North Carolina Mason
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Page 4 The North Carolina Mason January/February 2015
STATE, from page 3
TOs, from page 8
Greensboro
Guilford 656 held their Ladies' and Awards
Night October 18 in the Greensboro Temple's
dinning hall. ey bragged on the job done by
their wardens to get the hall transformed into a
"cozy dinning area." ey had the meal catered,
but had the kids from local DeMolay and Rain-
bow act as servers. Terry Cox told them all the
story of the blue slipper, an emblem worn by
daughters and wives of Masons. Each of the la-
dies present was given a small blue box tied with
blue ribbon which contained four chocolates
and a blue slipper pin. ey were entertained by
Carter Bradley on the piano.
Junior Warden Bradley P. Cardille was named
Mason of the Year. Richard Wayne Jackson, Al-
bert W. Jones Jr., McDewey Sigmon Jr., and Da-
vid C. White were presented Diamond Jubilees
for their 60 years in the lodge. Burton K. Burnett
got his Veteran's Emblem for 50 years.
Just a few days later, they enjoyed their Past
Masters' Night. All stations were filled by past
master (including some from other lodges) in a
ird Degree performance. e evening included
some special presentations, bagpipes, and singing.
— e Trestleboard
Scott Swink, of Greensboro 76, joined mem-
bers of the Graham Police Department sitting
on the roof of a local fast food restaurant to raise
money for Special Olympics. — Old 76
Asheville
Veritas Lodge has been issued a dispensation
to operate in the Masonic Temple. e tradi-
tional observance lodge will meet on the fourth
Fridays of odd months. — Trestle Board
e Temple Workday in November was
stretched to two days to get chores finished.
— Kevan Frazier
Wilson
Mount Lebanon 117 had special guests for
their officer installation December 15. Prince
Hall North Carolina Grand Master Toby Fitch
was there with a large contingent of local Prince
Hall Masons. Fitch lives in Wilson.
— Charles Barrett
Rocky Mount
On December 19, Corinthian 230 delivered
fruit baskets to their lodge widows and shut-ins.
— Charles Barrett
Monroe
Waxhaw 562 Secretary Richard Shields was
at Truth 749 December 8. He was speaking to
the lodge about his book of Masonic war sto-
ries, May Brotherly Love Prevail, Masonry on
the Battlefield and in Prison Camps.
— Robert Mullis
Thomasville
omasville 214 held their Toys for Tots pro-
gram December 20. — Trestle Board
Holly Springs
A third motorcycle affinity lodge has been
formed in the state., ey will call Holly Springs
home, and following the naming tradition, will
be known as Knights of Solomon Lodge. ey
will often meet in other places around the state.
eir stated communications will be on first
Saturdays February through May and in No-
vember; and second Saturdays from July through
September. Robert Barron is master, and Don
Murphy is secretary. ey got their dispensation
November 22. — Tom Zelickman
Kenansville
St. John's 13 has consolidated with Warsaw
677. All Warsaw Lodge's functions, meetings,
and membership are now subsumed by St.
John's 13.
St. John's annual picnic was held September 4
at Maxwell's Mill. As usual, the lodge furnished
chicken and pastry, and members brought their
favorite dishes. — Lodge Log
Casar
Casar 579 held their Fifth Annual Charity
Ride in May. ey had 28 riders and 14 spon-
sors. ey raised nearly $2,300 for the MESH
Foundation and the Home for Children.
Casar's Eighth Annual Golf Tournament
was held in August. e event at Pine Mountain
Golf Course in Connelly Springs raised money
for our Masonic Homes. — Eric Newton
Conover
Harrison Jones and Jerry Teague were elected
Life Members recently by Conover 709. Charles
Gantt has earned his Veteran's Emblem for his
50 years as a Mason.
eir big annual Blood Drive was set for
January 9. — Conover Lodge Newsletter
Cleveland
Scotch Ireland 154 held their Annual
Awards Banquet November 21. Jason and Jeff
Kepley shared Mason of the Year honors. Fred
Campbell got his Veteran's Emblem for his 50
years membership.
Scotch Ireland sold about 800 tickets for their
rifle raffle this year. e fundraiser sent $3,260 to
the Masonic Home for Children. — Newsletter
Plymouth
Perseverance 59's motorcycle ride and raffle
this fall brought in $6,886 for charity.
Harrison Phelps, long-time secretary of the
lodge got his Veteran's Emblem recently.
— Masonic Home for Children
Greenville
Past masters took over lodge at Crown Point
708 back on November 13. It was Past Masters'
Night, and they cooked supper for the lodge,
filled all the chairs, and conferred the Fellow
Craft Degree on two candidates.
— Charles Sumerlin
Roseboro
Roseboro 585 held a spaghetti supper timed
to greet the crowd brought on by the town's
Christmas Parade. — Bruce Rawls
Carthage
ey raised $866 at Carthage 181 raffling a
Food Lion $250 gift certificate. ey sent the
profits to the North Carolina Masonic Founda-
tion. — Dave Bosworth
Kinston
Jeff Snead and Tony Bello took first place in
St. John's 4's ird Annual Corn Hole Tourna-
ment this spring. Jay Burkett and Brandon Mills
were in second, and Ricky Howard and Mike
Howard finished third. — Lynn Hill
Marion
Last July, Mystic Tie 237 presented five
scholarships to members of their lodge family.
e lucky recipients were April Fulbright, Jacob
Helton, Chase Ruppe, Katalyn Andrews, and
Nick Oxendine. Each is the child or grandchild
of a lodge member. — Mystic Tie News
Spruce Pine
Two members of Vesper 554 got service
awards in December. Max Gouge got his Dia-
mond Jubilee for 60 years membership. Jack
Sullins received his Veteran's Emblem for his
50 years. Both were presented in the respective
member's home. — Newsletter
Spencer
Spencer 543 was holding their anksgiving/
Awards Dinner November 25. ey were having
a covered dish dinner. — John Hatley
Pilot Mountain
Seven lodge widows joined Pilot 493 for din-
ner on August 28. ey have the event every year
at the Mountain View.
e lodge helped with the annual Pilot
Mountain Community Blood Drive November
24 at the Methodist Church. Lodge members
assisted in the canteen and helped supply re-
freshments to donors.
e lodge's Fall Barbecue netted $1,320.05
which they gave to the Masonic Homes.
