The North Carolina Mason

Page 4 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2015 CHAMP, from page 8 RESTORE, from page 1 COURT, from page 1 torch because it ain't really BBQ if it ain't a little dangerous), a 400-pound cast iron tub (recently removed from a team member's home), some smoking wood, a cooler of snacks and other refresh- ments, a mini bike (just to break up the late night boredom), and a full complement of good attitudes. Our team set out from Wilkes- boro for Raleigh in anticipation of some great Masonic fellowship. After arriving and getting our little cooking area and sleeping hooch squared away, we set about making the rounds and visiting with several of our old friends from previous years. It's always a good time seeing what's new with the other teams and listening to their latest strategies for winning or debating what makes the best sauce and so on. New look dugouts at Home OXFORD — Members of Oxford 122 and other lodges in the 13 th Masonic District, recently refurbished the dugouts on the ball diamonds on campus of the Masonic Home for Chil- dren. The work crew repaired the roof, cleaned, and painted the dugouts in the traditional Oxford Orphanage red. Kim Riggan painted the logos in suspenders to memorialize Broth- er Sholar Powell. — Kevin Otis As day gave way to evening and twilight set upon us, the meat was passed out and you could hear cooks barking orders. Amongst a flurry activity, teams quickly fired up their various cooking appa- ratuses, and a low haze of smoke filled the air. Some teams applied rubs, some began a short marinating or brining process, a few just threw the meat straight onto their pits, while others used secret potions injected directly into the meat all in preparation for a long night of watching temperatures, putting out grease fires, visiting, and trying ever so hard not to doze off and burn anything or let a fire go out. Somewhere around 1:00 a.m., the smoky haze takes on a sweeter smell and becomes a tad thicker as pig fat begins to drip onto hot surfaces, vaporizes, and envelopes the entire cooking area. You can almost see heaven open a little. You hear the angels sing, and POW, your head snaps up, your eyes open, and you im- mediately check your watch to see how long you have been sleep- ing, oh good only a couple of minutes now check that fire again. e next thing you know it is false dawn, and you hear the tap- tap-tapping of steel on cutting boards as teams begin chopping all that wonderful barbecue and prepping it for when the gates open. It really is a glorious thing to hear, see, and smell so early in the morning. Once everyone is ready, and even if they are not quite fully prepared, the gates open and a wave of humanity sweeps through like a tsunami, leaving nothing but bones and empty sauce bottles in its wake. Up and down the midway you can hear barkers for many of the teams talking up their 'cue and enticing patrons with promises of succulent, sweet, pork and chicken to be had simply for the asking. A cry goes up from the Mentor Lodge booth each time they get a people's choice vote (they get a lot of those, and they deserve them). You should see the reactions to that cast iron tub with the remains of the pig carcass there on display. ere are only two kinds of people when it comes to Bath Tub BBQ. First are the ones that stand well back and look perplexed. ere are only a few of those, but they are worth noting. Next are the ones who rush up and start sticking their hands in the tub trying to get anything they can off the bones just to see what it tastes like because they know it has to be good, it's too crazy not to. We really like that second group. ey are so much fun. Finally it's all gone. e barbecue is gone. e customers are gone. All that's left to do is hand out awards, pack up, say goodbye, and go home. And then it happens! e bathtub guys actually win the grand champion cup! Oh wait this is another one of those little nap dreams right? No, it isn't a dream! It really is happening! Wow, that's just all the tub guys can say, "WOW." e Branch Water Bath Tub BBQ Team would just like to say thanks to Raleigh 500 for putting on a great event. We strongly encourage everyone to put together a team, come on out have some fun and put the best possible face on Masonry for the public. David Wyatt is a member of Riverside 606. er the remains of the chief justice and his family were moved to Oakwood Cemetery. In addition to serving as chief justice of the new court, Taylor was extremely active in the Masonic Order. In 1793, at the age of 24, Taylor was elected senior grand warden. Quite an impressive beginning. He also took part in the ceremonies laying the corner- stone for the first building at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In 1796 he was a member of both St. John's 3 in New Bern and the Phoenix 8 in Fayetteville. In 1799 Taylor was elected deputy grand master. In 1802, at the age of 31, he was elected grand master of the North Carolina and served for three years. In 1814 he was again elected grand master and served an additional three years. It is interesting to note that in 1805, while Taylor was grand master, Chief Justice Judge John Hall was grand senior warden. In 1793 when the Grand Lodge met in Fayetteville for a most important meeting, Taylor, at the age of 24, represented Phoe- nix 8 of Fayetteville. An interesting note is at this same meeting Taylor and James Glasgow, who was the deputy grand master, were appointed a committee to draw the order necessary for the Brethren to walk in procession on St. John's Day. On January 15, 1795, Taylor attended the opening of the new university at Chapel Hill and was reported as "the brilliant young Commoner from Fayetteville." In 1798, Taylor as grand warden assisted in laying the cornerstone of Old East on the University campus. