Grand Lodge desires to remain autonomous within its jurisdiction and to operate hereafter as heretofore with its own grand master and other Grand Lodge officers, Constitution, bylaws, ritual, rules and regulations, and to re- tain its absolute and supreme sovereignty over its own subordinate lodges and membership; and Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That: 1. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. hereby extend fraternal rec- ognition to each other as a duly constituted Masonic Grand Lodge; 2. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. will each remain autonomous within its jurisdiction and will operate hereafter as heretofore with its own grand master and other Grand Lodge officers, Constitution, bylaws, ritual, rules and regulations, and will retain its absolute and supreme sovereignty over its own sub- ordinate lodges and membership. 3. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. will go forth together to fulfill the promise of Freemasonry and use its kind offices to improve the lot of all North Carolina's people. Grand Master Grand Secretary Grand Master Grand Secretary and resolution. Both Frye and Exum were on the joint commission of the grand lodges that wrote the recognition. Grand Master Cash said, "Today's a his- toric day, because we're here to say we're brothers again." Past Grand Master Leonard Safrit gave a synopsis of the history of the coming of the event. Lester Sabsook, in the guise of Prince Hall, visited and congratulated those assembled on their progress. ere were more than a few tears of hap- piness when the compacts were presented and Grand Masters Milton F. Fitch Jr. and David R. Cash stood to sign the resolutions. e table they signed the compact on was the same table used 148 years ago for the signing of North Carolina's resolution to secede from the Union. ere was no hurry to leave after the cer- emony. Many seemed reluctant to go away af- ter experiencing what many called the happiest Masonic event they ever saw. Commemorative pins and pens were handed out to attendees. Refreshments were served in the rotunda after the ceremony. Clockwise from above: Grand Masters Fitch and Cash and Rep. Bill Faison. Full dress prayer, former House Speaker Dan Blue, former Chief Justice Henry Frye, former Chief Justice Jim Exum, overflow crowd in Senate chamber. MHCO photo

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