— e Pilot Mountain Traveler
Cary
e November 7 Barbecue Fundraiser at
Cary 198 raised more than $5,000. e money
will go to Masonic charities. — Ben Oakes Jr.
Waxhaw
Kids got a chance to have pancakes with
Santa Claus December 12 at Waxhaw 562. e
Friday evening event was free, but any donations
given were sent to the Masonic Homes.
Waxhaw Lodge held a noon Saturday lun-
cheon November 8. ey were honoring their
widows and presenting service awards to two
members. — Trestle Board
High Point
Michael Rinehardt has reintroduced Numa F.
Reid 344's newsletter — e Word. e lodge has
not had a publication in several years.
On Veterans' Day, Numa F. Reid 344, Aca-
cia 674, and their York Rite bodies sponsored a
flag retirement ceremony. Boy Scout Troop 8 and
Cub Scout Pack 85 from Jamestown conducted
the ceremonial flag burning on the lodge grounds.
— e Word
Southern Pines
e town of Southern Pines has a Veterans
Weekend around Veterans Day, including a Sat-
urday Parade. Southern Pines 484 treated all the
parading veterans to a free breakfast that morn-
ing at the lodge. — Gene Maples
Hallsboro
e 18
th
Masonic District will be holding
their Annual Pheasant Hunt February 14. e
shooting will take place at Honey Hill Hunting
Preserve and will cost $135 per person. Proceeds
go to the Masonic Home for Children in Ox-
ford. For details call James Britt at (910) 734-
5865 or Edward Russ at (910) 840-0100.
— James Britt
Burgaw
King Solomon 138 was to have their Past
Masters' Dinner and installation on January 3.
— King Solomon
Hendersonville
Kedron 387 held their Annual Awards Din-
ner on July 16. J. P. Huggins and George Godsey
both got Diamond Jubilees honoring their 60
years of membership in the fraternity.
— Spence Campbell
Stanley
Eddie Wyatt was named 2014 Mason of the
year at Stanley 713. Wyatt has served as master
of the lodge several times, has coached many can-
didates, and was recently certified as a lecturer.
— Scott Wyatt
Advance
Dave Hendrix was lately named Secretary of
Distinction by Advance 710. Master Ron Vo-
gler and Secretary Russell Suggs presented the
honor. — Mark Howell
Highlands
Blue Ridge 435 held their Christmas Din-
ner at the neighboring Episcopal Church on
December 13.
A recent educational program there by Ron
Hensley was entitled "Politics in Masonry or
Masonry in Your Politic." — Trestleboard
Salisbury
e 28
th
Masonic District Red Cross Blood
Drive was to be held January 9 at the Masonic
Temple here. ey were giving a surprise gift to
all donors. — Steve Schenk
members. Larry ompson is master of the new lodge, with Ben
Wallace senior warden and Kevin Combs junior warden.
Traditional observance attracted interest with a number of
Masons in western North Carolina at about the same time. After
visiting Sophia and talking with its members, a group began in
Asheville. On October 29, Grand Master Mayo presented a dis-
pensation to Veritas Lodge. ey will be meeting at the Asheville
Masonic Temple. John Burch is serving as master, with J. R. Yar-
nall as senior warden and Michael Fizer junior warden.
Larry ompson, a member of the planning group and So-
phia's first master, answered a few questions about the lodge.
Q. What inspired you and your brethren to start a TO lodge?
A. On the surface, the brethren who formed Sophia lodge were
interested in creating a quality lodge experience that was reverent
and focused on the five senses. On a deeper level, we wanted to
develop a true understanding of the allegory and symbolism that
is continuously referenced in our ritual but is not fully explained.
Q. Why is the lodge named Sophia?
A. Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom. Wisdom is held in
high regard in our craft and is alluded to throughout our ritual.
ere were several good potential names fielded by the steering
committee, but we kept returning to the name Sophia, which just
seemed to fit.
Veritas Lodge enjoys dinner at their institution.
BURGAW — King Solomon 138 is holding their 15
th
An-
nual Outdoor Degree Saturday, March 28. ey'll again be at Past
Grand Master William G. "Bill" Mathis' plantation on the North
East Cape Fear River. Lodge will open at 5:00 p.m., and dinner
will be served between the first and second sections, just as in
years past. Weather can get pretty chilly that time of year, so be
sure to dress warmly. Bring a chair.
King Solomon Lodge held it's first outdoor Master Mason
degree December 9, 2000 at Bill Mathis' river plantation. It's be-
come an annual event. e dates have moved around a little over
the years due to weather. ey have settled in on holding it as
close as possible to the full moon in March. e first year, the
candidates started turning blue and one even said, "It took three
days for [his] teeth to quit chattering." Attendance is growing
every year, and their farthest traveled visitor was from Uruguay.
Visit the following address for details and directions