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for a number of years. In 1801, Taylor officiated at the laying of the cornerstone for the New Lodge. John Hall, the second member of the first court, was born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. His mother was a member of the Stuart family who gave us Judge Archibald Stuart and Con- federate General J. E. B. Stuart. He came from a wealthy family. He too studied at William and Mary, and after his· legal training at the age of twenty-five, moved to Warrenton and began a most profitable legal practice. Hall served as senior grand warden from 1802 until 1805. In 1805 he was elected grand master and served until 1809. In 1810, he was elected grand marshal. He served for a number of years as master of Johnston-Caswell 11 in Warren County. He was associate member of the Court until 1832. He died in January 29, 1833, and is buried in Warrenton. Leonard Henderson was the third member of the court. e Henderson family was replete with public servants. Judge Leonard Henderson was born in old Granville County in 1772. Hender- son's father, Judge Richard Henderson, formed the Transylvania Company that hired Daniel Boone to explore the wilderness of Kentucky and Tennessee. In essence, he founded those two states. Judge Henderson had the intent to create the fourteenth colony. Henderson read law with his step grandfather, Judge John Wil- liams. Judge Williams was one of the first three judges in North Carolina after the revolution. Young Henderson established his practice in the village of Williamsboro. After the death of Judge Williams, Henderson established the Henderson Law School at Williamsboro and is considered the grandfather of law schools in North Carolina. In 1805, Judge Leonard Henderson was elected Master of Hiram 24,which was in the village of Williamsboro, Granville County. In 1809, he was elected grand marshal of the North Car- olina Grand Lodge, and, in 1810, he was grand pursuivant. He remained active until his death in 1833. His last words were, "I have passed through the portals and see nothing terrifying." He is buried in family burial grounds located on Montpelier Plantation. Both the town of Henderson and Henderson County are named in his honor. e court met for the first time in January of 1819, and it chose the first clerk and marshal. Both the first clerk and first marshal were members of the Masonic Order. In fact, the first three clerks of court were Masons. ese three judges who gave up lucrative legal careers to es- tablish the Supreme Court of North Carolina also gave liberally of their time in the early days of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons to make sure the order was on sound footing here in North Carolina. Every citizen of our state owes to these men a great debt of gratitude for their contributions to the establish- ment of two great organizations which have existed for two hun- dred years. ese three men gave of their time and effort to assure two great institutions were built on a firm foundation. ey gave char- itably of their time. ey had faith that the Great Architect of the Universe would light their path as they created a new court and legal system. ey had hope their work would make North Caro- lina a better place to live. What more could be asked of any man? Danny Moody is executive director of the NC Supreme Court His- torical Society. is article appeared in the group's Society News and appears with permission. original pine and refinished. e kitchen got a full remodel with a ceramic tile floor, new appliances, counter, and cabinets. ere's a new storage room for the kitchen, and the bathrooms were re- modelled and updated. Doors and fixtures were replaced. e committee and members finagled and figured and got the full $42,000 restoration done without debt thanks to the generos- ity of 74 members and friends of the lodge. Last year, then Grand Master Dalton Mayo attended an open house Grimesland Lodge held to celebrate the great job they did on preserving their lodge's future by renewing its past. ey in- vited the community to see their work. As with many big projects, this one renewed the membership as well. In November, they held a fundraiser for our charities. It was the lodge's first pancake supper. After completion of the construction job, they took up a drive to add cushions to the theater seating in their lodge room. e cushions match the upholstery on the officer chairs. at project is now complete. e lodge is now talking about creating a ird Degree Team in the lodge. You're invited Luncheon April 25 OXFORD — You are invited to attend a Masonic and Eastern Star gathering Saturday, April 25, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. here at the Masonic Home for Children. Lun- cheon will cost $15.00. e deadline for signing up is April 16. Send your check to: Jim Lassiter, 1624 Bellechasse Drive, Raleigh, NC 21615. Attire is to be informal, but please: no jeans or Capri pants. A salesman's car breaks down on a remote country lane. A farmer in the adjacent field comes over, and they discover that they are both Masons. e salesman is concerned, as he has an important appoint- ment in the local town. "Don't worry," says the farmer, "you can use my car. I will call a friend and get your car repaired while you go to the appointment." Off goes the salesman, and a couple of hours later he returns but; unfortunately, the car is awaiting a part that won't arrive until the next morning. "It's not a problem," says the farmer, "Use my telephone, and reschedule your first appointment tomorrow. Stay with us to- night, and I'll see that the car is done first thing." e farmer's wife prepared a wonderful meal, and they shared a glass of fine wine during an excellent evening. e salesman sleeps soundly, and when he awakens, there is his car, repaired and ready to go. After a full breakfast, the salesman thanks them both for the hospitality. As he and the farmer walk to his car he turns and says, "My Brother, thank you so much. But, I have to ask: did you help me so much because I am a Mason?" ''No,'' was the farmer's reply, "I helped you because I am a Mason." From e Empire State Mason Magazine, Summer 2014. A traveling salesman's car breaks down…

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