North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/462946
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.
January/February 2015 The North Carolina Mason Page 3
see STATE, page 4
Apex
Ed Dresp turned up the chili at Apex 584's
November communication. For consumer safety,
they graded it out in three levels for preference
in spice: Level One, e Priest (will get you
hot under the collar); Level Two, e Elvis (a
hunk of burning love); Level ree, Holy Mary,
Mother of God (pray for us sinners now).
Apex Lodge has increased their dues by
ten dollars.
e lodge was surprised when estimates
for retiling the fellowship hall came in much
higher than expected. As a result, they decided
to remove the old tile and go with a concrete
staining instead.
Widows' baskets went out December 13.
ey were provided by Ralph Agner and Mick
Helms. Apex Lodge's Christmas party was
held the same day. e lodge provided the meat
course and members brought covered dishes to
complete the meal. Quin Cook gave the lodge
their Christmas tree and lights this year.
Lodge Master Dave Nyce thanked Jason
Stephenson and Ed Medlin for their help
repairing the floor and landscape drainage
at the lodge. Both received Masonic pocket
knives as a remembrance.
Master Dave Nyce visited Paul Nau on De-
cember 4 to present his 60-year award as a favor
to Friendship 53, his lodge in Florida.
— e Trestleboard
Winston-Salem
Salem 289 is helping feed needy kids in their
community. ey are volunteering time pack-
ing bag lunches for distribution on weekends.
e Mission of H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem
describes its objective: "To use the resources of
the interfaith community to prepare and trans-
port nutritious meals on Sunday to children in
neighborhoods with the highest food insecu-
rity." e lodge sends a crew to prepare the bags.
It usually takes them about two hours to pack
400 bags. ey are considering becoming short
notice emergency help for the project in cases
when schedule disruptions occur.
— e Salem Sentinel
At the lodge's December stated communica-
tion, Old Town 751 Master Randy Young pre-
sented Certificates of Appreciation to several
lodge members for their extra efforts during the
past year. Jack Horn and Herb Blankenship were
recognized for their candidate coaching. Tom
Hauser was thanked for his work as tyler and
Joe Wages for the newsletter and website. Bikes
for Books Chairman Terry Wooten and practice
resource man Ray Pope also got certificates.
December 20 was the day for Old Town's
widows to get their annual holiday fruit bas-
kets. e delivery team gathered at the lodge
for breakfast before making their rounds pass-
ing out 36 baskets.
e lodge held their 2014 charity raffle on
November 1. ey served Hills Lexington Bar-
becue and awarded door prizes in addition to
the big drawings. ey raised about $7,900 for
their charity work.
e lodge is getting a new range in the kitchen.
— On the Level at Old Town Lodge
Gastonia
King Solomon 704 is holding a Chili and
Cake Off February 2 at the Masonic Temple
here. Ten dollars will get you in the door to
taste the goodies. If you want to vie for a title,
entering a pot of chili will cost you $20, enter-
ing a cake will cost you ten. Judges will pick the
best of each, and attendees will pick a People's
Choice. Extra People's Choice votes will be
sold for one dollar each. Tickets will be sold for
door prizes. — e Plumb Line
Twenty-two past masters attended Gastonia
369's Past Masters' Night at the lodge's Novem-
ber stated communication. ey served barbe-
cued chicken and pork. — e Trestle Board
Statesville
e Annual Blood Drive here was scheduled
for January 9. e drive is the largest in the state
and has been going on for about 30 years.
Statesville 27 volunteered to ring the bell for
the Salvation Army again this year. e annual
Christmas project raises money to help the needy.
— e Joppa Informer
Lewisville
West Bend 434 had a big 2014. Bob Blair
launched a newsletter and a revised website for
them, Zack Rothrock implemented a Bikes for
Books program at Lewisville Elementary School,
and the lodge installed two chair lifts. ey held
two fundraisers, a rifle raffle and a Chicken-to-
Go, for the charities. — By the Square
Jacksonville
New River 736 sent 31 $50 gift cards to the
kids at the Masonic Home for Children for
Christmas. — Tom Kurtzweil
Semper Fidelis 680 delivered fruit baskets
to 27 of the lodge's widows as a Christmas re-
membrance. — Trestle Board
Dallas
Gaston 263 held a big raffle in August. ey
gave away 30 guns over 30 days after selling
1,000 tickets at $30 each. ey split the pro-
ceeds three ways among the Masonic Home for
Children, the MESH Foundation, and the Abby
Grace Foundation with each getting $5,385.13
each. e Abby Grace Foundation funds re-
search on therapies for Sanfilippo Syndrome.
— Benjie Creasman
Princeton
St. Patrick's 617 held a raffle in December.
ey were giving away a Holland grill, a VISA
gift card, and a spa/salon gift certificate.
— W. C. Barnett
Wendell
Any way you count, Wendell 565 had a suc-
cessful year. ey initiated seven men, raised
five, all of whom completed their third cate-
chism, and four of whom joined the officer line.
Nothing invigorates like new blood. e new
guys have all been active in coaching and teach-
ing and have begun learning charges and other
parts of the ritual.
Money from two fundraisers, a barbecue in
August and a spaghetti supper in November,
and donations from lodge members brought in
nearly $5,000 this year for charity. In addition to
out Masonic charities, they benefitted the Wen-
dell Recreation Center, a Boy Scout of the Year
program, and the Resources for Seniors Christ-
mas program.
A dozen members of Wendell Lodge enjoyed
an interesting afternoon when they visited their
local Prince Hall neighbors for a ird Degree
recently. As one reported, "It is truly amazing
how many ways there are to get to the same con-
clusion. Actions were different… but the ritual
was the same." — Let ere Be Light
Hookerton
e Christmas tree the town of Hookerton
planted on Jerusalem 95's front yard is 25 feet
tall now. It has become a beautiful addition to
the town's Main Street decorations. e lodge
also uses their vacant lodge there for concessions
during the town's tree lighting festival every year.
Harold Nobles was recently made an honor-
ary member of Jerusalem Lodge.
— e Jerusalem Journal
SYLVA — When Sylva celebrated the 17
th
Annual Greening Up the Mountains festival last
spring, Dillsboro 459 set up a booth downtown.
ey did a simple outreach — they talked to
folks and gave away popcorn.
According to one member, "Not only did we
meet men interested in Masonry, but we also
had the pleasure of meeting friends and fam-
ily members who were touched by Masons at
some point in their lives. Traveling Masons from
around the country came and spoke with us
sharing their experiences and stories."
In addition to the nice conversations, they
gave away more than 600 bags of popcorn to
passersby and a dozen petitions to men they
knew. — Jimmy Rogers
The corn's
on the lodge
Hillborough
Eagle 19, Mosaic 762, and University 408
sponsored 38 kids from the Masonic Home for
Children on a trip to Chapel Hill. ere, they
saw a program at the Morehead Planetarium
and ate lunch on McCorkle Place the site of the
founding of the University of North Carolina
and within sight of the University's historic cen-
ter laid out as a Masonic lodge. On their way
home, they visited Maple View Farm in Hills-
borough where they enjoyed all-you-can-eat ice
cream sundaes and a hayride.
On July 22, Eagle 19 celebrated Jake Jacob's
84
th
birthday with a steak dinner.
— Speed Hallman
Grimesland
e Grimesland Gavel appeared in the fall. It's
a newsletter that keeps members of Grimesland
475 updated on what's happening at the lodge.
In the first edition, they learned about earn-
ing $2,300 for Masonic charities with the lodge's
first ever pancake supper. e Gavel also report-
ed that the lodge's newly created ird Degree
team had held four practices and was coming
along quite nicely.
e lodge's annual Ladies' Night was set for
December 5. Ephraigm's Pig Palace was catering
the steak dinner. — Grimesland Gavel
Laurninburg
A three-gun raffle was sponsored by Lau-
rinburg 305 this fall. e November 4 drawing
awarded guns to three different winners.
— Michael Nobles
Charlotte
Steele Creek 737 raised their dues to $100
for 2015.
ey held their annual fish fry November 8.
— Trestleboard
On December 6, West Gate 738 served again
as the starting point for a Toy Run for the kids at
the Masonic Home for Children. Easy Eddie's
in Mooresville is the end point. ey don't limit
themselves to motorcycles alone, trucks and cars
are also welcome. Entrants are only required to
bring an unwrapped toy or gift card. ey served
everyone chili for lunch.
Richard Shields, of Waxhaw 562, visited
West Gate in November and told them about
how Masons communicated and operated dur-
ing times of war. His latest book is entitled May
Brotherly Love Prevail, Masonry on the Battlefield
and in Prison Camps. — News From the West
Charles M. Setzer 693 was distributing gifts
to widows of the lodge at Christmas. e 20 la-
dies in the Charlotte area got poinsettias.
— Trestleboard
Randy Nealey is keeping Excelsior 261's tra-
dition of the master having a theme for the year.
His will be the "Year of Education."
— Trestle Board
Derita 715 held their Annual Fish Fry No-
vember 7 at the Mallard Creek Community
Center. eir lodge had officer step-up night at
the October stated communication.
A new website for the lodge in being designed.
— Derita Lodge
Phalanx 31 combined their awards night and
officer installation December 16. — Trestleboard
Newell
Newell 739 held their Fish Fry November 15.
— Gary Cooke
Raleigh
Several Masons continue to pursue creating
a Raleigh lodge focusing on North Carolina
State University. ey have a potential meeting
place on Hillsborough Street across from cam-
pus. ey say the lodge will be "geared toward
NC State students, alumni, faculty, and anyone
else who has a love for the red and white." If
you are interested, email Jonathan Underwood
at